Dirty John

Finally started this year and this season watching the real life and love crime anthology "Dirty John". I must say that season 2 "The Betty Broderick Story" is tense and on fire with drama as the star turn from Amanda Peet as Betty is near perfect with her shining turn as a selfish win at all cost trophy socialite housewife. Based on a true real life case from the 80's the series spans thru the 80's in Southern California to show the stormy life of Dan(Christian Slater) and Betty(Amanda). The series also has flashbacks to their time of meeting and college days on the east coast. Each episode explores how marriage relationships can become toxic as Peet scorches on the screen and she acts out her pain and rage in very loose ways which slowly leads to self pity and tragedy. As her past time of raising four children and watching husband Dan become both a doctor and lawyer becomes distant memories when Betty is left for a young employee(Rachel Keller) of Dan's. Maybe the viewer could call this tabloid TV at it's best!

Still each episode shows pain, loss, and grief and the 80's are captured well with the music and clothing as Betty sports the best of shoulder pads. And Amanda shines and looks so fine in her shiny colored silk satin blouses and plus the scenes in which she sports sexy colored bras is an eye candy treat! The series is a spin on success and vanity showing what it's like to have it all yet it crumbles without emotional love and understanding as it's a moral cautionary tale on greed and mental illness as a midlife crisis becomes the norm. Overall this is a well done shameless dirty true crime story told with drama that shines with the work of Amanda Peet's cold cruel sexy turn as a woman scorned.

I never knew Amanda Peet actually has the chops for such a role! She was just brilliant - her character's physical and mental decline was just so realistic, I wondered at one point whether they used facial prosthetics or whether the lighting was just horrendous! I think I already knew Christian Slater had it in him tbh... I kinda wish that this story had been a dramatic recreation in its own right, and not tied to the first story of John Meehan (which I also really enjoyed btw - love Briton and Temple). However I understand the theme of gaslighting and/ emotional abuse is popular at the moment, while society comes to grips with all the various ways we might further dissect the patriarchy and it's continuing legacy? Personally, I see Betty as an undiagnosed mental health case... like at one point in the series her friend says "she really needs help" and her lawyer says (and I'm def paraphrasing here) "but she might never change, maybe now she just needs to grow old." I basically saw that scene as how America deals with mental health and particularly that within the justice system. Why bother to even try to rehabilitate when you can just lock them up and forget about em...

Oh yeah and the costumes are great too.

I was a huge fan of the Podcast so naturally I wanted to check out the show. So far, I'm slightly disappointed. They made the daughters seem completely dumb and ditzy, but they did not seem that way in the Podcast at all. I hope they don't continue on that way.

Almost all the low star ratings are either w/regards to the voicing of the daughters or the dumbness of the mom. But, remember this is a well researched true story and the actors represent real life people. Especially the mom who wants to believe in love/nurturing/forgiveness so much she loses some objectivity - perfectly normal. As for the story itself: Well, poor John so misunderstood & taken advantage of especially by so many women infatuated w/his charms & good looks: oh, and medical institutions too. They can be so cruel. Anyway, watch & see how this true life drama plays out - if you don't know (then don't before hand look elsewhere or ask) as to how John satisfies his journey through life. Interesting, unique& well done acting by all - kudos. But, why a season 2?

I loved season 2 - really broke my heart this story. Everyone's acting was great, specially Amanda Peet. Even though Betty actions can't be justify, you get to understand her, anD feel sympathy for her. Horrible case, very sad