Serial podcast

[Ivy]

Is anybody else hooked on this podcast spinoff of This American Life? Sara Koenig is unraveling a single story over the course of a season- this time, the story is about a murder in 1999 where a high school guy may or may not have killed his girlfriend. He was convicted but there are just some bothersome details about the case that make it uncertain. This is fascinating, and it seems like it has really caught fire. The Reddit discussion is a rabbit hole that you could spend hours on- some of the figures from the case are actually participating in the discussion, and an anonymous source came forward a couple of weeks ago claiming to be an old friend of the convicted killer and said he was a "psycho." So it's all very dramatic. New episodes come out on Thursdays so I'm listening to the latest one now.

Listen here (start with Episode 1, don't just jump in with the latest episode): Serial
Reddit people are serious about this shit: A place to discuss Serial: The Podcast

 

[EJCC]

I binge-listened to the entire thing last weekend, and while it was interesting and well put together, I have no idea why the entire country is obsessed with it. With all the quality podcasts out in the world, why is THIS podcast the one that makes people want to listen to podcasts? That disappointed me, because "Serial" disappointed me.

1) It made me realize that this sort of true crime story is really frustrating to me. I like the idea of documenting an attempt to prove someone's innocence, fix a broken crime narrative, revive a cold case. I'd love to hear the stories of people working at The Innocence Project, for example. But something about "Serial" seems both presumptuous and naive. Seeing an established journalist swoop in and think she has the power to magically fix this case. It bothers me for the same reason "Throwdown! with Bobby Flay" bothers me: it documents the story of someone with ambition and no experience trying to beat established professionals at their own game.

That's why Bobby Flay loses so many goddamn times, and that's why Sarah Koenig lost.

2)

Why document this thing when nothing would come of it? This is a very ESTJ-ish complaint, but I have a hard time seeing the utility of something like this when no answer is provided at the end. I'm glad she got an investigative team involved (at The Innocence Project). I'm glad she got Asia McLean to write up another affidavit. But why does this case need to be shown to the entire country? I'm all for "true crime" and murder mysteries with some speculation, but I only ever really like it because I find the mind of a killer to be fascinating, and I like seeing the story come together at the end, AFTER the speculation. But at the end of this, no motive was provided, and the story didn't come together.

3)

I do have a theory, because I don't enjoy endless speculating (kind of like how I have a theory about the end of "Inception" but hate talking about the end of "Inception"): I think Adnan, Jay, and an unknown party were all involved. Jay's story STILL doesn't add up, even after his recent interview, so I think he's still protecting someone.

Needless to say, I'm still following this story, because I DO want an answer. But it doesn't mean I enjoy this whole process. I really have a love/hate relationship with it, lol.

 

[EJCC]

Some interesting follow-up articles:

EXCLUSIVE: Jay, Key Witness from 'Serial' Tells His Story for the First Time, Part 1
(be sure to read parts 2 and 3 as well)

Why Adnan Syed of ‘Serial’ Should Have Pleaded Guilty

 

[Cygnus]

We just had to listen to this for a Psychology project.




I cannot pay attention to this audio bullshit. I need a book, a video, something visual or semantic, but not noise blasted in my ear.

 

[EffEmDoubleyou]

I enjoyed Serial, but my thoughts are mostly this:

I binge-listened to the entire thing last weekend, and while it was interesting and well put together, I have no idea why the entire country is obsessed with it. With all the quality podcasts out in the world, why is THIS podcast the one that makes people want to listen to podcasts?

I think it was an interesting experiment, to try to start a narrative account of an investigation without knowing what you're going to end up with. But that was also its downfall, really. It structured itself like a police procedural or a true crime book a-la In Cold Blood, but those work because whether fictional or true, they have already gotten closure. You can't structure something in a narrative way without knowing how it's going to unfold or ultimately end. I'm sure they thought it would work because most people knew nothing of this case and would be hanging on to find out what happens. But it still depends on...something happening.

 

[Raffaella]

I started this podcast with an open mind and it wasn't until a few episodes in that I started disbelieving Sayad and Jay's innocence. Around mid-season, my opinion started wavering but by the finale, I had lost faith in Sayad and realised that Koenig's been duped. Where to start? Aside from the discrepancies between their testimonies and their actions, the narrative came from a journalist smitten with a possible felon. I realise that the purpose may not be to only present the truth and that the reporting would have a slant but it was disconcerting to listen to Kroenig almost blindingly accept Sayad's clean hands. I expected her to scrutinise his words more since a lot of his comments, his tone and delivery left me cold. I was convinced he was lying and that, perhaps, he'd spent his sentence indoctrinating himself with these lies. I don't regard him as a sociopath, just a charismatic deceiver; he had a good image so I imagine he's trying to maintain it.

I've glanced over the subreddit, read some interesting articles but neither have swayed me.

I think Adnan, Jay, and an unknown party were all involved. Jay's story STILL doesn't add up, even after his recent interview, so I think he's still protecting someone.

I agree even thought I can't work out who he's trying to protect. Was it premeditated? How much does Adnan's family know? I feel something suspicious is going on with that family.

But something about "Serial" seems both presumptuous and naive. Seeing an established journalist swoop in and think she has the power to magically fix this case. It bothers me for the same reason "Throwdown! with Bobby Flay" bothers me: it documents the story of someone with ambition and no experience trying to beat established professionals at their own game.

I know, right?

I should point out, I'll be staying around for seasons 2 and 3 but only to find out if Koenig's opinion will change.

 

[Raffaella]

Has anyone been keeping up-to-date with this? Not the second season but Adnan's case? I started listening to The Undisclosed Podcast in September where the case is discussed in a lot of detail since it was created by Rabia Chaudry (after she was disappointed with Koenig's reporting) and two "neutral" lawyers. In short, you'll walk away from the case feeling completely different. As in I now find my older posts in this thread just embarrassing.

As for season 2, I listened to one episode but frankly, I'm not in the mood to listen to Koenig present a story only to potentially have the rug pulled out from underneath me when new details emerge or current details are examined rigorously by lawyers. Yes, yes, I understand she's more of an entertainer

 

[Pionart]

More like serial podkiller

Amirite?

Amirite?

Ugh, fuck that shit...