Summary
Just another true crime docuseries feeding us more tales of murderous violence.
Here is our review of the Netflix true crime series Catching Killers Season 3, released on June 23rd, 2023.
After almost a year and a half since season 2, Netflix’s true crime docuseries Catching Killers has returned to the streaming platform for a third installment.
As the title suggests, the series tells the story of some of the U.S.’s most notorious serial killers from the perspective of the law enforcement officers that helped catch them.
Catching Killers Season 3 Review
Season 3, like the previous two installments, comprises four episodes, each centered on a separate case. Local police detectives and FBI agents who participated in the investigations receive the limelight to give detailed accounts of their roles, thoughts, and feelings on the cases.
Episode one centers on the so-called Railroad Killer, a man who would jump the train tracks across the country, murder his victims and even hang around their homes after the brutal act, helping himself to their food.
The second episode tells the story of the New York Zodiac Killer, a copycat of the original Zodiac from the 60s.
In the third episode, the show focuses on the years-long manhunt for the bomber who disrupted the 1996 Olympic Games. And the final episode is about the sniper who shot six people in a Washington, D.C. suburb in 2002.
Catching Killers follows the same winning formula we’ve become accustomed to from the true crime genre. The interviews are intertwined with archive footage and vague reconstructions.
We also hear glimpses of the relationships and bonds forged between these law enforcement officers while working together.
It was refreshing watching investigators admit to mistakes made and even describe how the job affected their personal lives. Most people interviewed have long since retired from law enforcement, which probably allowed for greater degrees of honesty.
On the flip side of that honesty, some of the statements these former detectives make are disturbing.
The formulaic structure is also the show’s downfall. It’s just another true crime docuseries feeding us more tales of murderous violence. The killers get almost no attention, and the victims are barely named, only serving to disconnect the audience from the horrors presented on screen.
Is Catching Killers Season 3 good or bad?
As far as true crime shows go, Catching Killers Season 3 is as average as it gets.
It sticks to a formula, and due to its exclusive focus on the investigators and the technical aspects, it’s hard to feel any emotional connection with the actual events.
Is Catching Killers Season 3 worth watching?
If you’re a true crime aficionado, you’ll find season 3 of Catching Killers as engaging as the previous two.
While not groundbreaking, the detailed explanations of how murder investigations were conducted two-three decades ago are interesting.
What did you think of Netflix’s true crime series Catching Killers Season 3? Comment below.
