The Yogurt Shop Murders

The two episodes I have seen so far have been excruciatingly slow and boring beyond belief. This entire series thus far has been less about the actual case itself, and more about how it has impacted people close to the case in the most uninteresting approach possible. A great example is in episode 2, when the filmmakers visit the school of one of the victims to show us a small memorial for her at night, talking to someone who works for the school who has no relation to the victims and may not have even been alive when the murders took place.

With no new developments in this case and seemingly no interesting directions to go, this has to be one of the worst true crime documentaries I have ever seen.

I agree with most of the reviews. It's so slow and the famous podcast about this case is so much better. They spend a lot of time on the falsely accused. And that would be great if they were really clear about the evidence and how there is none against them, essentially. Just poor police work. Seems like they want you to think one of these falsely accused, actually did it?? Good grief. I was really looking forward to this. To set things straight. Make the evidence clear. Nope. Don't count on that, at all. They didn't even explain what likely happened that night. There are some pretty solid explanations of what happened, why one of the girls was further than the others and shot twice, not once. Very important details you will not get from this documentary. And I get if it was for the families, and left those horrific details out. But how is this for the families either?? It does justice to no one. Least of all, the families of the murdered girls.

This is a good documentary about a horrible crime and the investigation which followed. The problem with this show is that it is FOUR hours long for no good reason. This could have been a really good one hour show. Instead, they repeat the same things over and over. A good editor would have went a long way to make this a better documentary.

I feel so sad for the families that this series did not do the story justice. It was so slow and drawn out. As my husband and I watched the first episode, we felt it was a little scattered and slow, but gave it the benefit of the doubt and continued watching. After it finished, we hoped the second episode would be better. We were skeptical but hopeful. We waited the week and watched the second. It was maybe a smidge better in some regards, worse in others. Unfortunately, we gave up and won't be watching the remaining episodes. I'll read about it and watch other docs or YouTube videos to learn more about this story.

I'm at a loss as to how-given the misery and loss blast zone around this crime, atop the intricacies and boondoggles of the investigation-HBO put forth such a listless, unfocused documentary.

The first episode did a tremendous job of bringing the girls and their families' loss to life. Barbara Ayres-Wilson (Sarah and Jennifer's mother) describing the anguish of family as she broke the news of lost souls to them, one by one, brought me to tears.

And then the doc went off a cliff...

Episode two gave us the spectacle of a private detective (with her posse of armchair vultures) directing grief-stricken parents to hang wind chimes in her tree ('Isn't it fun?') to represent their daughter's voice. And the school administrator showing us a plaque for a girl she never knew. This is vital, how?

Episode three illustrates the utter failure of the Austin PD-plus the judge who apparently flunked constitutional law-and the mind-blowing truth that anyone connected to law enforcement still believes Robert Springsteen or Michael Scott had anything to do with this.

I'm left wondering if the filmmakers had to pull punches to get the families' and Austin PD's cooperation. And why, three episodes in, we've yet to hear a theory of the crime, or see anything like a crime scene reconstruction.

Hard stuff, yes. But how else do you solve it?

I was hoping to see the case (as well the girls and their families) brought to urgent life. As in, something that might produce fresh leads?

What I hoped to see, and didn't, was any hint of a new investigative push.

A great documentary could've been made of the lives lost and unsettled aftermath for all affected. Or the volume and impact of false confessions. But TYSM is not that.

I can't stand to watch another episode.