Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult

It seems to be an unpopular opinion that The Vow is superior to Seduced..

I found it far superior and am glad I watched it first. The Vow was apparently too slow of a burn for many viewers, but I personally found the pacing well-suited to explaining the creeping indoctrination (and tortured deprogramming) of cults. I liked the focus on the intensely flawed characters who were leaders of the group and how they struggled with fighting back and their own culpability. And the attention paid to Frank Parloto and key events in the downward spiral of Nxivm were given meaningful focus. It was very nuanced and in-depth, all things considered.

Seduced... is primarily focused on the Oxenburgs, and their story is compelling. But there's less of a psychological (or indeed, legal) battle on display. The emotional scenes are gone, basically - everything is very composed and there's a simple narrative focused on India's escape.

It's highly competent and there are crucial details here, and the Oxenburgs are amazing, mother and daughter - but overall it feels considerably less thorough and like a lean addendum to The Vow rather than an alternative.

Although interested in the subject, I simply had no patience for HBO's "The Vow"--after a few episodes I lost all sympathy for the supposed victims/perpetrators who did nothing but film themselves excessively and express regret that didn't seem awfully sincere. "Seduced" gets right to the ugly heart of the matter and is infinitely more compelling. So far, most of those who seemed to figure so prominently in "The Vow"--justifying and endlessly "explaining" have not shown up--with the exception of actress Catherine Oxenberg, who here seems more like a concerned parent rather than a participant in "The Real Cult Mothers of Los Angeles."

This documentary is well made. I can't believe the extent that this cult went to. The leader is the most creepy man - so glad he's now finally behind bars. I'm looking forward to the 4th episode coming onto Stan!

This documentary series is a more traditional take on the same subject matter as "The Vow." The difference is that while the HBO series took you into NXIVM in a way similar to that of a recruit, presenting the attractive and rational sounding side first, helping you understand how otherwise intelligent people could get involved, this series immediately gets to the weird, culty stuff that, had it been put upfront, would have had people running for the doors at their first seminar. What this series adds is a lot more informaton, about cults from recognized experts, about Keith Reniere's background from journalists, about the various sources from which he and Nancy Salzman cobbled together their teachings. Also, though the main focus is on a high status celebrity mother and daughter, we do get interviews from ordinary people who got caught up in NXIVM. Together with "The Vow," this series gives a more rounded view of a very insidious non-religious cult.

This documentary was illuminating and shocking in demonstrating the ways people can be manipulated psychologically. But, regardless of the indoctrination performed on the members of this cult, all the higher ranking members of this group and the DOS group are culpable for their actions. Each and every one states that they did this "for personal betterment" while ANY human with an iota of rationality would understand that the actions taking place would not deliver this. What they truly wanted was VALIDATION from their superiors, something the multitude of wealthy, privileged people that were involved may have been lacking from their personal lives/families. Whether personal betterment or external validation, the actions committed by those involved with recruiting and indoctrination - including India - were acts of selfishness, doing something you know is wrong to promote personal gain. Regardless of the "regret" and the help provided to law enforcement, India did not flip sides until well after the arrest of Keith. Saying it was due to recognising the brand was his initials is a shameful excuse - it is so clear what that marking was and represented. These were all people seeking power and validation, and it is sickening to think so many will go unpunished.

Lastly, the fact that Allison Mack only received a 3 year sentence is disgusting in the context of this documentary.

Why are other 1st level DOS members not also imprisoned? Because Allison was the master of India, who's wealthy royal family felt personal spite towards.

ALL THESE PEOPLE NEED TO BE LOCKED UP FOR AT LEAST 5-10 YEARS.