The first season of on the hunt for the killer Netflix surprised true crime fans with its novel proposal. The vast majority of programs of the genre dedicate time and effort to telling the version of the victim. But the docuseries focused on the investigators. In the tour carried out by a team of professionals from various disciplines, to capture criminals of all kinds. The twist allowed the show to be more than just another of the many violent crime premises that abound today. Especially on Netflix.
During the last five years, the platform has exploited the genre to create a true collection of documentaries of different kinds about violent crimes. Nevertheless, on the hunt for the killer it is an exploration of the fact of the circumstance surrounding a case. It is not just a meticulous vision of the resources, tools and work method when it comes to clarifying a violent act. Also about how it affects officials and agents related to cases of extreme brutality.
In fact, the first season had an unusual vision of the effects and havoc that delving into violence causes in the psyche of researchers. With its fast-paced, well-constructed, and meticulous, the series immediately became a success that amazed by its eloquence. Also for his ability to narrate several of the bloodiest events in recent American history from a new angle.
Perhaps for that reason, it is surprising that the second season of on the hunt for the killer lacks its former solidity. Whether it’s because the premise is starting to wear off or the attention to detail is less, it’s clear that the series has lost some of its impact. Even so, it retains the obvious goal of narrating an unusual version of the crime. It succeeds — shallower and faster — and it also manages to push the envelope on well-known genre clichés. But, despite that, the new chapters are a mixture of a narrative that it lacks the power to amaze and move of the first season. Perhaps his biggest flaw.
Back to the crime scene
Back to its very short format of chapters between 35 to 40 minutes long, on the hunt for the killer It starts with a global look. A careful review of the fact of the crime and also, the conception of contemporary violence. This time around, the crime scenes span Wichita, Phoenix and Toronto. And again, the docuseries uses its well-known resource of touring the offices, spaces and showing the dynamics of the criminal investigation.
However, unlike the previous season, the personal look at investigators is less personal. There is no emotional closeness, nor the intuitive and careful trait that moved in the first season. The new season brings a disturbing collection of crimes, but like so many other similar series, it ends up obsessing over the violent details. The journey through the stories takes distance from the officers, police, investigators and forensic experts to emphasize the formal. And although the series continues to be entertaining and without a doubt a gripping look at crime.
Whether it shows the atrocities of the serial killer BTK (‘Bind Torture Kill’ for its acronym in English) or the new methods of investigation. The series lost solidity, intelligence and strength in favor of showing more bloody images. Does that affect the central premise of On the hunt for the killer? Not so much that he loses his sense of identity. But yes, to be just a substitute and less elaborate product of similar series. Losing its sense of originality, Hunt for the Killer has no choice but to show the obvious. And to do it in the middle of a continuous narrative about cruelty and violence, which It is excessively similar to so many other similar programs.
A la Caza del Asesino fulfills what it promises, but only halfway
Despite its flaws, the new season of the docuseries is smart enough to stand on familiar stories. After all, this is a look at crimes that made big headlines or became American obsessions. With its sober staging and short structure, on the hunt for the killer try to show an anthology pattern. And it achieves it by creating a kind of audiovisual archive of interest on violent events of special impact.
Even so, the distinctive feature that made the series a favorite with the audience is missing. A look at the closed doors, the long vigil nights of the human team, the pain of men and women witnesses of violence. Turned into another heap docuseries, on the hunt for the killeror it is entertaining to the extent that it can surprise. But he doesn’t always do it and perhaps that is the most worrying point of his new chapters.