‘The Worst Ex Ever’ Review: Netflix Takes True Crime Obsession to Another Dimension

Since its inception, Netflix has embraced the true crime genre in many ways. From documentaries that give victims a chance to tell their side of the story in brutal situations to detailed reconstructions of gory scenarios, the truth is that the platform has made true crime and murder stories one of the highlights of its catalog. But it has done so much more as the quality of programming has improved and moved away from pure sensationalism, in the way of studying human nature.

This is a case The worst ex you can imagine, from Blumhouse Television. The documentary series follows a successful pattern The worst roommate you can ever imaginealso among the Netflix options. Namely, it tells of apparently everyday situations that eventually develop into terrifying police cases. Only in this case, the territory of love and relationships means that the script must be concerned with two things from the very beginning. On the one hand, to avoid re-victimizing those who have suffered from extreme situations. in the midst of marriages, courtships and even friendships.

On the other hand, learn all the tools available — at least on American soil — to confront such situations. The series does both, though it takes pains to show how the four circumstances it describes were made worse by police inaction or legal oversight. Creator Cynthia Childs, a veteran of storytelling that blends documentaries and fiction, turns each episode into The worst ex you can imagine, in a comprehensive view of modern relations. But he is not satisfied with just this.

The Dark Side of Romance

As a format that gives a new dimension real crime, The worst ex you can imagine It doesn’t stop at just showing the most brutal details of the cases in question. Rather, it explores how seemingly innocuous situations between couples can become the starting point for something worse and more complicated. In fact, what unites the four crimes presented in the series is the slow evolution of ordinary relationships into violent and cruel ground. Moreover, it does so with a thoroughness that is supported by based on thorough psychiatric research.

The first episode with the appropriate title I’m meeting the devilsets the pace and tone for everything else. But it also does something else: it details how the cycle of abuse plays out, with careful psychological depth. Through survivors Amber and Jamie, it shows the case of Benjamin Foster, a long-time abuser who committed hundreds of abuses before he was arrested. Specifically, by cannibalizing the lives and connections of their victims, while simultaneously turning their relationships into parasites, both economically and even at work.

Little by little, Foster not only made the women he had relationships with hostage to cruel and brutal restrictions. He also terrorized them, since any complaint to officials or even family or friends could result in death. Cynthia Childs is experienced enough to analyze this difficult territory sensitively, but not to lose sight of the essence of the documentary series. So the chapters are uncomfortable and most of them have a research quality in The victims are respectful and thoughtful rather than sensational.

The weak point of the premise of interest

However, the series makes a controversial decision by turning the usual recreations of violent events that usually involve real crime. At first glance, this is an obvious attempt to avoid gore or exploitation scenes when most of the victims are alive. At the same time, try not to turn their often brutal stories into low-quality TV melodramas. So, first entertainment, They are not entirely wrong, or at least not subject to criticism.

Despite this, as the series progresses and the scenes become more violent, the animation seems to reduce the effectiveness of the story. Especially when the script foresees any possibility of jeopardizing the privacy of the interviewees or their families. Or at least show from a cautious point of view situations that are still in court or private litigation. However, the quality of the recording of the program allows the documentary series to explore sensitive issues without violating confidentiality or exaggeration of details.

Overall, the visuals are a problem that the series fails to solve throughout all four episodes. In the fourth and final episode, the seriousness of the matter and the way it is presented visually become a contradiction to the sober tone of the production. What kind of animations are these, which are not always of the same quality and In certain cases they appear awkward or ridiculous, their tone overly humorous and superficial.

A clever ending to “The Worst Ex Ever”

Despite these problems, The worst ex you can imagine Overall, it is of sufficient quality to be a well-designed experiment in depicting situations of violence. An element that the series demonstrates by devoting the last minutes of each chapter to a step-by-step explanation of what a victim should do in situations similar to those depicted in the series. It is a responsible decision that allows the series be more than just an exploitation of tragic moments and events.

As the series ends, it makes a few things clear. Domestic violence needs to be addressed and examined carefully. But much more, it needs to be respected for the victims who live with the consequences day after day. It’s a complex subtext that few productions of this kind take into account, but which is central here. Perhaps the highest point of production.