The podcast’s documentary to scripted series is now a familiar progression for those of us who can’t help but see the blue light blasting into our eyes at night, instead of sleeping down a true crime rabbit hole or the other. can fall in. Consuming real-life ridicule just for the sake of facts is no longer enough; We need to pay attention to the truly rosy ones from every angle, from the lurid to the topical to the philosophical.
The latest now-familiar story to make the final stop on the all-platform content cycle – the A-list scripted limited series – is the story of Jan Broberg, who was kidnapped twice as a child by her neighbor Robert Berchtold, and now Is written in “A friend of the family”.
Sky Borgman’s Netflix documentary “Hidden in Plain Sight” was the first to introduce this strange, insane tale to a massive audience, leaving viewers with indignation and righteous judgment, the worst in launching a true crime into virility. effective element. How could Jan’s parents possibly allow Berchtold to kidnap their eldest daughter not once but twice? Why didn’t he distance himself or accuse the press after the first time? The documentary didn’t go too deep into these questions in 90 brief minutes, but it was incredibly effective at making waves and bringing the subject matter to the present day – we could have been better prepared for hunters like Berchtold than Broberg. are or not. the seventies.
The Peacock limited series “A Friend of the Family” makes it clear that it’s going to be different from some of the other dramatic true crime series you’ll find from Ryan Murphy or even producer Nick Antosca’s “Candy” on Hulu. Will get The first shot is of the real Jane Broberg, who is also the series’ producer, facing the camera, saying, “I know this may sound unbelievable, but we lived in a different world then.”
It becomes clear early on that the series is not interested in playing the story of the Broberg family to Camp Values or audiences in the blink of an eye. The nine episodes allow us to better understand how the family fell under the spell of Bob “B” Burtold (Jake Lacey) while on a series of horrific decisions by Bob (Colin Hanks) and Mary Ann Broberg (Anna Paquin). Watched, which let him go. They are so entangled in their lives. Time and Space which provides a series, telling us how Bee groomed over the years (by Hendrix Yancy at age 12 and by McKenna Grace at age 14), seducing her parents and turning her head into bizarre science. Allows you to appreciate the full magnitude of the filling. – Fi conspiracy theories.
“A friend of the family” lives and dies on Lacy’s performance, and she does an excellent job of using feel-good gestures and expressions on shows like “Girls” and “The Office” and giving them something mundane yet Sinister turns – it should earn him another Emmy nomination. Gail Berchtold as Paquin and Leo Tipton as Bee’s two adult victims, while Yancy and Grace prove themselves as rising stars as Jan.
The performances and sensitive, patient storytelling give you the feeling that you are witnessing the truest version of these events yet.
“A Friend of the Family” premieres with the first four episodes on Peacock on October 6, followed by new episodes weekly until November 10.
