- Network: HBO
- Series Premiere Date: Jul 12, 2021
Critic Reviews
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Over the course of each half-hour episode, directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato deftly toggle between Farrow’s podcast interviews and archival footage and photos, using just the right amount of stylistic touches to create a compelling atmosphere. Mostly, though, this is the story of voices. The voice of Ronan Farrow, whose mission is to get to the truth no matter how long it takes, and the voices of the brave souls who spoke out against an alleged monster.
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A glimpse into these hard truths, Farrow’s important work to reveal them, and the women who open up in the series makes Catch And Kill a vital watch.
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Even though the repetitiveness of some of the stock footage — closeups of recorders, Farrow looking at papers behind a microphone but not talking into it — might get old, the story is structured in a way that brings viewers in immediately, giving them information on it that they may not have known if they didn’t read Farrow’s book or listened to his podcast.
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This is, fundamentally, a story that’s eminently consumable, combining a great monster of recent history with setbacks and journalistic derring-do — even if it’s not consistently telegenic. ... Taken on its own terms as a way of examining Farrow’s part in the story, “Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes” is worth watching for anyone who wants to begin to understand this bit of very recent history.
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"Catch and Kill" doesn't really intend advance the story as much as repackage part of the book (fully titled "Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies and A Conspiracy to Protect Predators") for TV, and those who might not have read it, in a very effective way.