“I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” is a documentary series available on HBO. It is based on the book (with the same title) written by Michelle McNamara. The book and series cover the crimes of Joseph DeAngelo [otherwise known as: The Golden State Killer or The East Area Rapist].
What makes this series great?
In depth information and evidence from each of the individual crimes. We see exactly what information the investigators had as they were looking into these crimes. We hear directly from survivors of the attacks as well as families of the victims, and even detectives from the original investigations.
The woman who rallied the troops and brought attention to the case was Michelle McNamara, and this series really honors her memory. We see the dedication she had to the victims, her desire for justice, and her personal motivations. This series takes the time to show us who this woman was and why she cared. We see her contributions to the investigation and the sacrifices she made in her pursuit to find the person responsible.
A realistic view. So many productions about serial killers frame these people as “monsters” which honestly takes away from the impact and lesson. Joseph DeAngelo evaded justice for so long because he wasn’t a fairytale monster. He was a police officer, father, and friend. This series shows how DeAngelo blended in with society and avoided suspicion, but it also looks at his past and the red flags that demonstrated his the dark impulses that lied beneath the surface. What I mean is this: the portrayal of Joseph DeAngelo is a realistic one. The series makes no attempt to dramatize the killer or build them into a legendary evil. We just see the crimes, the effect, and the conclusion.
The series focuses a lot on the survivors. We get to see how they have come together and supported each other on their journey to heal from the traumas that they shared. The message is that Joseph DeAngelo did not win. The men and women who survived do not let those horrible experiences stop them from living their lives.
Any negatives?
The beginning episodes of the series may be slow for some viewers. The series focuses on the facts and evidence from each case, so some viewers who don’t have a taste for details may not enjoy that (though, I personally appreciated that).
Should you watch it?
I would recommend this series to anyone looking to learn about the cases or investigation into the Golden State Killer/EAR. If you enjoy true crime and appreciate hearing first-hand accounts as well as case details, this will be a great series for you! One disclaimer: Due to the nature of these cases, some viewers may find the content of the series to be mature or triggering. So, I don’t recommend it for people that are not comfortable with the details of crimes of this nature.