Depp v. Heard

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Aug 16, 2023
Metascore
48

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10

Critic Reviews

  1. The Telegraph
    Reviewed by: Anita Singh
    Aug 15, 2023
    60
    Unfortunately, we’re now in a world where everything has to be black and white, where taking sides and shouting loudly is the route to likes and subscriptions. This was the focus of the programme, as much a study of toxic social media culture as a toxic celebrity marriage.
  2. The Times
    Reviewed by: Carol Midgley
    Aug 15, 2023
    60
    A zippy threeparter that spliced their courtroom testimony to place their opposing stories side by side along with the partisan opinions of superfans watching, was a reminder that this was essentially a death match, a nihilistic duel with each participant blasting the other to pieces.
  3. i
    Reviewed by: Emily Baker
    Aug 15, 2023
    60
    While informative and entertaining, Depp vs Heard was, at its most base level, a well-organised series of second-hand clips.
  5. CNN
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Aug 16, 2023
    50
    Emphasizing the social-media frenzy that surrounded the case, alas, proves more irritating than illuminating, with the one truly worthwhile element being how the producers present the two principals’ conflicting accounts side by side.
  6. Decider
    Reviewed by: Joel Keller
    Aug 16, 2023
    50
    We’re recommending Depp V. Heard for the edited-together trial footage, especially the back-and-forth testimony from Depp and Heard themselves. The rest of it is just irritating, but not irritating enough to keep us from watching.
  7. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Richard Roeper
    Aug 15, 2023
    50
    This is one of the major drawbacks to the series: the failure to hold any of these commenters accountable, to even explain who they are beyond a simple graphic, to interview them after the fact and ask them how they feel about their performances, which were designed to gain as many “Likes” and Subscribers as possible.
  8. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Mick LaSalle
    Aug 15, 2023
    50
    As a work of entertainment, “Depp v. Heard” can’t miss, not with this subject matter, and director Emma Cooper does her best to be responsible in her choice of trial footage. But the filmmaker’s bias toward Heard leads her to mischaracterize the social media reaction as nothing but a misogynist feeding frenzy.
  9. The Guardian
    Reviewed by: Rebecca Nicholson
    Aug 15, 2023
    40
    It is essentially a curated collage of courtroom footage, video and audio evidence, old press junket interviews with Depp and Heard, news reports and a torrent of YouTube and TikTok clips, alongside a running commentary from fans, amateur reporters, legal commentators and podcast hosts.
  10. The Independent
    Reviewed by: Nick Hilton
    Aug 15, 2023
    40
    The American courtroom system turned these domestic and sexual assault allegations into a Punch and Judy show for the masses. That was bad enough, in the moment, but the protraction of this damaging psychodrama for the purposes of “entertainment” ought to worry us just as much.
  11. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Daniel Fienberg
    Aug 15, 2023
    20
    It tells us decidedly less than we knew coming in because the Virginia trial was inextricably linked to a previous libel case in the UK, a case that’s barely mentioned.

Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Most Discussed TV Season of 2023

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
2.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 19
  3. Negative: 14 out of 19
  1. DevilzHaircut
    Aug 17, 2023
    1
    Clearly the director had a pro Amber (feminist) agenda, as she is reformulating the trial in a very amateurish way in depicting Amber as theClearly the director had a pro Amber (feminist) agenda, as she is reformulating the trial in a very amateurish way in depicting Amber as the innocent victims over the evil powerful men. Last time Ive checked she was declared guilty by in part women jury and a female judge.… Full Review »
  2. MatthewPacheco
    Aug 18, 2023
    0
    Watching at 1.5x speed, this so-called docuseries still tested my patience at every turn. I followed the trial live, so this inaccurate andWatching at 1.5x speed, this so-called docuseries still tested my patience at every turn. I followed the trial live, so this inaccurate and butchered representation was a slap in the face. Their claim to show "both sides" is farcical when they glaringly omit key points favoring Depp. The creators' audacious insinuation that Depp's support stems from mere star-struck admiration and media manipulation, overlooking solid evidence, is maddening. Steer clear of this skewed debacle.… Full Review »
  3. Sukhish
    Aug 17, 2023
    0
    This is pushing an agenda with a truck load of propaganda on top of it. Yes, a side of this was to show the effect of social media and I amThis is pushing an agenda with a truck load of propaganda on top of it. Yes, a side of this was to show the effect of social media and I am not a big dan of it either but thats not the issue with the show is.... As I said it;s just pure propaganda!

    I saw the whole thing (the real story everyday) and the way its representatied in this series is just bonkers! Shows how manipulative TV shows can be! The bias towards Amber was just unreal as if that was the whole objective of creating this docu****

    And... please DO NOT call it a documentary. It was honestly painful and frustrating to see the ending!
    Summary: I just can't believe this crap!    … Full Review »
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