BASED ON A TRUE STORY -- An Edgy, Consistently Fun Satire of True Crime

Review by Sean Boelman

America has a strange and morbid obsession with true crime in shows, documentaries, and podcasts, and several comedies have come out poking fun at the phenomenon. Although Based on a True Story’s high concept premise may not revolutionize the genre, its sharp writing and strong cast manage to keep things consistently funny and — perhaps more importantly — thoroughly suspenseful.

The series follows a struggling married couple who decide to partner up with a serial killer to create a podcast capitalizing on the obsession people have with true crime. This isn’t the first true crime podcast comedy — Only Murders in the Building kicked off a movement of them — but this show’s uniquely edgy and dark take allows it to be memorable.

Although the pilot episode is a bit weak, this can be excused given that much of its runtime is spent setting up the premise. Once the characters get up to their wacky hijinks in creating and promoting the podcast, the show becomes incredibly fun and addictively binge-worthy, with a pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what comes next.

The show’s interrogation of the true crime genre isn’t as substantial or insightful as it clearly seems to think it is. Characters frequently ask whether what they are doing is the right thing, or if they are exploiting the victims of these brutal crimes. Ultimately, the question the writers need to ask is that, by capitalizing on the popularity of the true crime genre themselves, are they too just as culpable as the characters in the show?

One of the best things about this show is how perfectly it captures the balance between hatable and charismatic. On the one hand, all three of the show’s leads are absolutely selfish, terrible people. Yet there is something somewhat charming about them that wins over. Even though the protagonists are a socialite married couple — an archetype that would usually be dislikable to a majority of audience members — and a serial killer, it’s shockingly fun to go on this adventure with them.

A large part of the show’s success can be owed to its three leads, all of whom are great. Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina have such believable chemistry, really sealing the tension in their relationship. However, the scene-stealer is Tom Bateman who, apart from an American accent that is a bit off at times, is both incredibly funny and unsettling in the role.
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When the series falls back on CGI for some of its more violent scenes, it begins to look a little goofy. Still, there are a few incredibly creative sequences in the series, particularly toward the end of the series. Episode 5 is probably the peak of the show, containing both some of the most tense and funniest moments in the show.

Based on a True Story is a super fun crime comedy with a great cast and a killer premise that it takes full advantage of. Like the podcasts that it satirizes, viewers of this show won’t be able to get enough, and will be waiting with bated breath to see what happens next in a hopeful season two.

Based on a True Story streams on Peacock beginning June 8. All eight episodes reviewed.

Rating: 4.5/5