As I sat down to binge-watch the latest season of the Netflix’s psychological thriller, You, I became sucked into the world of following the story of a psychopathic killer. My roommates walked in and nervously laughed at my choice in television programming to watch. They’re always concerned that I watch this show as much as I do, along with other true crime podcasts and shows. 

I myself have wondered why I watch these programs. Ideally, it is because I am educating myself on the issues in our society and paying respects to victims. However, there are times I wonder if there is a more sinister factor and morbid curiosity is the driving force behind why I watch these shows. Ethically this makes me wonder if it is a positive for our society to be consuming these shows at the rate we are. 

The psychology behind why people, in particular women, consume this genre is rooted in the disturbing fact that women are more likely than men to be victims of violent crime. Dr. Sharon Packer, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, theorizes that learning about true crime can feel “like a dress rehearsal” for women who know they could end up in these situations themselves. 

An interesting aspect of true crime and murder shows is the various ways that women are portrayed in these shows. An example of this is the positive feedback to the Joe Goldberg character in Season One of You. It is unclear if this positive attention is due to an intentional or accidental portrayal of the stalker and murderer. It became such a problem that actor Penn Badgley, who plays Goldberg, spoke out and told fans to stop fantasizing his character. 

Another portrayal of women comes from the true crime documentary American Murder: The Family Next Door. In this documentary, real life footage is used to expose the truth behind the murder of Shannan Watts and her two children. In the lead-up to uncovering the crimes of husband, Chris Watts, the clips shown make some people accuse Shannan of driving her husband to murder. 

The documentary exposes a problematic tendency in murder mysteries and true crime storylines. Depending on the trope and the plotlines, there is a possibility of focusing too much on the murderer and not the victims. It plays upon the odd fascinations and romanticization of crime and gore. 

This is the controversy that arose with the Netflix series Dahmer. Many argued that it glorified the actions of Jeffery Dahmer and didn’t pay enough tribute to his victims. In trying to answer the question of “why are people motivated to commit such atrocities?” sympathy is drawn for the murderer.  Between the screenwriting and these characters being played by popular and attractive actors, there is a “heartthrob” effect that can be problematic and contribute to the romanticization of crime. 

On the other hand, there is an opportunity for education. For example, prior to watching the Dahmer Netflix series, I was ignorant of just how much racism fueled and allowed Jeffery Dahmer to succeed in targeting minority communities. While I knew he targeted minority communities, I did not realize how much the police in his area turned a blind eye, allowing Dahmer to take countless lives. Despite the education this show provided, the double-edged sword of romanticizing these murderers is almost inevitable. 

You learned from much of its flaws in season 1 and has continually worked to give light to the stories of Goldberg’s victims. Having watched the series I found that season 4 was the most effective season at paying tribute to the victims of Joe Goldberg. In this season, each victim is given a moment to address Joe Goldberg and hold him accountable for stalking them and taking their lives. I found this to be a positive direction in the world of crime shows and murder mysteries. 

Like all media we as a society consume, they have lasting implications on our culture. Whether it be books, movies, podcasts or tv shows, crime thrillers are one of the fastest-growing genres. When telling these stories, it is important to do so ethically and in a way that honors victims instead of romanticizing villains. 

April 2023