The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox

As Episode 1 of "The Twisted Tail of Amanda Fox" (2025 release; 8 episodes ranging 49 to 55 min.) opens, we are informed that in 2009 Amanda Knox was convicted of the murder of her roommate Meredith. We then go to "June 16, 2022" and Amanda is seen hiding in a car under a blanket, apparently on her way back to Perugia, where this twisted tale got started... At this time we are 5 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: first of all, there seems to be a number of reviewers who give this mini-series a (very) high rating because, as we all know, Amanda's conviction was eventually overturned, and not whether this is or isn't a great true crime mini-series (have they even seen the mini-series?). Second of all, this is not an "objective" mini-series, far from it. In fact, per the series closing credits, the series is based on the 2015 best-selling memoir by Amanda called "Waiting To Be Heard". And for good measure, Amanda is credited as one of the series Executive Producers (listed right above Monika Lewinsky, no, for real). So what you are getting here is Amanda's version of what happened, nothing more, nothing less. It is on that basis that I struggled getting through the initial 2 episodes, as the from get-go, the Italian authorities are portrayed as fumbling-bumbling-stumbling Inspector Clouseau (of the Pink Panther movies) copy cats, with a never-ending series of questionable interrogation tactics and correlated investigative procedures. Is that how it really happened? We have no clue but I can't help to have some doubts that what really happened isn't so grossly one-sided as is being presented here. The good thing is that the Amanda Knox case will continue to attract major interest from the public at large, and that almost certainly one day a more objective and independent version of the facts will be presented.

The initial 2 episodes of "The Twisted Case of Amanda Knock" started airing earlier this week, and are now also streaming on Hulu, where I watched this last night. The remaining 6 episodes will be released on a weekly basis (on Wednesdays). If you are interested in hearing from the one-sided horse's mouth what really happened in this case, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion (even if the conclusion has already been drawn for you).

Show starts OK-ish, one-sided, if anything. I wanted something more nuanced, but so far we're basically getting a TV version of the 2016 Knox-PR documentary.

But even if it takes off with furter episodes, it will still get low ratings, because poor Americans have to actually read something. It always seems like a breakneck intellectual acrobatics for them.

The overall tone of this show is extremely off putting and strange to put such a teenage gossip girl edge to the narration of Amanda makes it hard to engage with. The Italian police/ prosecutors act so cartoonishly evil at times and the show seems to constantly explain that Amanda was vilified because she was so millennial cringe quirky and so pretty but not really discussing the nuances in their suspicions of her. It's weird but ultimately good that they don't explore Meredith's murder very much since I doubt her family wanted anything to do with this show. Still feels exploitative and strangely toned with fair enough acting despite a dull script.

The storytelling was quite entertaining, and personally I loved the use of both Italian and English. However, the policemen etc were SO cartoonishly evil and sadistic that it robbed credibility from the entire plotline. It was very infantile and I cringed at every single policeman scene. It also really felt like Italians=villains and Americans=heroes. A bit annoying to watch overall, which is a shame because I thought her acting was good, it is a visually appealing series and the story itself deserves to be told.

Everyone who dislikes the Italian sub titles doesn't get it!! Of course Amanda's interactions need to show the disconnect with her not understanding the language. She responded the best way she could; with not always understanding what was being asked of her. THAT IS WHY ALL THE SUBTITLES!!! We are suppose to feel the frustration/disconnect; just like she did being in a foreign country.