Worst Ex Ever

After the success of Worst roommate ever, it was pretty obvious that more would follow, Worst ex was the logical choice.

It could have been a really cheap and vacuous follow up series, but it's good, definitely well worth watching. If you're into real life crime documentaries, then I think you'll enjoy this one.

This first series is made up of four episodes, four fairly different, but equally interesting and shocking storylines, but it was Killing for custody that shocked me most of all, talk about a harrowing watch.

It's nicely made, with interesting, first hand interviews, and the obvious 'Worst' accompanying animations.

One thing that seems apparent throughout, failings by the authorities, it seems in most of the stories, victims are let down by the powers that be, especially Seemona.

I wonder what's next, worst barista ever, worst dog walker ever? I'd be down for that. You know what happens when these guys get a formula that works.

7/10.

All the episodes are very interesting and worth a watch, but I found the 3rd and 4th ones particularly sad and horrific. I was so impressed with the protagonist/narrator from the last one in getting an amendment to a bill passed after what she experienced - what an amazing thing to do after what she went through. That will help so many people. Well done. So sad for what all these victims went through, it's so shocking to see what can happen to the human psyche to make people do such insane things. And so awful to see how the victims try to get away but they can't because procedure needs to be followed, and while it is, sometimes much worse things happen that could have been avoided.

Great series. Looking forward to whatever they do next!

Ignore the bad reviews. This programme is good and highlighting the absolute horrendous problem of domestic violence and those people who think that women are just a commodity to be used.

Yes, some of the scenes are dramatised for the programme this helps tell the stories of those victims who have survived such terrible ordeals.

There should be more conversation about how men treat women and how some law enforcement agencies will side with the perpetrator rather than the victim.

Other comments have politicised this sort of show, which is not acceptable. Domestic violence is a warrant and should be called out regardless.

The horror of being close to a truly bad person must be just nightmarish. Episode 1 conveys this sense very strongly and by the end of the episode, an emotionally exhausting narrative has been laid out.

However, the rest of the series falls far short of the series opener. Not that those other stories aren't stunning, but they're simply poorly constructed and drag on in ways that seem more focused on squeezing every detail, however unnecessary, out of the interviews.

With no intention to diminish those stories, it must be said that they're poorly presented and simply are not compelling. At a time when criminal reality shows abound on streaming platforms, there's much better content out there.

The Worse Ever series are fine if you just wish to wither a couple of hours away without using your brain cells or have it in the background while you do something else. Don't expect any earth-shattering insights or nuggets of wisdom because this is true crime lite. There is nothing more to glean in these episodes than if we were to simply read about the events as reported in the news.

Some of these events are so recent, like episode 1, that it makes it impossible to invite further comment and investigation by forensic experts and psychiatrists without risking a lawsuit as there are still living members in the immediate family of the perpetrators, who may object to being cast in an unflattering light. But it is really true crime if the motivations and machinations of unhinged people like Benjamin Foster are not explored at all?

How did Ben turn out the way he did? What was his childhood like? How was his relationship with his parents? What did his brother have to say about their experiences growing up together? Why didn't his parents seem more upset when spoken to about him being on the run? Could they have done more to intervene after his initial brush with the law or did they not care enough to? What skeleton in the closet is his family hiding? When he misdirected his rage and sadism at the women, who in his mind was he really lashing out at? All of these questions and not a single answer.

There is also a curious absence of reflection from those affected by these malevolent characters. What lessons did they learn from their experience and how has their ex affected the way they view the world or interact with others? What advice or recommendations do they have for anyone who should find themselves in the same unfortunate predicament of facing a toxic partner?