The Killing Season

The Killing Season is an American documentary television series that originally premiered in 2015. Aired on A&E, this chilling documentary delves deeply into the cloak-and-dagger world of unsolved serial murder cases. The series' investigative approach and in-depth look into America's grisliest unsolved murders enthralls the audience with its rich storytelling and compelling narrative.

The Killing Season is presented as a detailed, heart-wrenching investigation that unfolds through eight episodes, each progressing and building upon the tension, discovery, and dread of the previous one. Filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills serve as the series' protagonists, offering audiences a front-row seat as they meticulously unravel a web of mysteries backed by real-life situations and scenarios. They work together, courageously investigating some of the most haunting unsolved murders in recent American history. They rapidly find themselves embroiled in the murky world of unseen and sometimes forgotten victims, establishing deep connections with the victim's families, who are all too often brushed aside by the criminal justice system.

The series begins with an in-depth look into the Long Island Serial Killer (LISK) case, a notorious unsolved serial murder case that made headlines worldwide. This unsolved string of murders, which occurred between 1996 and 2010 in Long Island, New York, serves as the jumping-off point for Zeman and Mills' broader exploration of serial killing across the United States.

Throughout the course of the series, Zeman and Mills' investigation takes viewers on a compelling, suspense-filled journey along some of America's less traveled highways, where they uncover a host of potential serial killings. However, The Killing Season is more than just an exploration of past crimes; it provides an unsettling insight into how serial killers operate in the United States and the culture that allows them to thrive, while throwing light on the law enforcement methodology or lack thereof during such investigations.

The series succeeds in its mission to peel back the mystery surrounding serial killings as it inspires a sense of dread, not solely based on the crimes themselves but also on the woefully inadequate responses they often provoke. It exposes the alarmingly slow and disjointed methods of law enforcement agencies in handling these cases, presenting a grim portrayal of the lack of resources and inability to connect the dots between multiple murder cases.

As the series progresses, it becomes increasingly apparent that there may be many more victims and killers yet to be discovered. This reality plays out as the filmmakers - and viewers, in turn - face the depressing fact that there are likely numerous serial murders that go unnoticed, as victims are often individuals living on the fringes of society, marginalized and often forgotten.

The Killing Season leans heavily into Gary Ridgway's (the infamous Green River Killer) chilling statement: "Chances are they won't be reported missing. I picked prostitutes because I thought I could kill as many of them as I want without getting caught." This horrifying reality underscores the importance of continued investigation, perseverance, and justice for those victims who would otherwise remain unheard and forgotten.

Despite the terrifying subject matter, Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills present an empathetic, sober, and no less alarming perspective throughout The Killing Season. They never lose sight of the human stories at the core of these crimes, or the urgency of addressing this hidden epidemic running rampant in society's darker corners.

The Killing Season does more than merely recount tales of serial murders; it endeavors to shed light on these overlooked tragedies, sparking desperately needed conversations about criminal justice, social inequality, and the dehumanization of vulnerable individuals. It's a searing and haunting series that forces viewers to confront the chilling reality of serial killings, their prevalence, and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles faced in solving these gruesome crimes.

In conclusion, The Killing Season is an intense, unsettling, and riveting series that masterfully intertwines real-life investigations with true crime storytelling. Its in-depth, meticulous approach to exploring unsolved murders paints a chilling picture of an unseen issue that poses a significant challenge to law enforcement agencies and society at large. Whether you're a diehard fan of crime documentaries or new to the genre, The Killing Season is a series that demands your attention.