Category: TV Shows/Movie Reviews
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Bad Influence (Netflix)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Bad Influence: Despite all my rage there are still a bunch of kids being exploited on YouTube. Quick synopsis: A look at the dark side of “kidfluencing” where parents use their kids to make money off social media. Fact for Non-History People: Ryan Kaji of Ryan’s World, who is basically the…
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The Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read (Max)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Body in the Snow: I still don’t know how I’d vote. Quick synopsis: The first trial of Karen Read for the murder of her boyfriend, Boston PD Officer John O’Keefe. Fact for Non-History People: Regularly, dozens to hundreds of people would stand outside the courthouse during the trial to either…
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Scamanda (Hulu)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Scamanda: Giving Amandas everywhere a bad name. Quick synopsis: The story of a woman who faked cancer for nearly a decade. Fact for Non-History People: Factitious disorder is a mental illness where someone intentionally lies about illnesses to gain attention. Fact for History Nerds: Yes, it is the same as Munchausen…
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Con Mum (Netflix)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Con Mum: Mama knows best (how to rob you blind). Quick synopsis: The story of a chef and the long-lost mother who showed up and took him for everything he had. Fact for Non-History People: Con artist Victor Lustig sold the Eiffel Tower. Twice. Fact for History Nerds: Bernie Madoff tops…
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American Murder: Gabby Petito (Netflix)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for American Murder: Vanlife is not for me. Quick synopsis: The story of Gabby Petito and her murder by her fiancé on a cross-country trip. Fact for Non-History People: There are approximately 3 million vanlifers (people who live exclusively out of their vehicles, voluntarily) in the U.S. Fact for History Nerds: YouTubers…
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I’m Not a Monster (Max)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for I’m Not a Monster: Yes, she is. Quick synopsis: The story of the murders committed by Lois Riess, the “Killer Grandma.” Fact for Non-History People: There were 181 murders in Minnesota in 2023. Fact for History Nerds: Schizophrenia affects about .32% of the worldwide population. My Take on I’m Not a…
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Anatomy of Lies (Peacock)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Anatomy of Lies: Trauma drama. Quick synopsis: The story of a Grey’s Anatomy TV show writer who faked cancer and a bunch of other stuff! Fact for Non-History People: There are about 1.5 million new cancer cases in the U.S. each year. Guess who wasn’t one of them? Fact for History…
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Jailbreak: Love on the Run (Netflix)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Jailbreak: Worst evasion plan ever. Quick synopsis: The story of how prison official Vicky White helped her lover Casey White break out of prison and run off together. Fact for Non-History People: In 2019, 2,231 inmates escaped from prisons in the U.S. Fact for History Nerds: The largest jailbreak in history…
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Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter (Netflix)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter: You are going to hate someone, but it’s not who you think. Quick synopsis: The story of the 1989 disappearance of Aundria Bowman. Fact for Non-History People: 460,000 children are reported missing each year in the U.S. Fact for History Nerds: There are about 150,000…