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Here's what you need to know about Making A Murderer, the new Netflix obsession

Looking for a new Netflix binge? This true crime series will sort you.

CHRISTMAS IS THE perfect time to binge watch box sets and this year, one programme has completely taken over people’s lives: Making A Murderer.

If you’ve been on social media over the past few days, chances are you have seen tweets from people who have rabidly consumed the whole thing.

But what is it? Allow us to explain.

(Be warned: some very mild spoilers ahead.)

What is Making A Murderer and why should I watch it?

As we told you back in November before its release, Making A Murderer is a Netflix documentary series about Steven Avery, a man who served 18 years in prison for rape and other crimes, but was subsequently exonerated and released.

A few years after his release, Avery was taking a $36 million lawsuit against Manitowoc County and the former district attorney and sheriff responsible for wrongfully convicting him when he became the prime suspect in the murder of photographer Teresa Halbach.

In 2007, Avery was found guilty of murdering Halbach and sentenced to life in prison.

The series explores the circumstances in which Avery was convicted and “examines allegations of police and prosecutorial misconduct, evidence tampering and witness coercion”.

So, it’s kind of like Serial?

Kind of, but don’t accuse it of being a copycat — its directors have been working on the series for 10 years.

What have the reviews been like?

Universally positive.

The Atlantic wrote that it had the potential to “eclipse” The Jinx and Serial.

But Making a Murderer, which took 10 years to to make, could very well eclipse those works, for the sheer density of reportage and the scale of the horrifying story it tells—one of rural class politics, bureaucratic opacity, and a seemingly coordinated institutional effort to destroy an innocent man.

Boston Herald, meanwhile, called it “an addictive, scary indictment of small-town policing and a warning to those poor or marginalized by their neighbors.”

But be warned — it is grim.

As Todd VanDerWerdff wrote for Vox:

It’s a sprawling small-town saga that, nonetheless, feels lived-in and intimate. And even as it succumbs to some of true crime’s greatest faults, it’s always less interested in the gruesomeness of the crime than in the impossibility of finding the truth, something that serves it well. This is grim television, but it’s also necessary television.

What do people make of it so far?

Let’s just say it’s fairly addictive.

And incredibly frustrating.

The temptation to just Google everything is real.

How do I watch it?

All ten episodes are up on Netflix now for your binging pleasure.

Godspeed.

Written by Amy O’Connor and posted on DailyEdge.ie

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11 Comments
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    Mute Neil Holland
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    Dec 28th 2015, 2:53 PM

    Why does Panti have to be crowbarred into every article?

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    Mute Phil Corcoran
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    Dec 28th 2015, 3:11 PM

    Mild spoilers? 4 eps in and Had no idea he was to be convicted in 2007. Maybe edit to reflect ‘major spoilers?’ Wouldn’t have read on if that was the case.

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    Mute álainn
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    Dec 28th 2015, 2:57 PM

    Just on the last episode brilliant stuff

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    Mute Gavin Dooley
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    Dec 28th 2015, 6:19 PM

    Watch the jinx also! Amazing show

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    Mute Cormac
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    Dec 28th 2015, 8:05 PM

    Had 3 episodes to go and you just told me ending. Thanks

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    Mute Jack Kelly
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    Dec 28th 2015, 4:03 PM

    Incredible show well worth the watch best tv programme ever out of America

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    Mute Simon Power
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    Dec 28th 2015, 4:10 PM

    What a great show! He had an amazing legal team that his compensation money paid for. After much mulling, I think he is in the place he deserves…

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    Mute erinica
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    Dec 28th 2015, 4:46 PM

    Dreadful events, serious issues that need to be addressed.

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    Mute Anthony Kielthy
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    Dec 28th 2015, 11:10 PM

    Good , though not as good as Serial , Jinx or The Staircase imho.

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    Mute Nigel Davis
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    Jan 17th 2016, 1:41 PM

    Steven Avery Murder Case

    The Netflix documentary series, Making a Murderer, recounts the story of Steven Avery, a man who was imprisoned for 18 years for the sexual assault and attempted murder of a Wisconsin woman. Avery was later exonerated of that crime, only to be subsequently convicted of the murder of Teresa Halbach.

    Wisconsin county prosecuting attorney Michael Griesback joined host Dave Schrader (email) in the first three hours to discuss the latest developments in the Avery murder case (Related Link). Journalist Dan O’Donnell joined in the third hour to report on the evidence that convinced him of Avery’s guilt (Related Link). In the final hour of the program, retired police detective John Cameron revealed how notorious serial killer Edward Wayne Edwards is tied to the Avery case.

    http://www.coasttocoastam.com/show/2016/01/16

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    Mute álainn
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    Dec 29th 2015, 11:07 AM

    I thought Jinx wasn’t great. Last episode was very good but it was really dragged out.

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