Rapid Insights: The True Crime Takeover

True crime fans have been spoiled in recent weeks by the spate of ‘ripped from the headlines’ dramas about high-profile female scam artists and criminals. Netflix’s Inventing Anna, Hulu’s The Dropout and The Girl from Plainville, and NBC’s The Thing about Pam offer compelling takes on both the psychological underpinnings of their antiheroes and the societal milieu that allowed them to flourish, all combined with the draw of top-notch actresses in the lead roles. Here’s what you need to know about these series:

What type of audience is drawn to this genre?
Adult women. All four series skew older (with roughly two-thirds of viewers aged 30+), and three are mostly female (54-62%). The exception is The Dropout, a cautionary tale of greed and power in the startup world, whose viewership leans male (56%).

How does the social buzz look for these series?
Very strong. All three titles that have already released maxed out our measurement of online activity (160) with the drop of their series premiere (Inventing Anna has seen a particularly sustained trend), and The Girl from Plainville (releasing today) looks to be repeating the pattern.

Is it important to viewers that the shows are based on real-life cases?
Yes, but it’s not everything. The fact that these series are based on true stories is a definite contributor to their ratings and bingeability, but other, more dramatic aspects about their subjects’ personal lives rise to the top in driving tune-in.

What’s the main impetus to watch?
A glimpse into their motivations. As the outcomes of each tale are already known–the women hit their downfall and end up on trial–the shows’ deep dives into their mentalities are the seasoning that adds the extra flavor. Anna Delvey’s desperation for status within high society, Elizabeth Holmes’ emotional roller coaster and struggle to navigate tough decisions, Michelle Carter’s unstable, broken family and disordered eating (Personal Backstory), and Pam’s Hupp’s toxic family conflicts all provide insight into why they did what they did.

Is it a selling point that these criminals are women?
Definitely. The central female protagonists and their specific perspectives and experiences are very important for social buzz, ratings, and bingeability.

Do their specific crimes matter?
Not really. These series encompass transgressions as varied as fraud, theft, psychological manipulation, and murder, but the resulting criminal investigations and public scandals remain top viewership drivers in every case.

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Rapid Insights: Moon Knight’s Tortured Superhero Will Enthrall

Disney+ is about to do it again with the upcoming introduction of its newest MCU streaming series. Starring Oscar Issac as the titular Marvel superhero, the show promises a darker direction than its predecessors and has already set critics and audiences abuzz. Here’s what you need to know about Moon Knight:

How will the show’s audience look as compared to other MCU series?
Very similar. Moon Knight viewers are expected to lean male (54%) and be mostly older (61% aged 30+), right in line with Disney+’s live-action dramas Loki, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Hawkeye.

How does the show’s social buzz look in advance of its series premiere?
Very promising. After early spikes from the trailer drop and a magazine exclusive, online activity has been climbing steadily as its release date approaches, undoubtedly boosted by a series of positive first reactions from the critics.

What will set Moon Knight apart from other MCU series?
Its darker elements. This series swerves heavily into Horror (142), much more so than previous Marvel entries, thanks to a focus on its titular superhero’s deep Psychological Turmoil (105) and tormented psyche. Tonally, it looks to have more in common with Daredevil and Jessica Jones than the more recent Loki and Hawkeye.

Will the show’s blend of mental health issues and superpowers be a driver?
Yes! Protagonist Marc Spector (Oscar Issac) suffers from dissociative identity disorder, and his Fish Out Of Water (118) storyline and Journey of Self-Discovery (118) as he comes to terms with his superpowered vigilante persona will create a compelling narrative, similar to what hooked audiences in Legion and Doom Patrol.

Which part of Marc Spector’s journey will most draw in viewers?
His quest for balance. While it’s clear that the character’s broader MCU connections will be extremely important to audiences, what will also be sticky are his dual desires for Power (105) and Tranquility (105) as he struggles to both right societal wrongs and find peace from his torments.

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Rapid Insights: Body Parts Offers New Beginnings

TLC has found great success by leaning into the addictively fascinating nature of unusual medical procedures. Audiences just can’t get enough of the charismatic doctors and moving patient stories, and the network’s newest series–premiering next April–will undoubtedly follow suit. Here’s what you need to know about Body Parts:

How does the show’s audience look?
Mostly female (65%) and heavily older (81% aged 35+)–right in TLC’s wheelhouse. Viewers for Body Parts are predicted to be extremely similar to the network’s other medical reality shows like Dr. Pimple Popper, My Feet Are Killing Me, and My 600-lb Life.

What will make Body Parts so watchable?
Anaplastologist Dr. Allison Vest. The compassionate Medical Professional (160), her highly specialized Medical Procedures (160) (she restores missing anatomy with silicone prosthetics), and the resulting heartfelt Doctor-Patient Relationships (160) she’s able to forge will drive viewership; the popular Dr. Pimple Popper relies on the same alchemy.

What will drive the show’s social engagement?
Its positive approach to improving lives. Dr. Vest’s Optimism (113) and all-out efforts to help her patients Better Themselves (120) and embark on New Beginnings (118) will inspire uplifting emotions like Awe (131) and Amazement (138) online.

What will make the series unique among similar shows?
Its beautiful artistry. While its medical aspects will inspire tune-in, the brilliant Creativity on Display (120) as Dr. Vest molds stunningly lifelike prosthetics for missing hands, ears, and even eyes will keep viewers coming back for more.

Where will Dr. Vest’s coworkers fit in?
They’ll provide strong support. While Dr. Vest and her patients will be Body Parts’ primary draws, the Workplace Dynamics (114) among the staff at her medical clinic will provide a secondary source of online chatter and bingeability.

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Will the audience for Halo be primarily male?
Yes. As would be expected for an action-heavy series based on a first-person shooter game, men are predicted to make up the bulk of Halo viewers (68%), a much greater proportion than seen for fellow game-based series The Witcher, Arcane, and Castlevania; all, however, skew older (age 30+).

What does the social buzz look like going into the show’s release?
It’s picking up. The trailer drop in January spurred a big spike in online conversation (151), much of it around changes made to the video game’s backstory and character relationships. Two months later, as we approach the show’s premiere date, its buzz is on an upward trajectory, tracking similarly to The Witcher.

How important is the original video game in attracting viewers?
Crucial. While the Halo IP Extension (108) as a concept remains a secondary consideration, the well-known premise of the franchise–its clear delineation between Good vs. Evil (158) in the epic Power Struggle (132) between the UN Space Command and the parasitic alien Flood–will drive the bulk of audience engagement.

Which is more important for key audiences, focusing on Master Chief or following his entire team?
Focusing on Master Chief. The core character’s Leadership (131) and Heroism (120), both ported over from the original video game, are a big draw for audiences. However, the Teamwork (118) and coordination among the broader UN Space Command and its allies are also important, especially for driving online chatter.

What emotional experience will make the show bingeworthy?
The excitement of the war. The Terror (114) and Surprise (111) that shock audiences as Master Chief and his team press forward on their Mission to save humanity will keep viewers glued to their seats.

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How does the Severance audience compare to other psychological thrillers?
It’s more male. While Severance viewers tend to be men (58%), similarly dark Apple TV+ series like Servant, The Shrink Next Door, and Home Before Dark lean female, though all skew older (30+).

How was Severance’s word-of-mouth after its launch?
Strong. After the show’s premiere, viewers’ positive word-of-mouth pushed the level of online search to “outstanding” (160); in line with Netflix series launches.

What’s driving the show’s SVOD ratings boom?
Its high-concept premise. Viewers appreciate the Moral Ambiguity (125) surrounding its central conceit–an experimental Medical Procedure (116) that allows office drones to completely separate their work and home lives–and find the resulting story eminently bingeworthy.

What makes Severance so resonant right now?
It leans into current real-world issues. The show offers a cutting Social Commentary (108) on concerns surrounding Mental Health (113) and Work-Life Balance (112), topics that the COVID pandemic has brought to the forefront.

Which storyline is keeping viewers most engaged?
Petey’s escape. Audiences are eager to follow protagonist Mark as he slowly begins to realize that all is not as it seems and piece together the Mysterious Event (115) that caused Petey to flee their seemingly perfect workplace.

Which story element is predicted to help Severance reach a second season?
Universal surveillance. In addition to its intriguing premise and current-moment relevance, the show’s layered concept of office workers tracked as experimental subjects by their company, which in turn is monitored by another entity, all of whom are watched by the viewers at home is very sticky (Surveillance Footage (117)).