Parents' Guide to

It Was Him

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Serial killer docuseries is implausible, over-the-top.

TV Paramount Network Reality TV 2018
It Was Him Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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What's the Story?

IT WAS HIM: THE MANY MURDERS OF ED EDWARDS is a six-part documentary series that follows the investigation of the late serial killer Edward Wayne Edwards. Wayne Wolfe Jr. recently learned that he is the grandson of the infamous killer, who was convicted of five murders and is awaiting execution before dying in prison. Meanwhile, retired cold-case investigator and author John Cameron is convinced that Edwards is also responsible for a large number of high-profile unsolved killings, including that of Elizabeth Short (aka The Black Dahlia), Jimmy Hoffa, the victims of the infamous Zodiac, and Jon Benét Ramsey. Together they look at these crimes and how they potentially connect to Edwards and to each other in hopes of finding out the truth.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This far-fetched true crime series attempts to create a plausible narrative that explains how multiple cold-case murders were committed by the same person. Cameron unwaveringly points out coincidences between unrelated killings that were committed over a 60-year period as a way of justifying his belief that Edwards committed them all. Meanwhile, brief excerpts of interviews with the killer, his relatives, and family members of the victims reveal the horrors behind the crimes.

Cameron's obsession with connecting Ed Edwards to what feels like an endless list of the country's most high-profile murders is a little disturbing. His theories are also difficult to take seriously -- so much so that even Wayne Wolfe Jr. appears incredulous at times. The ominous music and other elements intended to increase the drama only contribute to this. Ultimately, It Was Him is a series that presents lots of conjecture, and very little substance.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the appeal of "true crime" shows. Are programs like It Was Him informational? Or are they meant to be entertainment?

  • Is it necessary for TV programs to show crime scene photos and other violent imagery when discussing crimes? What kind of impact can this have on the people who watch it?

TV Details

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