Common Sense Media Review
By Jenny Nixon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Few answers in docu about woman who fakes cancer.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Scamanda
What's the Story?
SCAMANDA is a four-episode true crime docuseries centered on Amanda Riley, a sweet and likable young woman living in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and stepdaughter. Amanda is an active, popular member of her local megachurch, and the community is rocked when she reveals a terminal cancer diagnosis. Thanks to blog posts, fundraisers, and celebrity shout-outs, well-wishers donate over $100,000 to Amanda's cause. When some of her stories don't add up, a former friend tips off a journalist, who discovers that Amanda has been scamming them all.
Is It Any Good?
Unlike the podcast, there's no drawn-out mystery—we know from the jump that Amanda is a fraud. Hearing the Scamanda story unfold is interesting, but it doesn't give us any real insight into why this happened. Firsthand on-screen interviews with family members or, ideally, Amanda herself would have given the series a whole lot more depth. Fans of the podcast this series is based on may find the content a bit stale, but it's a decent watch for newcomers or those who want to watch a true crime series that isn't based on grisly murders and the like.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Amanda's behavior affected her family, friends, and community. What are the consequences of defrauding people, especially on such a massive scale?
Talk about the way the series presents Amanda's story, which sometimes uses dramatic reenactments with actors. Did this help you engage with the story more?
Amanda Riley was a popular and bubbly White Christian woman living in an affluent area. Do you think her social status and race helped her attract more attention and sympathy than she might have received otherwise?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 30, 2025
- Cast : Amber Riley , Charlie Webster , Lisa Berry
- Network : ABC
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : February 14, 2025
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