The Case Against Adnan Syed: Season 1

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Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Ratings

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4.8

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4.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 13 Ratings

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The Case Against Adnan Syed

Now Playing: The Case Against Adnan Syed

Season Details & Credits

HBO | Season Premiere Date: March 10, 2019

Summary: The four-part documentary series directed by Amy Berg takes another look at the case that was central to the Serial podcast with new interviews with people connected to the case and possible new discoveries.

Genre(s): Drama, Movie/Mini-Series, Documentary

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E3. Part 3: 'Justice Is Arbitrary'
Air Date: March 10, 2019
tbd
S1:E2. Part 2: In Between the Truth
Air Date: March 17, 2019
tbd
S1:E1. Part 1: Forbidden Love
Air Date: March 10, 2019

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

The Telegraph Ed Power

Jan 3, 2020

Interviews with old school friends, remembering a young woman frozen in time, were supplemented with animations of Lee. This was a potentially exploitative flourish that somehow landed the right side of mawkish. ... [Amy Berg] took a person who had been defined only by a terrible evil done to her – and the media carnival that followed with Serial – and restored her right to be remembered as a human being. Read full review

Dorothy Rabinowitz

Mar 7, 2019

The HBO version’s ambitious, complex and deeply detailed narrative delivers dimension to this story of doomed romance, clashing cultural, and dubious justice as only film can. Read full review

Josh Modell

Mar 8, 2019

Although it starts a little bit rocky and unfocused, The Case Against Adnan Syed eventually does an admirable job of focusing--doubters might say shaping--the various stories into something plausible. It seems silly to hope for a huge revelation in its final hour, but with such a fascinating case, it would be even sillier to doubt that another unexpected twist might arise. Read full review

Sophie Gilbert

Mar 8, 2019

While Serial kept listeners on tenterhooks from week to week, The Case Against Adnan Syed is a more granular and less wholly absorbing experience. Berg’s series is most riveting, and sad, when she puts the specifics of the case aside to focus on the people whose lives have been irrevocably damaged by Lee’s murder and its aftermath. Read full review

The Guardian Emine Saner

Dec 5, 2019

It is skilfully created, and mostly empathetically told by the director Amy Berg. And yet it’s still uncomfortable to watch. Read full review

Pilot Viruet

Mar 6, 2019

The Case Against Adnan Syed, at least in the first three hours, isn't a groundbreaking docuseries nor will it lead to another frenzy of obsessives. It's mostly just a well-done addendum to a well-known story: a few extra notes, a new theory here or there, an interesting visit or phone call that quickly gets dropped. Read full review

Daniel D'Addario

Mar 5, 2019

A broadcast that breaks no ground, that succeeds in re-airing exculpatory information about Syed but falls short as a documentary and as television. The Case Against Adnan Syed is a misbegotten rehash of a person whose renown belies that his story can’t sustain multiple retellings. Read full review

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User Reviews

EponymousTitle

Apr 4, 2019

There are two flaws in this serialized documentary I consider critical and fatal. First, the opening episode includes a variety of scenes in which the murder victim's words are imagined through animation and a voice actor. The animation colorfully romanticizes the relationship between theThere are two flaws in this serialized documentary I consider critical and fatal. First, the opening episode includes a variety of scenes in which the murder victim's words are imagined through animation and a voice actor. The animation colorfully romanticizes the relationship between the murder victim and the man convicted of her murder, in the murder victim's own voice, although she is of course powerless to respond, while her family - who continue to believe the murder verdict was correct - is powerless to stop her words being used in such a manner. It is deeply unsettling watching from this perspective, as though a murderer has unburied the body of their victim and put it on display - indeed the producers, one of whom is the "legal advisor" of the convicted murderer, do not hesitate to literally put this corpse on display, featuring actual photos of the deceased victim prominently in the show.

The show's second fatal flaw is the massive one-sidedness of the narration, which presents a defense to the trial without providing any substantive presentation of the claims and evidence against the convicted individual. In that regard, it is unclear whether the name of the show - "The Case Against Adnan Syed" - is ironic or whether it is intentionally misleading, for it is thoroughly committed to the defense of the convicted individual and seems to consciously avoid any evidence that may support the jury's findings. This is deeply unsatisfying viewing, and leaves the viewer with many questions that a viewer suspects have answers, but these simply aren't provided by the storyteller. The lawyers are advocating zealously for their clients, but in a documentary, the client should be the viewer, not any actual client. It is disconcerting to watch this in real time, with the actual client in prison, seemingly surrounded by people who have "drank the kool-aid" without any real analysis of the risks that existed in the appellate process. From a viewing of this documentary, these lawyers all seem irresponsible and failing in their duties to their client, just as at least one of these lawyers, as a film producer, are irresponsible and fail in their duties to their viewer.

For these reasons, and many others that are secondary to the stated issues, this is a massively disappointing and unpleasant series to watch.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

UncleWillard

Apr 17, 2019

Giving this a 1 because I have to give credit to it for making me question the whole narrative. The show goes much further than Serial to make the case for Adnan Syed's innocence, and it baffled me that he was still in jail give what this show proposed. It forced me to go start asking forGiving this a 1 because I have to give credit to it for making me question the whole narrative. The show goes much further than Serial to make the case for Adnan Syed's innocence, and it baffled me that he was still in jail give what this show proposed. It forced me to go start asking for the opposite side; those who think he's guilty. There is much more compelling evidence for his guilt and Serial, HBO and Rabia Chaudry's Undisclosed completely neglect it. They don't even address all the other reasons Adnan Syed ended up in jail. If you ask them, it was magic because there was no evidence or question of his innocence. I have a lot of questions now and HBO's series forced me to be less lazy and go ask. I'm glad for that. I think he is guilty and nothing presented by either this or Undisclosed will change my mind. I also think that Rabia Chaudry is using Adnan to further her work in the Pakistani community. This is her project and it has nothing to do with Adnan. It's just her waving the flag for her cause.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

Seasons & Episodes

66

Series Overview
Season 1

66
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: March 10, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E3. Part 3: 'Justice Is Arbitrary'
  Air Date: March 10, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E2. Part 2: In Between the Truth
  Air Date: March 17, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E1. Part 1: Forbidden Love
  Air Date: March 10, 2019