May turned into another very documentary-heavy month, with a mix of crime, justice system stories, scams, and one absolutely wild chimpanzee saga. Apparently my television diet continues to consist primarily of eccentric people making questionable decisions, and honestly, I’m okay with that.
Movies
The Sheep Detectives ★★★☆☆
Theater · 2026
A cute family mystery about a group of sheep trying to solve a case in their community. I saw this in the theater with the kids on our bargain movie night. Cute movie! I liked it, and they loved it.
Shows
Full House
Hulu · 1987 · Rewatch · S1E4
The slowest rewatch in history continues.
Documentaries & Docuseries
Should I Marry a Murderer? ★★★★★
Netflix · 2026 · Docuseries · 4 episodes
A woman discovers her fiancé killed a cyclist years earlier and secretly helps police build a case against him. This story was completely absurd and incredibly compelling to watch. Caroline was both maddening and likable at the same time, which honestly made the series even more fascinating. It was a wild look at how love can distort judgment, and she was also an excellent storyteller.
The Alabama Solution ★★☆☆☆
HBO Max · 2025 · Documentary film
Examines violence, corruption, and systemic failures inside Alabama’s prison system through footage and testimony from incarcerated people. This was interesting and eye-opening, though it never fully pulled me in emotionally. A lot of the story is told through cellphone footage recorded inside prisons, which disrupted the flow for me a bit. Still, an important and deeply sad watch.
The Crash ★★★★☆
Netflix · 2026 · Documentary film
A true-crime documentary about Mackenzie Shirilla, the Ohio teenager convicted of intentionally crashing her car and killing two passengers. I knew very little about this case going into it, and the story is genuinely mind-boggling. The documentary is very well done, with interviews from many of the key people involved and multiple perspectives on the investigation. Compelling and fascinating to watch.
We Are Jeni ★★☆☆☆
HBO Max/ID · 2026 · Docuseries · 2 episodes
Follows Dr. Jeni Haynes, who developed Dissociative Identity Disorder after severe childhood abuse and later helped convict her father. An incredibly sad and fascinating story, but I wanted the series to go much deeper into her personalities and mental health. The animated reenactments also felt oddly out of place and took me out of it at times. Jeni herself was remarkable, though, and her story is unforgettable.
Chimp Crazy ★★★★★
HBO Max · 2024 · Docuseries · 4 episodes
Explores the controversial world of private chimpanzee ownership through the story of Tonia Haddix and her beloved chimp, Tonka, whose fate becomes the center of a legal battle involving animal rights groups and authorities. This series was absolutely bananas and I loved every second of it. I've had a lifelong fascination with monkeys and great apes, so this documentary hooked me immediately. The people featured are endlessly compelling and more than a little eccentric, taking their devotion to these animals far beyond what most people would consider normal. It was eye-opening about the exotic animal trade, heartbreaking at times, and surprisingly funny. Tonia was an absolute hoot. I liked her at times, questioned her judgment often, and never quite knew what she was going to do next. A wild and memorable watch.
Telemarketers ★★★☆☆
HBO · 2023 · Docuseries · 3 episodes
Two former telemarketers set out to expose decades of fraud and corruption within the charity fundraising industry, documenting their investigation over more than twenty years. This covered a topic I had honestly never given much thought to before. It was eye-opening, funny, and full of memorable characters, especially Pat, who I found hilarious. His personality carried a lot of the series for me. While I learned a lot about telemarketing scams and the people behind them, the subject matter didn't always hold my attention, and the story spans so many years that it occasionally felt stretched out. Interesting and worthwhile overall, but not one that will stick with me for long.
By the Numbers
- Finished Titles: 7
- Movies: 1
- Shows: 1 ongoing rewatch
- Documentary Films: 2
- Documentary Series: 4
- Five-Star Watches: 2
Superlatives
Favorite Watch: Chimp Crazy
Most Fascinating: Should I Marry a Murderer?
Biggest Disappointment: We Are Jeni
Overall, this was a strong month of watching. The documentaries easily stole the show, with Chimp Crazy and Should I Marry a Murderer? standing out as two of my favorite watches of the year so far.
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