2021 TRUE CRIME SERIES

BY: Georgia Davis

So, we have a confession. Just like many of you, we find ourselves obsessing over the latest true crime docuseries and docudramas. It’s a problem, we know, but we can’t stop. It seems a new one pops up every week, and we can’t keep up. In preparation for the rest of 2021, we thought it would be fun to give you a look ahead. Here is PROVKRs list of 2021 true-crime shows, including two productions from Ryan Murphy, one from Shonda Rhimes, and a documentary about a famous hotel. Get ready; there is a lot of binging ahead!

THE RIPPER 

Technically, The Ripper was released in mid-December 2020, but if you missed it, time to go back and watch. It follows the prolific Yorkshire Ripper (no, not Jack The Ripper) who sent the police into a tizzy trying to figure out his identity. Spoiler alert: He was on the streets for five years. Watch to find out why.

THE INVESTIGATION 

HBO’s docudrama The Investigation tells the story of Swedish journalist Kim Wall who died after visiting a submarine. The tragic death ignited a six-month-long investigation by other journalists to help bring justice to her family. You might notice a familiar face among the cast — Pilou Asbæk, who played Euron Greyjoy in Game of Thrones.

CRIME SCENE: THE VANISHING AT THE CECIL HOTEL

Ah, the infamous Cecil Hotel, where paranormal terrors reigned supreme. King of True Crime, Netflix is distributing this docuseries about the hotel’s disappearances, including that of Elisa Lam. The spooky shenanigans will make this feel less like real life and more like a horror movie.

NIGHT STALKER

2021 started with a bang when Night Stalker returned. Though it primarily focuses on cops catching the New Night Stalker instead of talking about his victims, we can’t deny its popularity. Be warned: The crime scene photos are the goriest we’ve seen in true-crime programming.

AMERICAN CRIME STORY: IMPEACHMENT

Now, it feels like we’ve been waiting forever for Ryan Murphy’s third season of American Crime Story. In case you forgot, it will follow Bill Clinton’s impeachment by putting Monica Lewinsky in the lead character spot. Who’s playing her, you ask? Well, none other than up-and-comer Beanie Feldstein. 

MONSTER: THE JEFFREY DAHMER STORY

Wow, speaking of Ryan Murphy, Netflix greenlit a docudrama about serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Not much is known about the series, but Richard Jenkins has signed on to play Dahmer’s dad, Lionel. How much do you want to bet Evan Peters will play Jeffrey Dahmer? We have a feeling the chances are high.

INVENTING ANNA 

Perhaps the one we’re most looking forward to is Inventing Anna, a Shonda Rhimes production for Netflix. It stars Ozark’s Julia Garner. Garner plays Anna Sorokin, who is better known as Anna Delvey. Delvey committed fraud in Manhattan by pretending to be a German heiress. Garner got to visit Delvey in prison to nail down the role. “It got super meta because she’s like, ‘So how are you playing me?’ “Garner told The Hollywood Reporter. “I said, ‘Well, you’re very complex. Your accent’s really hard.’ She’s like, ‘Oh my God, how do you sound like me? You have to do it.’ She just was freaking out.” We have a feeling all of the research is going to make the performance that much better. Do we hear another Emmy calling Garner’s name? We think so.