Shot in the Dark

If Netflix has done anything right, it would be their original documentaries, and this is another fantastic docu-series, about 3 groups of men who work as "stringers", people who film accidents, shootings, and other news worthy stories to be used in the local news. They roam the streets of often dangerous neighborhoods searching for that next big story. These 3 compete for the spotlight of local news, a competition that grabs your attention and never lets go. The job affects and changes each of the subject differently, some much more severely than others.

Not only do we get to see amazing footage of fires and car crashes, but we get to hear the inner workings of the men who film it. Some question the ethical implications of filming death and destruction, some see it as a mechanical and precise job that puts food on the table, and some just done give a f***. The men also each have their own way of approaching the job, and how those ways clash and work against each other is fascinating, so fascinating that you won't be able to stop watching this program, you will binge it.

Only problem is there are only 8 episode and you will find yourself utterly yearning for more, but thankfully the final scene sets things up for a sequel, so we might be getting more.

Highly recommended to viewers of all kinds

I have to say this is one great documentary and 8 episodes is just too few. I'm not one who will easily give a show a 9 on IMDb but this one gets it. The storytelling, the editing, multi angle shots, the map of LA are of really high quality. This together with the enthusiastic stringers makes up for a very engaging documentary. It being on Netflix makes it a great show for binge watching.

Lots of good comments here, expressed better than I could. I enjoy the show, except for one thing. Scott. I get it that TV is more compelling when there's conflict and he fits that bill to a T. Every so often I hurl an epithet at my screen over what he does or says. But tonight did it for me... he claims it's all about family. In this episode he announced that he's having a baby. He was asked how it will affect his life, will he settle down, be a dad, take fewer risks. He said nope. "We have an arrangement. She takes care of everything and I work." When a man chooses work, or anything else, as more important than being a dad he becomes nothing more than just another absent, deadbeat father. No child deserves that, and no wife should be treated that way.

The premise of shot in the dark is following LA stringers as they attempt to get newsworthy footage of car accidents/police chases/shootings to sell to news agencies. The show follows three different groups of stringers as they respond to these police scanner calls and race against each other to sell the news. The cinematography is really impeccable on this show, with map visuals of locations, first hand from the stringers and from their following cameraman, and even news footage if the story was used. I really enjoyed getting to see this as I've never been exposed to it before. My only fault is that they interactions between the different groups felt very staged. After 8 episodes the show does become very repetitive (car on fire, building on fire, etc.).

I have liked Nightcrawler. I like it better than Shot in the Dark. After all it is a finished script and this is reality TV. Yet I strongly disliked the preaching writer voice and the cheap moralistic take. And here that aspect is missing. I am aware that the temptation is strong so that makes this series quite valuable. Another strong point is that the production team was able to make every team have a personality and not treat them all as one faceless group. The downside is the perceived repetition. I know the cases were hand picked to avoid having two of the same, yet by the 5th or 6th episode I was feeling I am watching the old pieces. By the 8th episode the dullness was toned down by the conflict between the teams. So overall, it was a good TV experience.