Never Let Him Go

Although this documentary is very long, lasting for 4 episodes, there are enough details involved to make it necessary to be so lengthy. After all, the family of the victim, Scott Johnson, had to wait for decades for a resolution to the mystery of the death of their beloved family member. What makes this doc so interesting is that they don't just focus on the family seeking justice, but also on the atmosphere that was a part of this story during the time period of the crime, and they also give voice to so many involved in the story, including those from both sides of the fence on the whole issue. At first I thought I would watch 2 episodes and then the other 2 the next day, but the documentary was so well done that I ended up binge watching the entire thing in one sitting. I highly recommend this series for those who find the stories behind true crimes to be very intriguing.

This man's self importance is nauseating & will make your head explode. I am sorry for the family's loss, but I'm more sorry that his wife & children have had to live with his obsession. He's too busy proving a point than to be a good father or spouse.

The entire movie & relentless "investigation" are examples of people with $$$$ feeling that they should take priority over EVERYONE else.

I can't express enough how obnoxious this man is.

Don't waste your time with this well made documentary unless you enjoy listening to pompous, rich white men talk about how much smarter they are than others & how "famous" they are in a foreign country,

Very addictive, I watched all four episodes in one sitting. An amazing pursuit of the truth by Steve Johnson of his brother Scott Johnson's death. As others have mentioned, Steve Johnson had the money and resources to pursue leads that others don't. I also understand that there was probably resentment in Australia of an American going there and trying to get media attention for his brother's case over unsolved Australian cases.

Initially it was botched by an inexperienced investigator and the case was closed, like most of the other gay murders in Manly. That suicide location appears to have been a murder location and it looks like nationalist groups just ran wild in that area.

I was struck by how naïve DCI Pamela Young was of the sensitivity of media interviews and attacking politicians. She spent time bashing the Johnson family instead taking leads and giving the family updates. DCI Yeomans was a professional, thankfully he was assigned the case and selected stellar detectives.

Not a full life sentence for the perp, but some justice for the victim.

Perhaps the most fascinating part is the examination of how the wealth of the family contributed to keeping this case alive. The consequences for any questioning of the validity of this one case getting more attention that all others was interesting. Particularly the deafness of the family to their privilege and how they destroyed careers of anyone that had a different view of police priorities.

This gave the mini series a needed balance from a focus on "one family fights for justice" narrative that kept the first two episodes going. Some revelations at the end are barely examined (and for the sake of no spoilers will not be discussed here) and there was a missed opportunity there.

As Episode 1 of "Never Let Him Go" (2023 release; 4 episodes ranging from 50 to 55 min) opens, we are introduced to Steve Johnson. Steve's brother Scott was found dead in a suburb of Sydney, Australia in December, 1988, seemingly by suicide. Steve isn't buying it and decides to look into it... At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from producer-director Jeff Dupre ("Atlanta's Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children). Here he reassesses what transpired over 3+ decades as the death of an American in Australia remains unexplained. We get extensive background as to the background of the deceased (how did he end up in Australia?). But we also get a nuances look how the surviving brother Steve decides to "never let hum go", and continues to search for answers, even as the local police in Manly, NSW are clearly tired of the situation and of Steve. "A complex picture of incompetence", is how someone describes it. All that aside, towards the end the observation is made that Steve was able to persist for decades because of his wealth. There is some undeniable truth to this. But without Steve's unending doggedness, he would not have been able to see this through either.

All 4 episodes of "Never Let Him Go" started streaming on Hulu a few days ago. It has gotten widespread critical acclaim, and deservedly so. If you are in the mood for a true crime documentary, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.