El gran fraude

The Big Conn is the latest docu-series on AppleTV+ and judging by the trailer, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was the next Tiger King. The story is equal parts heartbreaking and crazy, while the team in charge of this - who also produced McMillions - throw everything into this to make an aesthetically slick and bombastic documentary. Unfortunately, despite only being 4 episodes long. The first episode in particular, perfectly exemplifies the issues that ripple through this. It takes 7 and a half minutes before we even begin the story, with nothing but hype and a massive introduction to pad out the opening. We're also graced with a 40 second establishing shot before we get our first interview with a local in Kentucky. These moments are small but they add up to a bloated docu-series that I can't help but feel could have been more tightly edited to produce a much smoother 2 or 3 episode series. Just to play devil's advocate on my own point though, all four episodes are split into different chapters that tackle a slightly different part of this case that lead Conn being brought to justice. The general premise here revolves around a charismatic lawyer called Eric C. Conn. Living the high life in eastern Kentucky and becoming something of a celebrity in the community, two whistleblowers called Jennifer and Sarah, discover that Eric is actually defrauding the US government through the Social Security System. In fact, he actually managed to obtain an eye-watering sum of half a billion dollars. Conn then orders two Pepsis, returns to his car and find a money pouch he earlier obtained has gone missing. Did we need that 5 minute segment? Did I need to include this big, excruciating statement in this review to emphasize the point? No and no. The trouble is, The Big Conn does it anyway to try and make the story crazier. The irony is, these moments of incredulous developments (minus the pouch disappearing) have the opposite effect. The Big Conn is a documentary series that's a bit too big to fill the boots of other, more prolific docu-series. It's certainly a crazy story and full of twists and turns, but the masterful editing of the trailer gives the impressive that this is going to be a fast-paced, lively romp. It's not.

Some have said this documentary could have been done in three episodes instead of four, but honestly there wasn't any part of it that I felt should've been left out.

I live in Western Kentucky, and I don't recall hearing about this before. (I'm not a news watcher. I like facts, and the news is not all facts.). I was fascinated throughout the entire series. I put the show on just to have something on while I was doing other things on my phone, but I ended up being engrossed with it.

There are many players in this documentary. Conn, himself, is a bit complicated. I felt bad for him in some ways. I do think this was another player's idea to begin with as Conn said (I don't want to give too many details). The whistleblowers had their work cut out for them, and they didn't give up. There were so many people with fault to some degree in this whole mess, whether it was money related, harassment, or turning a blind eye. To be honest, the Social Security Administration chose an abhorrent "resolution". I'd like to see them deal with anything close to what they've done to innocent people. (Yes, some were frauds, but two are still fighting that absolutely should have already been back on their benefits. The poor girl, I cannot see how in the world she's been denied.. EVER!)

The ending was definitely another twist.

I binged the entire series when I really should have been doing other things. It's that good.

It never ceases to amaze me when "like finds like". The lawyer and the judges and the Social Security Administration. This the perfect example of it - on steroids!

Conn, the lawyer's very appropriate name, took the "only child" myth to new lows - or highs. I can't decide which. Seems no matter what he did, he did it to the absolute EXTREME!

Same with his profession. He had big plans and, well, everything Conn did was big.

The series was too long. It could have been easily cut back. It seems to mimic his need for abundance.

My greatest disappointment was with the Social Security Administration. The fact is, they are playing with our money - and it seems they don't seem to think it's anything but Monopoly money. Why aren't they being investigated?!

Assessing blame - you'll have to do that yourself.

Disturbing , frustrating and devastational proves of a federal system that doesnt work properly. I think its payback time for the culprits, but dont let that affect your own striving and trying to surviving citizens that became welfare pensioneers due to this justice fraud.give them the benefit of the doubt or at least a evaluation process on turbotime to make their rotten existence durable again.

Great documentary with alot of aha moments, even though the con mr conn couldve been purged even more.that may leave a thought on how much digging in the material that has been done.

Unexpected twists and turns - quite unbelievable how the story played out and how crooked the SSA system is. Separately, we all need more Mason Tucketts in our lives.