Netflix’s revival of Unsolved Mysteries is definitely a hit. Maybe it’s the stay-at-home orders or the public’s general mistrust of…well, everything, but viewers have really connected with the haunting, creepy non-fiction show.
In a savvy move that is both 1) totally 2020 and 2) pretty sly marketing, Netflix has released all of the evidence from the show onto Reddit, hoping internet sleuths might be able to find some answers and bring closure to the families affected by the various crimes and incidents.
Netflix popped onto the popular site with a slew of case files, videos and interviews from each case showcased in the recently-released 6 episodes. They’re inviting readers to have at it and become internet detectives.
As expected, Redditors took to the files and started looking to connect dots. It’s not unheard of for cases from Unsolved Mysteries to be cracked by audience members. Back in the 90s, when Mysteries first aired, authorities were assisted by viewers quite a few times. Netflix is hoping that happens again.
I glanced at some of the case files that Netflix released and, while helpful, there isn’t anything that’ll shake things up too much. It’s mostly excess footage and high-res pictures of evidence shown in the episodes. That doesn’t mean there isn’t enough stuff in there for eagle-eyed Redditors, it just means that there isn’t anything ground-breaking. But new pairs of eyes are always a good idea when it comes to cases like this.
One of the most frustrating things about Unsolved Mysteries is just that: they’re unsolved. Every episode ends with the viewer wanting closure and justice and getting none. Hopefully some people will convert that frustration into action and will help solve these cases.
Speaking of Unsolved Mysteries, it sounds like Netflix plans to drop the second batch of episodes later this year, possibly in October. That sounds perfect to me. Nothing better than some creepy mysteries to keep us occupied as Halloween rolls around.