Dirty John (TV Series) More to It Than Fun (2020) User Reviews

The complicated truth takes time to unfold

[1moviemaeven · 10/10 · 1 June 2021]

Unlike previous iterations of this true crime ripped-from-the-headlines drama, this season of Dirty John/Betty takes time to dwell in the gaslit corners of Betty Broderick's world. The slow burn of Betty's betrayal builds while the layers of Dan's masterful manipulations are peeled back, to the perfect drum-beat of a dirge.

The complicated truth is that we can understand her situation and have empathy for her suffering while at the same time taking in the full horror of her acts. Just the quiet theft of her daughter's keys is such a chilling moment. That is so messed up.

It is often hard to hold these seemingly contradictory positions of understanding and repudiation--in fact many reporters at the time echoed the bullying and gaslighting she endured before the murders--but this series carries it off.

My only criticism is that Amanda Peet never looked like she was gaining the weight that Betty was ruthlessly ridiculed for. Nevertheless, watching Betty's downward spiral is excruciating. Even as Betty's cringe-worthy acts of petty revenge feel soapy, Amanda never lets her performance become clownish.

In the end it's OK to hold some compassion for Betty while being glad she's still in prison for what she did.

Not bad but taking far too long

[helenahandbasket-93734 · 1/10 · 23 June 2020]

It feels long, melodramatic and a lot like watching a poorly done soap opera with an extremely confusing timeline.

Yes, those of us around when this went down remember it well, as the airwaves were completely saturated with the constant water boarding on this tale.

But (and here's the key that seems to have escaped the writers) no matter how crappy of a husband Dan Broderick was, how snake-like Linda Kolkena was, how absolutely horrific Betty's parents were, she still walked into his home, after stealing a key from her daughter, and pointed a loaded gun at two people and murdered them in cold blood with malice intent.

These facts are well-documented and available to the public. Turning this absolute atrocity into some sort of nonsensical series with little regard for factual information is not only abhorrent but disingenuous.

I had held on until now, hoping it might turn into something more closely resembling what actually happened, but here we are, and I've finally ended the recordings and walked away from this train wreck of a show.

Do better.