The First 48

Extremely interesting in the investigation of murders and what it takes to to find a criminal. Obviously, we aren't shown 100 percent of what is involved in solving the crime... But personally I believe they shouldn't show us everything. I think changing cities adds to the show.

If there is one true crime series for buffs you need to watch, it is this one.

Raw and disturbing but what makes it stand out from others is just how real the people are - victims, criminals and the hardworking, tireless detectives and emergency services.

I have watched every single episode of each season and will say it is my fav series. Appreciate it may not be for everyone but for those who do have the interest, it is a series that will stay with you long after the episodes finish. As they say fact can be stranger (and scarier) than fiction. This is the proof.

Thanks to the production team behind this series - perfect in every sense of the word.

I enjoy watching documentaries about real topics and events. Especially those about search and rescue, law enforcement and investigations. To me, this is by far the BEST reality series I've seen.

My husband & I always watch this show. It is interesting but can be depressing when the victim is just an innocent person in the wrong place at the wrong time - also when they have small children, which is usually the case. It is heartbreaking to see the grief of the relatives when they are informed of their loved one's death.

I like watching the suspects get interviewed. They almost always lie and often the detectives can break them down. Some of the perps show remorse, others feel no guilt.

The only thing I don't like is how two different cases are covered in the same episode and they jump back and forth, back and forth. They're in Miami, now they're in Harris County, TX, now they're back in Miami....The episodes that focus on one case are easier to follow.

One of the more credible "reality TV" series, "The First 48" (which refers to the first 48 hours of a crime investigation) shows real detectives investigating real crimes. All POIs are real. There are no actors, no script.

Each episode lasts about 45 minutes, and begins as the crime investigation begins. The episode then ends with the identity of the perpetrator. In between, cops query neighbors, talk strategy among themselves, search databases, make phone calls, and analyze forensics. It's gritty work. Most of the time, cases are solved, but not always. Usually, the criminal leaves obvious clues, as he or she is not very smart.

Color cinematography is fine. Images are clear and sharp. Given the docudrama approach, editing is important. All the episodes I watched had fine editing. In voice-over, a narrator describes what's going on and why, to help guide viewers.

My only complaint is that some episodes are sewn together in one long sequence. You get the setup for "Loved To Death" (for example), only to be interrupted by the setup for "Unmasked" (a different episode). Then during "Unmasked", the program switches back to "Loved To Death". This back-and-forth presentation of two episodes is annoying. It kills each story's continuity.

I'm not fond of the "reality-TV" genre. But here, the action is not contrived. And there are no Hollywood "stars", mercifully! Overall, "The First 48" is a fine series that at least tries to introduce some reality into a film genre that historically has been way too glamorized.