Netflix is back again with yet another true-crime docuseries Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal. The Netflix original, directed by Julia Willoughby Nason and Jenner Furst, delves into the murder allegations against South Carolina's infamous Murdaugh family. The Netflix version of the crime saga dropped on the streaming platform on Wednesday while Alex Murdaugh, the patriarch, is undergoing trial.
Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal is the latest in a series of documentaries about the mysterious family. Many other channels have brought the Murdaugh story to the world through documentaries and podcasts like 20/20: Fall of the House of Murdaugh on Hulu, Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty on Discovery+, Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty on HBO Max, and American Greed: The Decline of a Dynasty and A Legacy of Fraud on NBC.
Netflix's three-part documentary series starts by introducing many personalities directly or indirectly related to the Murdaugh family. The first part tells the story of the incident involving Mallory Beach, a 19-year-old who died in a fatal boat crash. The boat was allegedly driven by Paul Murdaugh, the youngest heir of the Murdaugh family. The series depicts in detail the emotional and physical trauma all the five friends present on the boat went through, along with their families.
Besides the loss of a dear one, people close to Mallory also had to go through tremendous stress due to the power play of the Murdaugh family. Paul, whose blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit, was rescued by his influential father and grandfather who created a false claim that his friend Connor Cook was the one who drove the boat. Through interviews, the series clearly portrays the impact the incident had on everyone.
The second part of the docuseries shows how the family's ties with law enforcement officials helped Paul walk away scot-free. Two years later, another incident shook the community—Paul and his mother, Margaret “Maggie” Murdaugh, were shot multiple times and murdered in the backyard of the family’s summer house on the outskirts of Hampton county. Things turn murkier when Alex is shot in the head and "miraculously" escapes death to claim that the person behind the deaths of his wife and son has tried to kill him. The last part of the series further focuses on two more deaths—including that of their housekeeper Gloria Satterfield—being linked to the family.
Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal focuses on multiple allegations against the family, yet it fails to offer an official statement from law enforcement agencies. Netflix’s version is not just a precise narrative of the crimes, but also shines a light on emotional aspects. Much of the series is focused on Mallory Beach’s death, because of the evidence available.
The use of real photographs and original footage from crime scenes reminds the viewer that shocking events are not a work of fiction. However, the addition of Snapchat videos and photos of the deceased with their family and friends, along with eerie background music, can make you uncomfortable. The first part moves very slowly, revealing details about Mallory's death and building the case against the family. The next two parts, however, are packed with too much information about the family's dealings and crimes from the past. The information overdose in the fast-paced episodes can be a bit too overwhelming and confusing.
With so much content on the Murdaugh murders already out there, Netflix could have waited until the conclusion of Alex Murdaugh's trial to include the final verdict. The series works well as a true-crime documentary but does not offer anything new or beyond what is already out there.
