Are You an “American Crime Story” Fan? Check out Other Ways to Get your Fix

By Alexis Evans | February 7, 2016

This week “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson” finally premiered and it was everything you’d expect. There was Lifetime-esque drama, fabulous 90s outfits, and a glimpse at the Kardashian sisters we all know and love before they were transformed by reality fame.

For many young millennials this series will be the first time they experience the infamous murder case that captivated older generations, but this dramatized docuseries isn’t the only way to get your true crime fix this winter. Keep reading to discover some of the best true crime series out now, and why we’re watching each case:

For the Drama Obsessed: “The People vs. O.J. Simpson”

Before we move on in this list, let’s talk a little bit more about why you should set your DVRs to record FX’s “The People vs. O.J. Simpson” this winter.

The story itself is simple. A famous football quarterback is tried for killing his ex-wife and a waiter, and is acquitted, only to later be found liable in a civil case. However, the themes of the television show are what make it a standout success. Audiences will be mesmerized by how the intersections of fame, money, privilege, and race end up shaping the outcome of the case.

And if that wasn’t enough to convince you, the all-star cast surely will. Cuba Gooding Jr. proves that not only can he embody Dr. Ben Carson, but he makes for a pretty good O.J. too. There are also amazing performances from Sarah Paulson, who plays feminist prosecutor Marcia Clark, and David Schwimmer, as the late Robert Kardashian.

For the Conspiracy Theorist: “Making A Murderer”

We couldn’t make a true crime list without mentioning the Netflix cult favorite “Making a Murderer.” The Stephen Avery docuseries first premiered in December, and it didn’t take long before everyone was binge-watching it.

Avery was released from prison in 2003 after serving 18 years for a wrongful sexual assault conviction. Then in 2005 he sued the sheriff’s department and district attorney of Manitowoc County for damages. But right in the middle of depositions for the civil suit, Avery was arrested for the murder of a Wisconsin photographer named Teresa Halbach.

Sounds suspicious right?

Well prepare to keep picking your mouth up off the floor when watching this Netflix original, because the details of this case are jaw-dropping. What makes this series so spellbinding is that there’s no shortage of conspiracy theories as to who the actual killer maybe. Some people are dead set on believing that it was the police, and others are convinced it really was Avery. Watch for yourself and be the judge.

For the Podcast Virgin: “Serial”

Even if you hate podcasts, I promise you’ll love this one. Sarah Koenig’s “This American Life” spinoff “Serial” has revolutionized the defunct medium by addicting audiences to the 1999 murder of the Hae Min Lee.

After the 18-year-old Baltimore high school student’s strangled body was found, police were tipped off that her ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed was the killer. Syed was eventually convicted of first degree murder and is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence for her murder, however, to this day he still swears he’s innocent.

Syed’s lawyers are currently petitioning the court for a re-trial due based on the testimony of an alibi witness who was never called and who can place Syed in a library at the supposed time of the murder. It’s unclear what effect this new development will have, but in the meantime listen to “Serial” to learn more about Syed’s case.

For the Finale Lover: “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst”

HBO’s documentary miniseries about accused murderer Robert Durst stands out on this list, because it has the finale that everyone is talking about.

Without spoiling the whole series, I can tell you that “The Jinx” investigates the suspicious unsolved 1982 disappearance of Durst’s wife Kathie, the 2000 killing of writer Susan Berman, and the 2001 death and of Durst’s neighbor Morris Black. All fingers pointed to Durst as the would-be killer, but the real estate heir remained a free man. Then, a day before the series finale was set to air, Durst was arrested on first-degree murder charges.

I call that one hell of an ending.