New UM - initial pros and cons - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

isotope · 07-01-2020, 10:43 PM

My initial impression of the new UM after one episode

PROS:
1. Wonderful to hear the theme tune back
2. The Stack easter egg in the titles

3. High production values
4. Intriguing choice of case
5. Sensible production choices - the part in the first episode where they discuss the trajectory of a body being thrown from the roof could easily have resulted in confusion to the viewer...the use of highlighted diagrams and on-screen aids made it crystal clear what everyone was talking about.
6. No lost loves!

Cons
1. Basically, it felt like an episode of 48 Hours without the inevitable ending where the husband or wife is found guilty by a jury. To remedy this, producers should address:

a) No host. Yes, you cannot replace Stack, but the producers don't have to try - there is no requirement for a host to be a white male. A host makes it special and forms more of a personal bond with the viewer.
b) The format. The story dragged at parts and could have been told more economically (a host helps here) - did we really need the descriptions of finding the body? You can then do two stories per episode

Anyway, we will see how the rest of the series pans out.

BTW - am I the only one who found the journalist from WBAL to be unduly jovial when she talked about Rivera's death ?

ghosthouse · 07-01-2020, 10:55 PM

I enjoyed the first 4 episodes that I have seen. I guess if given the option, I'd rather have a host. If i was UM i would have tried for the main host of Disappeared. He has name/voice value and would have been welcome IMO.

Of course the show can't be the same. Robert Stack is dead and the original format can't work for the most part in 2020. But would anyone really prefer not to have it? Having a new incarnation and new cases to discuss is bad how?

drew790 · 07-01-2020, 11:06 PM

Dateline or 48 Hours wishes they were producing content of this quality. I personally don't see the comparison, aside from one story per episode.

I enjoyed the new format a lot more than I thought I was going to. I didn't mind the lack of a host because for the most part the families explained their tragedies better than any for-rent presenter ever could have. The reason the Rey Rivera story is popping like it has been is directly because of the new expanded format, and the viewer forming the bond with the family members telling the story. And not even Robert Stack would have been able to narrate the Lena Chapin episode better than Brandi Chapin. That one just straight up broke me.

I did find some elements lagged but I don't think that came down to the lack of a narrator. I felt it came down to a lack of information the show was giving out. It felt like the show was a lot more cautious this time around of potential lawsuits and didn't really present a lot of theories or even happenings unless they directly proved to be true. The Alonzo Brooks episode suffered particularly from this IMO. Like, what was said? Who said what? What was looked into with these people? All we got was a vague "they lawyered up and didn't have to take lie detector tests" so the whole episode becomes about a search for a body and not really about the mystery itself.

I'll close out by encouraging everyone to at least play the UFO episode or the French episode. I personally found the UFO one fun and there were some old-school UM characters in there that I got a kick out of, but in terms of renewals it's a bad metric if people don't watch every episode. Let it play while you're doing the dishes or something but at least let it play

danmanx · 07-01-2020, 11:14 PM

Imagine taking a picture of the UM title in the show and then figuring out it was Robert Stack hours later. Yeah, that happened!

Well, the show definitely had a great start. Although, to be honest, I didn't finish the UFO one as I was bored 10-15 mins in.

The no host thing does blow, but nobody can fill Robert Stack's shoes. They've tried and I think they've come to terms with it.

I know it's controversial and different but I really do believe they should've tried a CG version of him with voice and all. The tech is there. That could've been outrageously awesome and probably clinched it in a creepy, yet UM way. Except not let him do the ghost stories because he hated those in real life out of respect. I do respect the dead, but I just think it would've been mind boggingly effective for the show.

Format could be better too as pacing means a lot more in an hour long show than a 15 min segments.

Fletch · 07-01-2020, 11:44 PM

I am FLOORED by how well this was done. I am only one episode in (Rey Rivera) and cannot wait to see more. What an outstanding job Shawn Levy and Netflix did on this. I got chills during the intro and at the ending credits when I heard the theme! I hope to god this is well-received and we get more seasons!

JannTosh · 07-01-2020, 11:48 PM

haven't watched it yet but it feels weird there is no host. The host usually helps explain things and fill in the gaps

mozartpc27 · 07-02-2020, 12:11 AM

UM always played around with the sequencing of how they presented a story - actually, an underrated part of its effectiveness - but while I have enjoyed the first two episodes and am glad to see it back, felt the second one it was a little strained how long they withheld the Major piece of information in the case, and this issue speaks to the limitations of trying to stretch one case to an hour.

I could actually get the whole one case per episode deal, but since it’s Netflix anyway, I don’t think they should feel married to the one episode = one hour format. Tell as much story as there is, be that a half hour, an hour, or 43 minutes.

atomicfizz · 07-02-2020, 12:15 AM

I weighed in on another thread but I do agree with your assessment.

I think they should have gone with a host as well. ID does this (or used to do it) on some shows. My favorite was Darin Kavinoky. I like having a host. I also miss having more than one segment. I guess having more segments would make a host make more sense.

That said, what I don't like is that this feels no different than any of the ID shows I watch. Yes, the production values are good, and it beats shows on ID that seem cheap, but the overall feel just is nothing exceptional to me. If they had slipped this in on ID on a Thursday night I would only have been caught off guard hearing the theme song again. Other than that it's a completely different thing.

Regardless, I will still watch it, and I hope it does well.

Fletch · 07-02-2020, 02:40 AM

A definite pro is a great new UM name - Pistol Black

Guardian · 07-02-2020, 02:45 AM

The thing I don’t see mentioned too much if at all is that most of the other series “like” this that are out there always have the story solved at the end. For some reason networks are terrified of having a documentary true crime series where the cases aren’t solved. I know some of the 48 Hours and such do this but most series insist on having resolution to the story. I get that people want conclusions, but to me, that was part of what made UM so great was it invited viewers, if they didn’t have clues to submit to help solve the case, it at least left you thinking, wondering and discussing the case to try to come up with a theory.

I actually don’t watch a ton of true crime shows because nearly all of them are already solved. I want the mystery. I want to think about it. And then of course I want to eventually hear that it’s solved after some time has passed. Can’t let these things go on forever.

Disappeared and America’s Most Wanted were pretty much the only other shows I’m aware of that did unsolved cases primarily. Regardless of format, UM is back with new unsolved cases that we can hopefully see resolutions to in the coming months/years.

jbjr56 · 07-02-2020, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fletch

A definite pro is a great new UM name - Pistol Black

Lol.

Yep. Sounds like Coffee Black from the movie Semi-Pro.

Appliance · 07-02-2020, 03:34 AM

I'd like to hear more creepy music and see more reenactments - although there was a bit of that with the actor playing Xavier DuPont de Ligonnès walking around from hotel to hotel, staring at the surveillance camera, etc.

Three episodes in, this is very good storytelling.

As someone who is not particularly fond of true crime tv shows, I am very pleasantly surprised.
Not only this reboot doesn't suck, but it's actually quite good.

I'm looking forward to see what they have done / can do with UFOs and paranormal cases.

infinityluxe · 07-02-2020, 04:05 AM

Things they never should have removed:
Multiple segments
Re-enactments
Host
The original theme song

The host gives us a connection to the show. They could have let the fans vote on who the host should be that would have been cool and interactive to involve the fans in this way. We know RS cannot be replaced but they could have got someone like Dennis Haysbert (Allstate man) with a commanding voice to start this new era.

The multiple segments is what made UM so unique and must see TV you got a gumbo of everything in each episode.

The reenactments take you inside the story and really draws the viewers in. Huge mistake to take them away.

The original theme song is so iconic that you cannot give us a sample and piano thinking it will suffice. This was probably the biggest mistake made.

I also feel the name should have been something different like The Return of Unsolved Mysteries or Unsolved Mysteries: Resurrected.

I am highly disappointed and couldn't get past episode 3 I am done.

This review explains how I feel:

https://www.indiewire.com/2020/07/un...ot-1202235240/

MA · 07-02-2020, 05:20 AM

Dennis definitely would’ve been a good narrator for the Netflix version of the show.

roncore · 07-02-2020, 09:07 AM

I enjoyed it, love the production value, and the theme song is on point.

That being said, I agree with the host situation, as it feels very much like Disappeared, etc (insert most talking head crime shows). The only connection I can feel is the theme music. I also agree about things being drug out to fill the time spot, they retread and go into a lot of useless talk as filler. Maybe 2 different cases per episode would have been better. One thing I wish they would have done was maybe sprinkle more music through the episode, and maybe the re-enactments could have been a little more like the originals, without a interview over them most of the time?

It's a true crime show, with amazing production. I'll watch it regardless.

07-01-2020, 10:43 PM	#1
isotope Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 09, 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 287	New UM - initial pros and cons My initial impression of the new UM after one episode PROS: 1. Wonderful to hear the theme tune back 2. The Stack easter egg in the titles 3. High production values 4. Intriguing choice of case 5. Sensible production choices - the part in the first episode where they discuss the trajectory of a body being thrown from the roof could easily have resulted in confusion to the viewer...the use of highlighted diagrams and on-screen aids made it crystal clear what everyone was talking about. 6. No lost loves! Cons 1. Basically, it felt like an episode of 48 Hours without the inevitable ending where the husband or wife is found guilty by a jury. To remedy this, producers should address: a) No host. Yes, you cannot replace Stack, but the producers don't have to try - there is no requirement for a host to be a white male. A host makes it special and forms more of a personal bond with the viewer. b) The format. The story dragged at parts and could have been told more economically (a host helps here) - did we really need the descriptions of finding the body? You can then do two stories per episode Anyway, we will see how the rest of the series pans out. BTW - am I the only one who found the journalist from WBAL to be unduly jovial when she talked about Rivera's death ?

07-02-2020, 12:11 AM	#7
mozartpc27 Vigilante Logician Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 09, 2006 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 924	UM always played around with the sequencing of how they presented a story - actually, an underrated part of its effectiveness - but while I have enjoyed the first two episodes and am glad to see it back, felt the second one it was a little strained how long they withheld the Major piece of information in the case, and this issue speaks to the limitations of trying to stretch one case to an hour. I could actually get the whole one case per episode deal, but since it’s Netflix anyway, I don’t think they should feel married to the one episode = one hour format. Tell as much story as there is, be that a half hour, an hour, or 43 minutes.
	__________________ "You can't say the words that the rock makes you feel like." - Patty Johnson

07-02-2020, 02:45 AM	#10
Guardian Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 19, 2010 Location: WA Posts: 522	The thing I don’t see mentioned too much if at all is that most of the other series “like” this that are out there always have the story solved at the end. For some reason networks are terrified of having a documentary true crime series where the cases aren’t solved. I know some of the 48 Hours and such do this but most series insist on having resolution to the story. I get that people want conclusions, but to me, that was part of what made UM so great was it invited viewers, if they didn’t have clues to submit to help solve the case, it at least left you thinking, wondering and discussing the case to try to come up with a theory. I actually don’t watch a ton of true crime shows because nearly all of them are already solved. I want the mystery. I want to think about it. And then of course I want to eventually hear that it’s solved after some time has passed. Can’t let these things go on forever. Disappeared and America’s Most Wanted were pretty much the only other shows I’m aware of that did unsolved cases primarily. Regardless of format, UM is back with new unsolved cases that we can hopefully see resolutions to in the coming months/years.
	__________________ For every mystery there is someone, somewhere, who knows what happened. Perhaps... it's you...

07-02-2020, 05:20 AM	#14
MA Member Moderator Forum Idol Join Date: May 20, 2017 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 127,407	Dennis definitely would’ve been a good narrator for the Netflix version of the show.
	__________________ ~-Mikaela-~

07-01-2020, 10:55 PM	#2
ghosthouse Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 03, 2019 Location: Amish Country Posts: 298	I enjoyed the first 4 episodes that I have seen. I guess if given the option, I'd rather have a host. If i was UM i would have tried for the main host of Disappeared. He has name/voice value and would have been welcome IMO. Of course the show can't be the same. Robert Stack is dead and the original format can't work for the most part in 2020. But would anyone really prefer not to have it? Having a new incarnation and new cases to discuss is bad how?

07-01-2020, 11:06 PM	#3
drew790 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 17, 2017 Posts: 847	Dateline or 48 Hours wishes they were producing content of this quality. I personally don't see the comparison, aside from one story per episode. I enjoyed the new format a lot more than I thought I was going to. I didn't mind the lack of a host because for the most part the families explained their tragedies better than any for-rent presenter ever could have. The reason the Rey Rivera story is popping like it has been is directly because of the new expanded format, and the viewer forming the bond with the family members telling the story. And not even Robert Stack would have been able to narrate the Lena Chapin episode better than Brandi Chapin. That one just straight up broke me. I did find some elements lagged but I don't think that came down to the lack of a narrator. I felt it came down to a lack of information the show was giving out. It felt like the show was a lot more cautious this time around of potential lawsuits and didn't really present a lot of theories or even happenings unless they directly proved to be true. The Alonzo Brooks episode suffered particularly from this IMO. Like, what was said? Who said what? What was looked into with these people? All we got was a vague "they lawyered up and didn't have to take lie detector tests" so the whole episode becomes about a search for a body and not really about the mystery itself. I'll close out by encouraging everyone to at least play the UFO episode or the French episode. I personally found the UFO one fun and there were some old-school UM characters in there that I got a kick out of, but in terms of renewals it's a bad metric if people don't watch every episode. Let it play while you're doing the dishes or something but at least let it play

07-01-2020, 11:14 PM	#4
danmanx Unknown Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 29, 2013 Location: Independence, CA Posts: 34	Imagine taking a picture of the UM title in the show and then figuring out it was Robert Stack hours later. Yeah, that happened! Well, the show definitely had a great start. Although, to be honest, I didn't finish the UFO one as I was bored 10-15 mins in. The no host thing does blow, but nobody can fill Robert Stack's shoes. They've tried and I think they've come to terms with it. I know it's controversial and different but I really do believe they should've tried a CG version of him with voice and all. The tech is there. That could've been outrageously awesome and probably clinched it in a creepy, yet UM way. Except not let him do the ghost stories because he hated those in real life out of respect. I do respect the dead, but I just think it would've been mind boggingly effective for the show. Format could be better too as pacing means a lot more in an hour long show than a 15 min segments.

07-01-2020, 11:44 PM	#5
Fletch Cabin fever Frequent Poster Join Date: May 10, 2002 Posts: 485	I am FLOORED by how well this was done. I am only one episode in (Rey Rivera) and cannot wait to see more. What an outstanding job Shawn Levy and Netflix did on this. I got chills during the intro and at the ending credits when I heard the theme! I hope to god this is well-received and we get more seasons!

07-01-2020, 11:48 PM	#6
JannTosh Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 28, 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 585	haven't watched it yet but it feels weird there is no host. The host usually helps explain things and fill in the gaps

07-02-2020, 12:15 AM	#8
atomicfizz Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 07, 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 310	I weighed in on another thread but I do agree with your assessment. I think they should have gone with a host as well. ID does this (or used to do it) on some shows. My favorite was Darin Kavinoky. I like having a host. I also miss having more than one segment. I guess having more segments would make a host make more sense. That said, what I don't like is that this feels no different than any of the ID shows I watch. Yes, the production values are good, and it beats shows on ID that seem cheap, but the overall feel just is nothing exceptional to me. If they had slipped this in on ID on a Thursday night I would only have been caught off guard hearing the theme song again. Other than that it's a completely different thing. Regardless, I will still watch it, and I hope it does well.

07-02-2020, 02:40 AM	#9
Fletch Cabin fever Frequent Poster Join Date: May 10, 2002 Posts: 485	A definite pro is a great new UM name - Pistol Black

07-02-2020, 03:34 AM	#12
Appliance Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 08, 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 37	I'd like to hear more creepy music and see more reenactments - although there was a bit of that with the actor playing Xavier DuPont de Ligonnès walking around from hotel to hotel, staring at the surveillance camera, etc. Three episodes in, this is very good storytelling. As someone who is not particularly fond of true crime tv shows, I am very pleasantly surprised. Not only this reboot doesn't suck, but it's actually quite good. I'm looking forward to see what they have done / can do with UFOs and paranormal cases.

07-02-2020, 04:05 AM	#13
infinityluxe Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 31, 2020 Posts: 274	Things they never should have removed: Multiple segments Re-enactments Host The original theme song The host gives us a connection to the show. They could have let the fans vote on who the host should be that would have been cool and interactive to involve the fans in this way. We know RS cannot be replaced but they could have got someone like Dennis Haysbert (Allstate man) with a commanding voice to start this new era. The multiple segments is what made UM so unique and must see TV you got a gumbo of everything in each episode. The reenactments take you inside the story and really draws the viewers in. Huge mistake to take them away. The original theme song is so iconic that you cannot give us a sample and piano thinking it will suffice. This was probably the biggest mistake made. I also feel the name should have been something different like The Return of Unsolved Mysteries or Unsolved Mysteries: Resurrected. I am highly disappointed and couldn't get past episode 3 I am done. This review explains how I feel: https://www.indiewire.com/2020/07/un...ot-1202235240/

07-02-2020, 09:07 AM	#15
roncore Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 02, 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 20	I enjoyed it, love the production value, and the theme song is on point. That being said, I agree with the host situation, as it feels very much like Disappeared, etc (insert most talking head crime shows). The only connection I can feel is the theme music. I also agree about things being drug out to fill the time spot, they retread and go into a lot of useless talk as filler. Maybe 2 different cases per episode would have been better. One thing I wish they would have done was maybe sprinkle more music through the episode, and maybe the re-enactments could have been a little more like the originals, without a interview over them most of the time? It's a true crime show, with amazing production. I'll watch it regardless.