Official Trailer:

What if your behavior doesn’t conform to society’s norms? How you will be perceived if you insist on a specific brand and color of bedsheet the next day after a traumatic event, say rape? What if no one believes your story because your behavior doesn’t conform? That is the situation Marie Adler, the teenager, faces in the latest Netflix’s mini-series Unbelievable. When Marie reports about her rape to the cops, they conclude she made up the whole event based on her tragic background (of abuse and tendency to make up stories to seek attention), inconsistencies and gaps in repeated questioning, and corroboration from her foster parents. Not just the cops, even her friends and foster parents don’t believe her story. Cops close the case charging Marie for making a false claim. But we know she didn’t. This is the terrific first episode of Unbelievable, based on true events, which is challenging and depressing to watch. Even if you cut some slack for dramatization, the reality makes you angry, and suffocates you. Unbelievable is amazing mini-series from Netflix, very well scripted, directed, and acted. Outstanding performances from Kaitlyn Dever (Marie Adler), Merritt Wever (detective Karen Duvall), and Toni Collette (detective Grace Ramussen). Like Mindhunter, another good series from Netflix, Unbelievable is different from other detective series, it’s focus is on the human side of victims and the detectives and keep the investigation procedural.

First two episodes stand out as a study of contrast on inquiry process. With Marie Adler, the authoritarian style of inquiry makes it look menacing for the teenager. She is forced to repeat her story over and over, let’s start from the beginning, to multiple cops. This drives the young victim to get confused, inconsistent, and details get fuzzy. She gets painted as a liar. Contrast this with second episode where Karen Duvall sensitively handles the victim, making her comfortable, giving the space, and time. Karen keeps the trauma and human side of victim in mind while collecting the details and evidence. 

Middle episodes, third to seventh, are highly procedural, how Karen and Grace as a team, work through the case pursuing various leads, many leading to a dead end. Without losing hope they continue their search with the goal to stop the monster from committing more crimes. Series intercuts between the investigation and Marie’s life struggles post the false claim charges. Marie’s circle keeps shrinking with her friends and relatives moving away from her, and unable to hold on to a job. Liked the narration technique: while Marie feels her life is in a downhill, we know it isn’t, there is Karen and Grace working to move in on the man who raped her even though they both don’t know the victim. We know their investigation will give Marie her life back and to us hope that there is someone out there determined to do the right thing.

Unbelievable is through and through women’s show, men are relegated to either supporting role or portrayed as bad guys. No, I am not complaining. It is a compliment and I found it rather refreshing. Unbelievable is hard-hitting and a tough watch, it is my reasonable guess there will be few who will not get through first episode, but a satisfying one.