The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga

I really enjoyed this. There are so many interesting characters and so many twists and turns. As Johnny Carson might say, "Wild, wacky stuff". There weren't a lot of characters I would say I liked, but there were a lot I became fond of. If you are a fan of True Crime and eccentric characters, then I would recommend this. What's not to like about an Elvis impersonating janitor and his rival - a failed politician/black belt/Mensa member? This story has intrigue, local and national politics, a love quadrangle, and more! I know from seeing some of the other reviews that it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but then again, there are people who don't appreciate Faulkner or the Coen Bros. Take my recommendation in that light.

Then by god this is the documentary series for you.

The characters are charming and the production is great, typical for any Netflix series like this.

There's no need for me to spoil any of the plot here. There are many people across the country and particularly in the deep south that are prone to conspiratorial &/or mystical/religious thinking - as in believing in things that are not in any way provable. It's a condition of humanity and we're all susceptible. It's simply the degree to which certain people can be TREMENDOUSLY, spectacularly susceptible. In this case, an individual who is so prone to believing in fantasy that they had to make a whole Netflix series about it.

Enjoy!

When work dries up a little, Elvis impersonator Kevin takes on the role of a janitor, on a job he discovers a severed head, a discovery that convinces him that body parts are being sold. Kevin gets mixed up in a plan to send ricin to The President.

The last time I watched a documentary as wild and crazy as this, it was Tiger King, this is pretty much on the same lines, all shades of crazy.

I binge watched it all in one go, I had to, it really is that good. Very well paced, packed with intrigue, loaded with humour, I found Kevin quite an amusing, and generally likeable character.

One thing that baffles me, whoever was running the case needed to be spoken to, who on Earth would have thought that Kevin was capable of making ricin, come on.

Honestly, it's absolutely bonkers, and Kevin may seem like a total, conspiracy theory obsessive, you discover there's a grain of truth in what he discovered.

Bonkers, but hugely entertaining.

8/10.

Incredibly well produced with timing, inserting tidbits, and the way they build the story. Kudos to the production and research team. They know how to rachet up the drama and make it like a fiction thriller with a bunch of laughs along the way. Besides that, the story itself is fascinating without all the extra production and takes all kinds of twists and turns with a surprise ending. Absolutely recommend to spend 3 episodes for a fun time and it doesn't drag on for 9 episodes like Inventing Anna that could have been told in 4 🙄 sure, everyone is a bath*t crazy, but it's the deep south. If you like Tiger King you'll love this.

I had to stay up late to finish the series, but it was well worth the lost sleep. What a gem! I had no expectations when I started watching. The documentary held my attention and transformed what felt like a drab day into something vibrant. Bravo to the directors, writers, editors, film crew, sound crew, and especially to the genuine people who lived the story being told.

There's a lot to unpack in this show. I initially thought I could predict its trajectory, only to look back at the end and realize how completely off I was. As someone who mostly enjoys documentaries and films that lean toward darker, more dramatic themes, I tend to overlook shows with trailers that suggest a lighter narrative. I'm so glad I broke that cycle. I would rate it a 9/10.