‘Making a Murderer’ is an American true crime docu-series that airs on Netflix and first premiered on December 18, 2015. It has been written and directed by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos. Over the seasons, the show has managed to garner widespread critical acclaim and stir up quite a bit of controversy as well.
Among all of the streaming service’s forays into the true crime genre, there is no show that is grittier or more hard-hitting than this. While the Emmy award-winning show’s production has been compared favorably to HBO’s ‘The Jinx’, and ‘Serial’, a podcast, we recommend you watch ‘The Confession Tapes‘ as the best Netflix accompaniment to this show.
Much like the aforementioned series, this show too explores the real case of a man called Steven Avery. It has been filmed over a ten-year period and we see how Avery, a DNA exoneree, happens to be in the middle of exposing the corrupt practices of law enforcement agencies when he finds himself embroiled in yet another grisly crime. It is a testament to the show’s research and convincing prowess that it led to a formal petition being submitted to the White House, asking for Avery’s pardon. Despite gaining traction among the people, the White House officially responded that it could not intervene since “the President cannot pardon a state criminal offense.” Naturally, with such an impact, critics were also bound to praise the show, and they have said that it is “a spellbinding slow burn that effectively utilizes the documentary format to tell a twisty mystery.”
Making a Murderer Cast: Who is in it?
‘Making a Murderer’ is a documentary and thus naturally it does not have any actors playing the characters, instead opting to show the real-life people in interviews or through archival footage. Since it follows the trial proceedings, there is obviously the law enforcement involved, which includes the sheriff, his deputy, and other members of law enforcement. There are also lawyers on both sides of the table, and the presiding judges in both cases. The families of the accused also feature in the documentary to give a more personal insight into the people charged with the crime.
However, the main focus is on Steven Avery, who is accused of killing and sexually assaulting Halbach. Brendan Dassey, Halbach’s nephew stands accused of being an accessory, assisting Avery in Halbach’s murder. They are the chief defendants around whom the show revolves. Teresa Halbach is the murder victim in 2005 that Avery and Dassey are accused of killing. Penny Beerntsen is the first victim of attempted murder and sexual assault in 1985, which is when Avery first finds himself wrongly convicted.
If there is another season, we could expect all these people to return as the makers want to continue telling the story, and Avery has not received justice yet.
‘Making a Murderer’ season 1 made for an emotional and hard-hitting docudrama. The Netflix produced show focuses on the story of Steven Avery, ‘a man from Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, who served 18 years in prison for the wrongful conviction of sexual assault and attempted murder of Penny Beerntsen, before being fully exonerated in 2003 by DNA evidence. He filed a suit against the county on this case’. In 2005, he was arrested again on the charges of murdering Teresa Halbach, a local photographer, and was convicted in 2007. The series also covers the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of Avery’s nephew, Brendan Dassey, who was also charged in the murder, largely based on his confession under interrogation.
Season 2 continues the story of Avery and touched upon previously overlooked aspects of the case. It provides an in-depth look at the high-stakes post-conviction process, as well as, the emotional toll the process takes on all involved. The show focuses on confidential information that came to light and wasn’t explored in the previous season.
While there have obviously been calls that the show is manipulative, it is in fact thoroughly researched and is one of the best documentaries to come out of Netflix. People who consider Avery guilty are none too happy about it though, which could be something to explore in the upcoming seasons (just an idea!). Despite some detractors, The New York Timeshas high praise for the show, saying it is an “almost Dickensian account of the tragedy of the Averys. The uniformly stoic family members shift allegiances over the years, while Mr. Avery’s parents, as movingly bewildered and terrified as any fictional creations, steadfastly believe in their son’s innocence, even as their long battle takes down their business and any sense they may have had of belonging to a community”.
Since Season 2 introduced Kathleen Zellner, Avery’s post-conviction attorney, she had some thoughts to share about the content of a third season. She is of the opinion that it could focus on the appeal case that is going on for Avery. Zellner is tirelessly trying to dismantle the prosecution’s case against Avery and this could be the crux of the upcoming season. However, there are several more facets to be explored like some DNA evidence on which Avery’s attorney wants to consult with a new expert. We could also see Dassey’s side of the story more, who still remains convicted. The possibilities are limitless and we are highly excited.
Making a Murderer Season 3 Release Date: When does it premiere?
‘Making a Murderer’ Season 2 premiered on Netflix on October 20, 2018. Even though there is no official news whether there will be a Season 3, the way Season 2 ends still leaves many unanswered questions. So, the likelihood of Season 3 happening is very high, especially considering the fact that the series is widely popular. However, it might be a long wait, since viewers had to wait for three years between seasons 1 and 2. Our best guess is that ‘Making a Murderer’ Season 3 will release sometime later in 2021. We will update this section as soon as we hear any official news on the ‘Making a Murderer’ Season 3 release date.
Making a Murderer Trailer:
You can check out the trailer for ‘Making a Murderer’ below. If you have not seen the series and enjoy true crime documentaries, then this is the show for you.
