Netflix’s Unbelievable Quietly Became 1 of Its Best Adaptations Ever

by

True crime shows have become incredibly popular lately, with series like Monster: The Ed Gein Story and John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise generating a lot of buzz in 2025. However, many of these shows are criticized for being exploitative and simply sensationalizing real tragedies. Despite this, at least one series has managed to stand out and offer a different approach.

While it hasn’t gotten as much buzz as some other true crime shows, the miniseries Unbelievable is highly regarded for doing things differently. It avoids the common pitfalls of the genre and instead offers a compassionate and realistic portrayal of a disturbing series of sexual assault cases that initially appeared unconnected.

Unbelievable Redefined True Crime Adaptations

The series begins with Marie, a young woman who recently left the foster care system, reporting a sexual assault. She later tells police she made it up after they express doubt about her account. This immediately highlights important issues like the challenges faced by those without strong support systems and the problem of law enforcement dismissing victims’ claims. However, Marie’s story is just one piece of what makes this series so compelling.

This story centers around detectives from separate police forces who link a series of sexual assaults across different locations and involving diverse victims. Unlike typical crime stories, it unfolds in a non-traditional way, weaving together the experiences of the survivors, the detectives’ personal lives, and the details of the investigation. The narrative intentionally avoids graphic descriptions of the assaults themselves, instead highlighting the lasting impact of the trauma on those affected.

What set the TV show Unbelievable apart was its approach to a difficult topic. Rather than focusing on the attacker and his crimes, the story centered on the environment that allows violence to happen – a culture that often minimizes these acts and hinders justice. Unlike many true crime programs, this show didn’t dwell on the rapist’s identity, instead highlighting how his arrest impacted his victims, who were already fearful and traumatized.

Though Unbelievable is a difficult watch, it’s also one of the most inspiring and moving miniseries of its kind. The eight episodes give a lot of time to the stories of the women who experienced these attacks, showing not just the impact on their lives, but also how the justice system let them down. That is, until a couple of detectives had the courage to question their colleagues and rethink what they believed about the perpetrators.

This Show Focused on Storytelling Without Relying on Exploitation

Unlike many shows that emphasize the shocking details of violent crimes, Unbelievable focuses on the human side of things. It doesn’t dwell on the disturbing acts themselves, but rather explores how they affect the victims and the wider community. The series tackles the difficult issues surrounding rape cases with nuance, offering a complex look at the experiences of victims, investigators, and everyone involved.

The show avoids the common tendency to focus on the fame of criminals, instead prioritizing the experiences of victims and the detectives investigating these crimes. It deeply explores the far-reaching impact of these horrific attacks on all involved, and bravely addresses the problematic ways some people react to survivors, including unfair expectations about how they should behave.

Many shows come out each year that please viewers, but Unbelievable stands out due to its unique approach and subject matter, making it an important example within the true crime genre. Even seven years after its release, it remains a benchmark for how to handle real-life cases with respect and sensitivity, and for creating believable, nuanced portrayals of victims in these highly publicized crimes.

5 Questions
Test Your Insight: Unbelievable’s Compassionate Take on True Crime
Your Top Score
—
Attempts
—
0
0
Report Error

Found an error? Send it so it can be corrected.

Read More

2026-02-22 03:08