The popularity of the "true crime" genre has only grown in recent years. I'm certainly guilty of contributing to this. It's already spawned several pieces of media where newbie podcasters try to cash in on the craze, notably "Only Murders in the Building." The latest entry is "Based on a True Story," which takes a novel approach. Its podcasters, Ava and Nathan Bartlett, immediately ID the killer, and then go into business with him to produce their own true crime show. Even better, the leads are Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina, who have both the comedic and dramatic chops to sell the comedy and the thrills - often simultaneously.
The Bartletts live in an affluent part of Los Angeles and are expecting their first child, but they're struggling financially. Ava is a realtor with dwindling prospects, and Nathan is a former tennis star turned aging coach. They hire a plumber, Matt (Tom Bateman), who Nathan befriends before Ava realizes that he's the local serial killer, The Westside Ripper. Creating a podcast featuring Matt seems like the answer to their money troubles, but things quickly spin out of control. It turns out that podcasting isn't as easy as it looks, especially when it comes to marketing and promotion. Other characters, like Ava's best friend Ruby (Priscilla Quintana) and her younger sister Tory (Liana Liberato) become involved.
"Based on a True Story" works great as a fast-paced thriller, where the Bartletts struggle to stay one step ahead of the law and their dangerous new co-creator. This is the kind of show that frequently indulges in narrative fake-outs, and every episode ends on some kind of cliffhanger. However, it works even better as a spoof on the true crime genre, and especially poking fun at a particular breed of rich Angeleno. Matt not only agrees to do the podcast, but he becomes so enthusiastic about it that the Bartletts constantly have to fight to keep him from taking it over completely. They find themselves in competition with other podcasts, and other true crime entrepreneurs trying to cash in. The show is very breezy, and light on gore, but it makes a point to show how the Bartletts become more and more morally compromised as the unstable situation goes on.
I also appreciate "Based on a True Story" for being such a great showcase for its talented actors. Ava is shown to be very pregnant, but Kelly Cuoco is still extremely attractive and charismatic throughout. She's playing a more mature, responsible version of her usual persona, but is still horny and chaotic. Between this and "Air," it's been a fantastic year for Chris Messina, who managed to get me to empathize with him in some truly absurd situations. Tom Bateman is clearly having a lot of fun looking sinister, and walking that thin line between repellent and fascinating. He reminds me a bit of Villanelle from "Killing Eve," though the show hasn't gotten past his surface level schtick yet. Even the minor characters get some great moments. Ruby, for instance, is set up as a spoiled hedonist with a troubled marriage to Simon (Aaron Staton). However, she gets a truly kickass moment in the finale that was so smartly done, I was honestly disappointed when it turned out to be part of one of the show's fantasy sequences.
At only eight episodes, "Based on a True Story" makes for a quick watch, and it ends exactly where it should. I definitely wanted to see more the moment the last episode was finished. I expect that the show can sustain a couple more seasons, but hopefully won't outstay its welcome. The farce is a lot of fun, and I hope it can maintain the same energy and irreverence for a while.
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