New season of "Serial" out Sept. 20

Serial is going to be one of those shared obsessions we laugh about in 20 years or whenever "I Love the '10s" gets downloaded directly into our brains. People were SO into season 1, even though roughly the same stuff is on Dateline or 48 Hours every Saturday night. The AV Club had a successful podcast that was just two people talking about the latest episode of another podcast!

 

Its not just serial, it's other podcasts and shows, too. Why would I waste two hours listening to two people talk and, more often, cackle into a microphone about Game of Thrones or Westworld? I've never understood the appeal.

 

The second season - on Bowe Burgdahl - was actually quite interesting, but it lacked the crackerjack nature of season one.

I'd hope Serial doesn't become the Innocence Project or Pro Publica, but it might.

 

The second season was a boring flop. I couldn't finish it because it nearly put me to sleep while I was driving. I'm willing to give this show a second chance. The preview for the third season sounds interesting.

What's the problem with that? Helping people who were convicted for a crime they didn't commit sounds like a good thing.

 

I enjoyed The Onion's parody more than I probably should have. It's a fast listen, but, to me anyway, very entertaining and funny.

https://www.theonion.com/c/a-very-fatal-murder

 

Don't forget the amazing SNL's Serial Christmas parody.

 

American Vandal, although in a different medium, is the best Serial inspired parody.

 

I get more of a "The Jinx" vibe than "Serial."

 

The problem with Season 2 was that it was on something that was in the national news at the time and changes in story were happening in real time, causing them to have to adjust on the fly. They weren't able to adjust very well to that, and the series kind of fell apart. ...

Interestingly, the In the Dark podcast about the Jacob Wetterling kidnapping in Minnesota had to be changed up at the last minute, too, because it was solved just before the series came out. However, they adjusted extremely well, and ended up telling the story of what happened and the problems over 25+ years in the investigation.

 

I guess I'm a freak because I really enjoyed Season 2. I wasn't following the story closely in the press so perhaps that was the difference maker.