TMP Television Edition 298: Docu Series

I love a good docu series! That’s the topic for this week over at Wandering Through The Shelves. I feel like these days there’s a new series out every other day, and something for everyone! I can’t wait to see what everyone has on their list. Maybe I’ll find something new to watch to help pass the time during all this social distancing. If you want to take part in Thursday Movie Picks, it’s easy! Just pick 3-5 movies (or shows), explain why you picked them, and link back to Thursday Movie Picks.

1. Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer (Amazon)

After nearly 40 years of silence, Elizabeth Kendall and her daughter Molly share their experiences with unsettling new details about Ted Bundy.

I know we’re all probably tired of hearing about Ted Bundy but what made this one different is the fact it’s about his girlfriend, Elizabeth Kendall, and her life with him. It really did show a different side to the story, and focused more on the women affected by this monster instead of just focusing on the crimes or the gruesomeness of everything. It did a really great job of showing just how different times were then. The docu series shared some “family” photos of Elizabeth and Ted, along with her daugher, and it was very jarring for some reason. There were clips of him playing with her on the beach and just being a…normal guy? It made me feel very uneasy but in an interesting way. If that makes sense.

2. Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (Netflix)

A rivalry between big cat eccentrics takes a dark turn when Joe Exotic, a controversial animal park boss, is caught in a murder-for-hire plot.

I haven’t finished this one yet (I think I have 3-4 episodes to go) but GUYS, this entire story is insane. I’m hooked on just how outrageous everything and everyone in this series is. I’m hooked and can’t wait to look into this entire thing more. It isn’t something that would normally be on my radar but everyone online has been talking about it. I figured I had nothing to lose by checking it out and boy, the payoff is unreal. It follows the story of Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin, and the world of big cats. And it’s a weird and wild world.

3. The Keepers (Netflix)

Netflix’s latest docuseries tackles the unsolved murder of Cathy Cesnik, a beloved nun and Catholic high school teacher in Baltimore. After disappearing on Nov. 7, 1969, Cesnik’s body was found nearly two months later — but to this day, the killer remains unnamed. In the ’90s, the case returned to the spotlight after one of Cesnik’s former students accused the high school’s chaplain of sexual abuse, and claims that she was taken to Cesnik’s then undiscovered corpse and threatened. Director Ryan White pieces together the story through conversations with friends, relatives, journalists, government officials and Baltimore citizens, hoping to uncover the truth.

This is a bit of a local story which is why I checked it out when it debuted. It was hard to watch and honestly, anything these days involving The Church just fills me with anger and rage. This came out in 2017 and the Church here is still fighting legislation on removing the statue of limitations on sexual abuse. I hope with the technology that’s out there today justice for Cathy happens.

I’m keeping my list short this week because otherwise it would be filled with way too much true crime. That’s my thing for the most part! I do want to try and branch out and watch some things that are of a different genre but it’s hard. It’s way too easy for me to get sucked into a good true crime show or documentary. And there’s no shortage! I very easily could have written a list that was nothing but Ted Bundy. Now it’s time to go check out the other lists! Fingers crossed I find something to help pass the time.