Waco

This troubling series presents a controversial retelling of the events that led to the violent deaths of 80 people during the standoff between the Branch Davidians and the U.S. government. It highlights the tensions between the FBI and ATF, as well as the lack of agreement between negotiators and tactical rescue teams, the latter of which were using increased militarized approaches to resolve conflicts with anti-establishment groups during that time. It also points to some of the Branch Davidians' religious practices at Mt. Carmel Center, which were guided by Koresh's interpretation of the apocalyptic Seven Seals (from the Bible's Book of Revelations).

Perhaps because it's based on the recollections of his former friend, Koresh is portrayed as a somewhat sympathetic character, regardless of the fact that he ordered his followers to illegally stockpile weapons, and fathered at least 12 children with multiple underage "wives." The story also fails to address the rationale behind these actions in any meaningful way. Despite the fact that Koresh and some of his followers were responsible for the deaths of so many, federal operatives are characterized as overly aggressive, politically motivated, and mostly responsible for what happened. All of this makes Waco an unsettling viewing experience, especially for those who were watching during those fateful days in 1993.