Cold Case Files: Dead West

The show is good in that it is diving into cases that do not seem to have been "done to death" by the myriad other true crime shows.

However, much like "Sins of the South", the narration is ridiculously over the top. "Dude Walker" (alias of Thomas McMullen) has more of an accent than the actual regional people being interviewed and/or recounting their memories.

Much like the Pace Salsa commercial, he deserves a "New York City" in regards to his faux twang.

So far I am able to tolerate the voice acting (aka narration). I just wish I knew why these shows cannot source regional VAs and use ones with exaggerated (fake) dialects.

I "enjoy" true crime content. I like reviewing cases, following investigations, and seeking the truth of the situation. I can be patient if the story is complicated, but generally speaking, I don't want to endure repetition and meandering storytelling. And that's what sinks this show.

They tell the story too slowly. I know not everything can be Forensic Files, but one of the greatest strengths of Forensic Files was its half hour format. They told the story, limited the use of musical/scenic interludes, and didn't repeat details every 2-3 minutes. This show should have done the same. It would have been great in a 30 minute format.

Try the first episode. If you can get to the 20 minute mark without hating the twangy musical interludes, being hit over the head with the same details, and drawn out storytelling then you have a show you will like. I couldn't get through it myself, though.