True crime podcasts distill some of the darkest, most horrifying moments of human nature into captivating tales. For most of us, enjoying a good mystery while washing the dishes or taking the dog out usually doesn’t cause any issues. But what happens when your favorite creepy thriller becomes a little too real?
Based on a True Story is a dark comedy on Peacock starring Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina as Ava and Nathan Bartlett. Their story starts out fairly mundane, until they hire Matt Pierce, a plumber played by Tom Bateman. Ava uses her true crime superfan knowledge to learn that Matt isn’t just handy with pipes—he’s actually the prolific serial killer known as the Westside Ripper.
Screenshot via Peacock
A Deadly Arrangement
The pair realize they have a content gold mine on their hands and convince Matt to anonymously share a story on their new podcast, which goes viral after a convention appearance. Suddenly, the pair have become bonafide true crime celebs overnight. But making a deal with a serial killer very rarely goes well and eventually, the podcast goes under. Now the clout is gone, but they still have to deal with that terrifying killer they brought into their life. Their traditional suburban family gets flipped upside down, leading to more murders and chaos.
Though the show is gory, its truly stellar editing doesn’t linger too long on the kills. The camera will sometimes make it feel like you are in a horror movie, only to cut to a joke or something light, keeping you constantly guessing what will happen next. The story of Ava, Nathan, and their serial killer friend takes center stage, while neighbors, Ava’s sister, and the police are constantly chasing their tale.
The show’s clever deconstruction of the true-crime genre and the creator economy caught my attention at first. But the show’s second season is where I truly got hooked. Matt starts the season off at a retreat and promises to abstain from any more murder. With Ava’s sister as his fiancée, the season starts with Matt genuinely looking to improve his life. But as t we spend more run time on Matt’s struggle, a copycat killer goads him into killing once more. From a sex club to a podcast studio, the show takes you all over while we wait and see if Matt strikes again. The many twists and turns never feel boring or unearned. The season finale is an outright nail-biter that left me praying to NBC to just announce the third season already.
Screenshot via Peacock
Mixing It Up
If you are only used to seeing Cuoco on The Big Bang Theory, you’ll be surprised by her performance here. Like every character on the show, she’s dirty and malicious—but still has you rooting for her at the end of the day. The same can be said for Chris Messina, who has shed his love-interest past on The Mindy Project to become an aging tennis pro whose bitterness and guile cause him to make the worst decisions.
Based on a True Story offers an unflinching look in the mirror for anyone who loves the violence and masochism of true crime. The show has no problem calling out both fans and creators of the genre, pointing out what can happen if you let stardom overtake your humanity. Sure, this dark comedy is morally repugnant at times, but that’s also what makes it great. All the different shades of awfulness just made me want to watch even more.
