“Making a Murderer” was a smash hit this winter enjoyed by many. In case you’ve been in the dark this whole time, I would definitely suggest making this your next Netflix binge; it’s interesting, infuriatingly compelling and enticing but you’ll need to pay attention – trust me, you’ll want to. I don’t want, or really need, to wax lyrical about Netflix’s most recent success. What I want to bring to your attention is “Serial”, a podcast by journalist Sarah Koenig detailing the ins and outs of the Adnan Syed case, which I’m pretty certain was the trail blazer for series like “Making a Murderer” and “The People v OJ Simpson” (currently on the BBC).
Firstly, everyone should be listening to podcasts. I know they bring to mind old ladies sitting in front of a fire, surrounded by cats, knitting and listening to the soothing tones of Radio 4’s plethora of archived programs, now available to the savvy granny via the black magic that is the internet.
BUT there are so many out there that you are certain to find one you love, whether it’s something funny like “Friday Night Comedy” (yes I do know that’s a Radio 4 podcast, it’s still worth a listen), a pro sex discussion like “Guys We F****d”, a short introduction to a seminar theme like “In Our Time”, or an investigation into a real life murder mystery like “Serial”.
Secondly, “Serial” is awesome. Really awesome. To the point that I listened to all twelve episodes in two days. Apparently I wasn’t the only one, as it was the fastest podcast ever to reach 5 million downloads and streams, according to the Telegraph. As I previously mentioned, that’s because it’s awesome. The reason why it’s so awesome (I promise not to use awesome again) is the way in which Sarah Koenig explains her thought process about this case and how she, and her team, do their own investigations into what actually happened on that fateful day in 1999. You find yourself, like Sarah, certain Adnan is innocent one moment, then certain he’s guilty the next, as she leads you through the case without making you feel like she has any particular end point in mind other than the truth about what happened to Hae Min Lee. However, the main reason this podcast is so successful is that it’s all true. So, whilst you’re shouting at the podcast that there are fundamental problems surrounding the cell tower evidence and its representation in court (trust me, you will), you know that this podcast was key in bringing to light a witness that testified in court to get Adnan’s case reopened. This podcast is changing someone’s life. And not just any someone, a man who has been in prison for 17 years for a crime where there is reasonable doubt of his guilt. It’s not just good to listen to, it’s done some real good by highlighting how flawed the American legal system is. How many podcasts can claim that?
So, “Serial”. It’s a great podcast that’s been fundamental in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding Adnan Syed’s imprisonment for the murder of Hae Min Lee. It’s an eye opening exploration of the absolutely terrifying American legal system. Tip for everyone, don’t be in America if your partner or ex-partner gets murdered. To avoid any spoilers, all I can say is give season one of “Serial” a listen.
If like me, you really loved it and wanted to understand more about the case, “Undisclosed: The State Vs. Adnan Syed” provides a fuller picture of the legal problems and implications from Hae’s disappearance in 1999 all the way to Adnan’s PCR Hearing this February. Rabia Chaudry, Adnan’s family friend, hosts it with Susan Simpson and Collin Miller (all lawyers), but if you’re not really into the law it can be quite dense at times, so it might be worth just listening to their more recent episodes which cover Adnan’s PCR Hearing and will bring you up to speed on where the case is now.
Why are we suddenly so interested in real life crime? Is it voyeuristic as Jake Simons of the Telegraph suggests? All this and more, next time on Her Campus.