Why are We so Mesmerized?
From the moment the catchy theme
song begins on the Serial podcast,
the listener becomes utterly engrossed in the subject matter. Sarah Koenig’s
melodious voice draws in the audience from the outset as she launches into her
investigation of a non-fiction whodunit crime case. The premise is simple
enough: Koenig seeks to research the facts behind the 1999 murder of Hae Min
Lee, resulting in the prosecution and imprisonment of her ex-boyfriend Adnan
Syed. Koenig explains her reasoning behind creating the show, stating that she
became “fascinated” with the case after getting directly contacted by Rabia
Chaudry, a friend of Syed’s family who is now an attorney.
Although
it may only be episode 1, it is not hard to see the appeal in the captivating
podcast that would go on to become more popular than any in history. After the
first episode, I began to consider the exact elements that went into generating
this global phenomenon. In other words, what made this highly successful
machine operate so lucratively?
As
she makes clear from the podcast’s commencement, Koenig is “not a detective,
private investigator, or crime reporter”. She is simply a normal human being
who appreciates a good mystery and wishes to uncover the truth. In my opinion, that right there is the primary reason why Serial
became so popular. We all appreciate a good detective story. Is there any
surprise behind the fact that Guinness lists
Sherlock Holmes as the “most portrayed movie character of all time”?
And
yet, the appeal doesn’t just lie in the story, but in Koenig herself. In trying
to make sense of things, piece by piece, she is just like any one of us. She
calls herself an “idiot” and frequently admits to being “confused”. In many
ways, our amateur sleuth host is a modern-day Nancy Drew. We are irresistibly
drawn to the show because we can see ourselves in Koenig. As she launches upon
her 12-episode journey, we feel like we are riding shotgun, sympathizing with
her emotional rollercoaster of frustration and curiosity. While she is
unquestionably biased during her investigation at times, (“Could someone who looks
like that really strangle his girlfriend?”) the compelling nature of her quest
is undeniable.
After
analyzing the podcast’s popularity from a cultural and personal perspective, it
is interesting to note that several studios are currently engaged in a bidding
war to turn it into a TV show or movie. This brings up several intriguing
questions regarding the show itself and the nature of adaptation. Will taking
the show out of its original audio form result in it losing its magic? Would
the adaptation have to include Koenig to maintain its appeal? What kind of bias
might Hollywood present on the story?
Interesting point! I had no idea about the TV/movie prospects, but I do think it would lose its magic in any other form, in part because of the guise of objectivity-- unlike Koenig, we can't see Adnan or judge his appearance, even his voice is altered by the prison telephone. All we have are the facts, which can be hard enough to decipher. That's also part of the appeal, as you mentioned: the detective story. But I think part of the appeal is also that, since Koenig's mystery isn't exactly solved or solvable, Serial feels less like a story and more like someone relaying the facts and asking us, "What do you think, detective?"
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