Apple TV+’s Black Bird, starring a career-best Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser, finished its six-episode run on August 5. The limited series is creepy and compelling, presenting its gripping real-life story with respect and nuance and joining the slew of true-crime shows currently dominating television.
True-crime stories have never been more popular or critically acclaimed. The genre is thriving in the modern television landscape, with one worthy entry after another premiering almost every month. Every major streamer and network has its true-crime heavy-hitter, and the genre shows no signs of stopping. Like Black Bird, numerous other true-crime shows have premiered this year, receiving enthusiastic reviews from critics and fans alike.
Inventing Anna – 64%
Shonda Rhimes added another hit to her collection with Netflix’s Inventing Anna. Starring two-time Emmy winner Julia Garner, the limited series follows Russian-born Anna Sorokin, who cons prominent members of New York’s high society into believing she’s a German heiress, Anna Delvey.
Inventing Anna received mixed reviews from critics. Many thought the show was overly soapy, sensationalizing its real-life story and reducing it to a joke. However, Garner’s performance received near-universal acclaim; indeed, the actress elevated the material, taking what could be easily a cartoonish character and walking a fine line between camp and genuine emotion. Her efforts resulted in an Emmy nomination, although her chances of winning are slim.
WeCrashed – 65%
Academy Award winners Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway stepped into the respective roles of Adam and Rebekah Neumann in Apple TV+’s WeCrashed. The series focuses on the couple and their role in the rise and fall of WeWork, a provider of working spaces that became embroiled in controversy following its failed IPO.
WeCrashed received mixed reviews from critics. Leto’s performance and the overall plot earned a divisive response, thanks to its more over-the-top aspects and historical inaccuracies. However, Hathaway’s performance is WeCrashed‘s secret weapon. The actress delivers one of her finest performances, perfectly capturing Rebekah’s larger-than-life persona without hiding or evading her vulnerabilities.
Candy – 70%
Hulu’s Candy tells the real-life story of Candy Montgomery, a suburban housewife accused of murdering her neighbor, Betty Gore, with an ax. The incident happened after Montgomery had an affair with Gore’s husband, Alan. Emmy nominee Jessica Biel played Candy alongside Emmy nominee Melanie Lynskey as Gore.
Candy is one of the best female-centric true crime shows. Biel’s performance attracted positive comments, with the actress’ grounded take on the real-life Montgomery receiving particular praise. Lynskey, already having a landmark year thanks to the success of Showtime’s Yellowjackets, also received positive notices for her performance, although everyone agrees this is Biel’s show.
Pam & Tommy – 79%
The real-life turbulent marriage between Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee is the basis for Hulu’s Pam & Tommy. The limited series, starring Lily James and Sebastian Stan, chronicles the couple’s relationship before, during, and after the unauthorized publication of their now-infamous sex tape.
Lily James and Sebastian Stan received understandable praise for their performances; indeed, they became Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. The real-life Anderson condemned the show, but critics were kinder to it, praising the leads’ performance as well as supporting players Seth Rogen and Nick Offerman. James, Stan, and Rogen scored Emmy nominations for their work, while the show received a nod for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.
Under The Banner Of Heaven – 87%
Fresh off his second Oscar nomination for tick, tick… BOOM! Andrew Garfield took on the role of Detective Jeb Pyre in FX’s Under the Banner of Heaven. The limited series follows Pyre as his faith is tested by investigating the murder of a young mother and her baby and the possible ties with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Under the Banner of Heaven received positive reviews, with many praising Garfield’s performance. The actor, famous for his nuance and versatility, brings a level of thoughtfulness and raw emotion into his portrayal, elevating the series’ already compelling narrative. However, according to The Atlantic, the show did attract considerable criticism for what many considered a biased portrayal of Mormonism.
A Very British Scandal – 89%
Emmy winner Claire Foy joins Emmy nominee Paul Bettany in Amazon’s A Very British Scandal. The show dramatizes the troubled marriage of Margaret and Ian Campbell, Duchess and Duke of Argyll, with particular emphasis on their controversial divorce.
Like the title implies, A Very British Scandal deals with an event that few Western people might remember or even recognize. However, the gripping drama is addictive and engrossing, mainly thanks to Bettany and especially Foy’s performances. The duo delivers powerhouse acting, portraying the couple’s nastiness with delicious wickedness that never ignores the very real emotions behind the conflict.
The Dropout – 89%
Hulu’s The Dropout stars Amanda Seyfried as disgraced entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes. The show chronicles the rise and fall of her company, Theranos, starting from its conception and ending with its very public and almost unbelievable dissolution.
Amanda Seyfried became a first-time Emmy nominee for her work in the show. Her eerie performance received universal acclaim, with many considering it the best of her career. The show itself also attracted positive commentary. The Dropout successfully paints a clear picture of Holmes’ fall from grace, depicting her ambitions and limitations and humanizing her in the process.
The Girl From Plainville – 90%
Hulu cemented its domination of the true-crime genre with The Girl from Plainville. Starring Emmy nominee Elle Fanning, the limited series focuses on Michelle Carter, her involvement in the death of her boyfriend, Conrad Roy, and her subsequent conviction for involuntary manslaughter.
Elle Fanning cemented her place as one of Hollywood’s best and brightest talents with The Girl from Plainville. Disturbing and in control of every moment she’s on screen, Fanning gives a tour de force in the show. The show avoids further sensationalizing a story that was already mistreated in real life, instead opting for nuance, aided by Fanning’s grounded approach.
The Staircase – 93%
Academy Award winner Colin Firth joins Academy Award nominee Toni Collette in HBO Max’s The Staircase. Based on the 2004 true-crime documentary of the same name, the show follows Michael Peterson, a crime writer accused and eventually convicted of murdering his wife, Kathleen.
Any show starring Firth and Colette would be an instant must-watch, and The Staircase is no exception. Elevated by the veteran actors’ knockout performances, the show delivers a gripping portrayal of the case that becomes almost addictive. Critics were enthusiastic about The Staircase, praising Firth and Collette’s performances; both actors would receive Emmy nominations for their work.
Black Bird – 98%
Apple TV+’s Black Bird stars Taron Egerton as Jimmy, a charming narcotics dealer who agrees to a transfer to a high-security prison in return for a reduced sentence. There, he must get close and extract a confession from presumed killer Larry Hall, played by a disturbing Paul Walter Hauser.
Black Bird is a tour de force for Egerton and Hauser. Both actors get arguably the best roles of their careers, give or take a Rocketman in Egerton’s case. The show portrays an unrestrained picture of prison without sinking into exploitative tropes, delivering a compelling story that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Black Bird earned universal acclaim from critics, cementing itself as the best-reviewed true-crime show of 2022 thus far.
