Der Fall Jens Söring - Tödliche Leidenschaft

Of course, the Romeo and Juliet of the 1980s wouldn't end up like Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet - they would become Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. This is an intriguing and well-made 4-part true-crime documentary about two bookish, uppity Echols scholars who together planned and committed the murder of the girl's parents back in 1985. But who did what? And were they both to blame, or did one manipulate the other?

Unlike what many commenters on here seem to think, the series is actually made by a German crew, not an American one. Which arguably is one of the reasons why Jens speaks German in his new interviews. Another reason is obviously that he now lives in Germany and maybe is no longer that fond of the United States, which he claims are guilty of miscarriage of justice against him.

After watching the series, I don't really have any strong opinions as to who of the two did what, or who is more believeable. And that tells me the producers did a fairly good job in balancing their narrative. The series is not an apologia for Mr. Söring, even if the story he tells himself obviously is just that.

In summary, this is a story of star-crossed love, youthful arrogance/stupidity, and in all probability at least a certain amount of antisocial personality disorder(s).

Electric, gripping documentary. You won't regret watching this. Very creepy murder mystery, keeps you guessing all the way through - and indeed at the end. Told in four bingeable episodes.

How did the parents of a brainy, middle class student come to be butchered to death in their home? Was it their daughter or her mercurial German boyfriend? Can we believe either of their stories or are they each trying to cover their own tracks?

It's very well done with dramatic footage from the murder trials and a range of interviews - including Jen Soering himself. Full of colourful footage from the 80s and 90s too.

There seems to be no doubt that Elizabeth's parents were killed by her, him or both of them. At the very least, they planned it together. What never ceases to amaze me is that he appears to be so happy. He spent 33 years in prison!! I can't help but think that, being the same age as Jens, it's as if I was put in prison at 21 and released today. A whole life lost and he appears happy. And another thing, why was he received as a hero in Germany? I'm also surprised that certain American politicians were so eager to set him free. After all, the sentence was never changed, he was and is guilty. The series? Good, a 6.

I give this one a solid 8 and would have given it a 10 if they hadn't drawn it out because I think the series could have wrapped up in less time. Anyway, the two main characters, wow are they sociopathic clever I'll give them that one. I don't want to add details because I don't want to spoil it, but the twists in this, the sheer creepy natural style of the two makes the hairs on your neck stand up. I can only say that I wish the crime investigation tech of today had been available back then. I watched this in a morning (I wake up really early) and couldn't stop. The investigative side and commentary woven in makes this a well done documentary. I'll say remember one word 'passion'...in more ways than one.

Back in April 1985, The Police are alerted to the home of Derek and Nancy Haysom, who have both been brutally murdered. Police are keen to talk to their daughter Elizabeth, and boyfriend Jens Söring, but the pair have fled the country.

It's a fascinating, bizarre story, which for me, after watching this, is still unresolved. I was as muddled by the end, as I was at the start.

What on Earth really happened, there's so much information, but it's so hard to put the pieces together, it seems that people are firmly in his or her camp, could it not just simply have been a case of both of them did it, and aimed to make it all so messy and complex?

You are only hearing one side, as only Jens Söring speaks, you don't hear from from Elizabeth outside of the trials and Police interviews.

I'm going to say it again, did it need to be four episodes long, the first episode could easily have been edited down, as could the fourth.

7/10.