Never Let Him Go

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.

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.

Do NOT miss "Never Let Him Go." It is a brilliantly made documentary of profound emotional power. As a gay man who somehow survived the 1980s, I look upon the murder of this young gay man as the fate I narrowly escaped. The film yanks the veil of secrecy off the Sydney police, with their code of indifference and silent contempt towards gay men. The perseverance of the victim's brother, Steve Johnson, is astonishing, pushing to find answers for 33 years. Yes, joining Steve on his long painful journey is a slog, but stick with it. The resolution is well worth the time it takes to reach. Even today, as gay men, we remain vulnerable, easily crushed by a toxic brew of self-righteousness, ignorance and hate. We survive only when courageous straight people have our backs. I ask you to be inspired by Steve Johnson. If you have a gay friend or relative, I ask that you stick with him when he needs you most. I ask that you never let him go.

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.

This family "can't believe" that they are going without justice while demanding that their case get all the attention of the police. They used manipulation and money to make sure they got time from the police for answering their every complaint as well as investigating. Wonder what families got their justice bumped because they couldn't pull as many strings. If they wanted those results and have money they should have paid a PI not an investigative journalist. This was about making Australia look bad not justice and I'm American and could care less about Australias police force.