The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman
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The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman is a British docuseries in which victims of a prolific and dangerous conman detail what they went through while caught up in his scams. Psychological and physical abuse are major themes, as is the exploitation of women and the disappearance of children and parents. Reenactments of violent events (with visible guns) and archive footage of bombing aftermaths are also shown. Suicide and sex are referenced, and there's some strong cursing ("f--k") and occasional drinking. An Audi and music by Duran Duran are featured, but not in a commercial context.
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What's the Story?
THE PUPPET MASTER: HUNTING THE ULTIMATE CONMAN is a British docuseries about a man who destroyed people's lives by pretending to be a British spy. For over two decades, Robert Hendy-Freegard posed as an MI-5 operative and ran elaborate scams that exploited women and their loved ones for money and power. With the help of interviews, reenactments, and archival footage, it tells the story of two cons, one of which began in 1993 and spanned over a decade, and another that began after the conman was released from prison. The methodical ways that Hendy-Freegard manipulated his victims, and the various ways he kept these scams going, are also detailed. Law enforcement's efforts to find him, and the legal battles that transpired, are also discussed.
Is It Any Good?
The slow-paced true crime series chronicles some of British conman Robert Hendy-Freegard's disturbing antics from specific victims' points of view. The narrative goes back and forth between two timelines to tell the stories of two different scams in order to highlight the long-term, drawn-out ways that Hendy-Freegard psychologically manipulates people to become a controlling presence in their lives. It also reveals how he eventually gets his hands on their, or their families', money. Throughout it all, those he preyed on share some of the more harrowing details of their experiences, including being isolated from their families and friends, living off the grid after being convinced that they were in grave danger, being forced to call people for money, and being starved and subject to violence. The series also highlights the failure of the British legal system to keep Hendy-Freegard in prison, and how he allegedly continues to con people today. It's interesting, but at times The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman is excessively dramatic in its attempt to be more entertaining. Nonetheless, fans of true crime stories will find it worth the watch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about some of the issues discussed in the series. What made it possible for Robert Hendy-Freegard to successfully prey on certain people? Have there been changes made to the legal system in the United Kingdom to ensure that people like him get punished?
True crime documentaries attempt to strike a balance between being informative and being entertaining. Does The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman successfully do this? Why?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 19, 2022
- Cast: Peter Smith, Sarah Smith, Sophie Clifton
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Reality TV
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: June 13, 2022
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