Making a Murderer

Making a Murderer

If you haven't seen at least the first few episodes of Netflix' Making a Murderer, you are out of the loop. Online reaction to the series, documenting the cases of Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey, has been harsh and vocal. An online petition to pardon Avery even prompted a response from the White House, which said they had no jurisdiction over the case.

[SPOILER ALERT]

Making a Murderer is a 10-part docuseries on the Steven Avery murder conviction in Wisconsin. It makes the case that Avery was set-up by the Manitowoc police, and betrayed by many lawyers, judges, and lawmakers with political aspirations and ties to the local cops. Others - including the disgraced state prosecutor, Ken Kratz - say evidence that wasn't presented in the documentary "proves" Avery committed murder, days before he was set to receive a half-million dollar settlement from the state for an unjust rape conviction years earlier.

It's hard to watch. In fact, I had to take frequent breaks between episodes, and found myself yelling at my TV. Honestly, I haven't even finished the last episode - it just upsets me too much. Obviously, I cannot say with authority that either or both of the men are innocent, but I can say that this entire mess was a grave miscarriage of justice from the start. Wisconsin's current Governor is unlikely to do anything to help the victims, but similar documentaries have helped the wrongfully convicted in the past.

Making a Murderer is available on Netflix.

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