User reviews

First, anyone giving this miniseries a low rating and calling Connie Britton's character "dumb" or "stupid" has obviously never been in or been close to anyone in an emotionally/physically/psychologically abusive relationship. If they had, they would understand that, unfortunately, situations like this do happen, and much more frequently than would be expected. They also would understand how difficult it can be to extract yourself from abusive relationships, even if the abused realizes how bad the relationship/situation is. While I read the published story, I have not heard the podcast, which is supposed to be fantastic. The tv show is pretty faithful to the published story, although some of the characters (primarily her two daughters) are a little exaggerated for tv purposes. While I, like most viewers, feel frustrated with Connie Britton's character due to her repeated poor choices, I easily can see that she is a very sweet, giving, compassionate person who is naive and too trusting of others due to the way she was raised and her own honesty - she simply can't fathom that anyone could be so malicious and dishonest because it isn't in her character makeup. If you've been "around" in the real world at all, you'll quickly realize that most people highly suspicious of others tend to disbelieve so easily due to their own tendency towards dishonesty and deception, as well as low self esteem.

After saying all of that, we (my husband and I) find this show very entertaining and extremely well done. Both Eric Bana and Connie Britton are excellent in their portrayals of their characters, and I would figuratively "kill" to have Connie's character decorate our house - she has exceptional (decorating) taste!

Very good story. I am just learning about the Dirty John story, and I recently watched the new true story that was aired on oxygen network. The story of a womanizing psycho who gets away with swindling not only vulnerable women, but also scammed other people, such as senior citizens and other gullible people. He was never put in prison or jail long enough and it shows how messed up the justice system is. As for this series, I do like it, but some of the casting is questionable. I like Connie Britton as Debra, but I think they could have found a better looking actor to play John Meehan, than Eric Bana. He did ok in playing him, but he just didn't fit his profile. They also made the daughters to seem like more annoying brats than they really were. Those 2 on screen were almost unbearable to watch. The story had to be told though, and Im glad it was. I'm looking forward to finding out how they will manage to squeeze in a season 2.

What a talented actress, I am spell binded and flanked with grief by her powerful performance. All hail Amanda peet

I was a huge fan of the Podcast so naturally I wanted to check out the show. So far, I'm slightly disappointed. They made the daughters seem completely dumb and ditzy, but they did not seem that way in the Podcast at all. I hope they don't continue on that way.

I had rated this series a 7 during the first season. It was certainly interesting but everyone was so hard to relate to and empathize with that I had a hard time with it at times. Season 2 has changed my rating from a 7 to a 10 though.

The costume and aesthetic of the eras are so good. The story takes you from the 60s to the 90s and you really feel like you're actually in those decades.

The characters have so many layers and the actors are so good. I have a love/hate relationship with every single main character which proves how well developed they are.

I was familiar with both stories and I immediately thought the Broderick story would be a great pick for this series. So I had a feeling it would better than the first season, but this is better than I even thought it'd be. I can't wait to find out what season will be about.

Started watching this and I watched all the episodes in pain. The actresses that played the daughter were the most annoying, nasal and horrible actresses. They reminded me of the ugly step sisters in the cartoon Cinderella. Who ever thought they were good should have their head examined. Connie Britton ached like she was drunk or high. The only one that could act was Eric Bana.

Something very similar. I'm educated, was working as a teacher, coming out of a 20 year unhappy marriage, very vulnerable. I don't like to use that as an excuse...(the courts called me "victim"). These kinds of men are very skilled at seducing women. Ultimately, when I tried to extricate myself, after months of stalking (I had removed him from my $$), he broke into my house and tried to shoot me with a gun he had stolen. The only reason I'm still alive is the gun jammed. I appreciated this series, and the podcast. People should not blame the victim of such psychopaths. They exist for the soul purpose of seducing and using their targets/victims.

To avoid ruining yhings for myself i dont want to research thr real story until season 1 is finished but holy hell was the real woman THAT stupid?! So many cringeworthy decisions made but the show is entertaining and keeps viewers interested.

Such a well filmed series loved it, Amanda was amazing in that role she nailed it, she deserves an Oscar.!!!!

I loved season 2 - really broke my heart this story. Everyone's acting was great, specially Amanda Peet. Even though Betty actions can't be justify, you get to understand her, anD feel sympathy for her. Horrible case, very sad

I just wanted to say, Connie Brittons acting was horrible and made the show not as good as it could have been.

Don't understand the negative reviews here at all. I binge watched this without knowing any backstory whatsoever of this real-life story, so it was unpredictable which kept me hooked. This was highly addicting with great acting and storytelling. Connie Britton was fantastic as Deb. Yes there was disagreement with her actions and I got annoyed with her multiple times, but at the same time felt bad due to Connie's strong portrayal of a broken and vulnerable woman looking for love.

The daughters were a fun addition to the show as well-anyone who says they're annoying doesn't understand this generation (or Southern California). Yes Veronica was spoiled and privileged, but also smart and badass. Same with Terra.

Great pacing, great setting, great story. Each episode was a rollercoaster.

Watch it, I loved it.

I really enjoyed season 2, but I think they glossed over some things-like Betty had a boyfriend in real life and got $16,000 a month in alimony. Why would a woman who had everything going for her (moving forward) then go on to kill her ex and his new wife? Narcissistic rage. Not abuse. To this day she wants revenge against two dead people who had the nerve to move on. While I liked this show, it painted Betty as a victim who's been gaslighted and toyed with, and that just wasn't the case.

I never knew Amanda Peet actually has the chops for such a role! She was just brilliant - her character's physical and mental decline was just so realistic, I wondered at one point whether they used facial prosthetics or whether the lighting was just horrendous! I think I already knew Christian Slater had it in him tbh... I kinda wish that this story had been a dramatic recreation in its own right, and not tied to the first story of John Meehan (which I also really enjoyed btw - love Briton and Temple). However I understand the theme of gaslighting and/ emotional abuse is popular at the moment, while society comes to grips with all the various ways we might further dissect the patriarchy and it's continuing legacy? Personally, I see Betty as an undiagnosed mental health case... like at one point in the series her friend says "she really needs help" and her lawyer says (and I'm def paraphrasing here) "but she might never change, maybe now she just needs to grow old." I basically saw that scene as how America deals with mental health and particularly that within the justice system. Why bother to even try to rehabilitate when you can just lock them up and forget about em...

Oh yeah and the costumes are great too.

The story is good enough to make a 10/10 series. Yet it didn't. Acting was good enough but the characters were not. All of them were simply lacking in depth, even John. They simply didn't build up the plot in a captivating way (like they do in so many other similar series) that just leaves you itching for one more episode. With Dirty John you just kind of go from episode to episode waiting to see how it turns out in the end, in case you don't already know how the story goes. Even so, it was worth to watch and a solid 6/10 maybe even 7/10 (wich is where we ultimately land when people are rating it either as amazing or absolutely awful).

Who does this: meets a guy and in 2 months is married and dumps her kids. Finds out he is a career criminal and drug addict and still acts this stupid

The youngest daughter just annoyed the hell out of me with your fake crying and annoying voice.

Not terrible, that is, if you can get past the incredibly annoying daughters. Watching this series, I though that there was no way that the daughters could really have been that whiny, childish and spoiled. Then I watched "Dirty John: the Dirty Truth" and realized that the actresses portrayed them fairly accurately. I was almost rooting for John to finish off Terra at the end, thoughI would have rather it been the other daughter. In the end, I was just relieved I wouldn't have to listen to the daughters' unbelievably annoying voices anymore once the series was over.

There are a few interesting twists and turns, enough to keep you watching. I wouldn't say that it was great, but it beats not having anything else to watch.