There is a good chance you were obsessed with Unsolved Mysteries when you were younger. I can recall watching the show and having a tough time falling to sleep moments later. The show managed to capture my imagination and leave my mind wondering for hours on end. I sat enthralled as it quickly transitioned from criminal cases to lost loves forcing me to experience a variety of emotions. When the show ended many years ago, most were upset and wanted more.

The 2008 reboot with Dennis Farina on Spike TV wasn’t perfect but it did many things right such as following the original format. Jump forward to July 2020 and Netflix is back at it. I am not fond of the streaming giant’s original content but respect the fact it allows Americans to enjoy foreign titles. Unfortunately, we should’ve known Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries would be a terrible failure and that is exactly what it is.

The 2020 version of Unsolved Mystery is a slap in the face of fans of the original. When turning on the first episode and watching the intro, you’re expecting something fantastic. The show incorporates the show’s creepy sound effects into the intro and then there is the silhouette of Robert Stack. At this moment, you’re thinking to yourself, “this is about to get really good”.

Moments later, you realize that there is no narrator. The show leaves the loved ones of victims and law enforcement to carry the story and that is where most of the problems lie. During the first two episodes, there were two women interviewed and both were obnoxiously loud. I kept reaching for the remote when they popped onto the screen because their screeches ruined the mood.

It doesn’t help that the camera work is shoddy too. I can barely stand watching certain video games because the camera is constantly spinning in circles or rotating at weird angles. Unsolved Mysteries is no better. The camera rarely stops to give the viewer a chance to breathe. You may feel your stomach turn as you’re exposed to 15 drone footages in less than 10 seconds. They make sure you see the Belvedere Hotel from the front, side, left, right, downward right, and upward left. All the while, the camera is zooming in and out or moving from side to side. Get me a puke bucket already!

This high-paced camera style alongside some of the annoying characters eliminates the show’s creepiness. Furthermore, I am sure many are disappointed with the fact that the creators have decided to drag out the stories for 45 whole minutes. The original was great because it got straight to the point and moved on to something else. In addition to that, there was something for everyone.

The 2020 version of Unsolved Mysteries is little more than a clone of Forensic Files or Dateline. The only difference is the beginning sequence that leads you to believe you’re going to be watching something called Unsolved Mysteries. This makes me wonder if the producers even watched the original.

If so, how come they failed to realize what made the show so spectacular? I have to agree with those who say it is a disgrace to the original and I find it disappointing that some are willing to forgive and accept this monstrosity. While the show is interesting, it shouldn’t be called Unsolved Mysteries. It is a blatant ripoff.

It copied the theme song, name, and Robert Stock’s silhouette. What is failed to reproduce was everything that made the original great. Instead, we get a bunch of random people sitting around blabbering about people who disappeared or were found murdered. Each episode is loaded with filler moments and plenty of emotions but the facts aren’t there.

There are no facts, recreations, or anything compelling enough to stick around for 6 episodes. In fact, I have to say that there is barely a mystery is some of the episodes. I found the second to be the most interesting simply because the characters were so bizarre and volatile. I completely skipped the 3rd because I really didn’t want to read subtitles. Really? After the 4th, I am ready to give up.

Coming from Netflix, I am not sure why I expected anything better. The platform is good for catching up with shows from other networks and those from BBC and ITV. Much like Unsolved Mysteries, the original content always leaves me disappointed.

I couldn’t recommend this to anyone who liked the original. I likely couldn’t recommend it to anyone who enjoys true crime shows either since it barely skims over the facts and mostly just throws out accusations and insinuations.

Unless they’re going to introduce a good host, scale back on family time, and stick with the facts, this show is best avoided. Is there a way to petition Netflix and convince them to change the name since it is a pitiful exploitation of the original and Stack’s likeness?