The Price of Duty

The Price of Duty is a riveting true-crime docuseries that made its debut on Oxygen in 2018. The show, unlike many of its contemporaries, does not merely focus on murder mysteries and unsolved crime incidents. Instead, it tells compelling stories from a unique perspective - that of the detectives who tread the perilous path of crime investigation.

Looking through the lens of the detectives, the series seeks to explore the profound ways in which their professional duties impact them personally. Each episode revolves around a specific detective, revealing their most haunting cases and the toll they take on their lives.

The show introduces viewers to a myriad of intriguing real-life characters, each with their own remarkable stories to tell. These are detectives from different places and backgrounds who possess not only an unwavering commitment to their duty and an incredible acumen for solving mysteries but also a deep sensitivity to the traumatic experiences they encounter. The detectives' accounts go beyond merely analyzing crime scenes; they delve into the profound effects of the harsh realities they face, examining how these experiences have shaped their personal lives and relationships.

The Price of Duty's storytelling approach is characterized by a rare honesty that is mesmerizing and chilling all at once. It delves into the raw emotions associated with the job of a detective, which brings not only gratification from resolved cases but also persistent anxiety, stress, and sometimes, even guilt for unsolved ones. The gripping narratives are hinged on the detectives' experiences, their struggles, their unresolved emotions whether good or bad, their depths of despair, their perseverance, and their constant hunt for justice. Alongside this, the series also draws attention to the detectives' supportive families who, though largely unseen, bear witness to the heavy price paid for their community's safety.

What sets this series apart is its shifting focus from the unsettling fascination with crime itself to the human elements of the ones who work tirelessly to solve them. The Price of Duty conducts a profound examination of detectives' lived experiences, and through passionate first-person storytelling, delves deep into the personal and professional sacrifices they make in their relentless pursuit of justice.

Over the course of the episodes, the detectives share their perspectives on some of the most intriguing and confounding cases they have encountered. These include a myriad of cases, from cold-blooded murders to missing persons, showcasing not just the variety of crimes detectives grapple with, but also the varied approaches they employ in their quests for resolution.

The series also effectively captures the evolution of a case from the initial crime scene investigation to ultimately finding closure, thereby giving viewers a comprehensive insight into the world of crime-solving.

The soundtracks used in the series add depth to the already visceral atmosphere, with the tone reflecting the gravity of the situations depicted. The transition from chilling suspense in the narration to the relief that comes with the resolution of a case is also seamlessly accomplished through brilliant audio-visual storytelling.

The Price of Duty strikes a fine balance between the stark and often grim nature of investigative duty, and a remarkable dedication to humanity. The strength of the series lies not just in its ability to grip viewers with real-life tales of heinous crimes, but also in its portrayal of the mental, emotional, and often physical cost that comes with solving these crimes.

In essence, The Price of Duty is much more than just a crime docuseries. It is an emotional journey into the lives of those who walk the thin line between justice and chaos. This unique blend of crime investigation and human interest narratives makes it a show that stands out in the realm of true crime television.