Change Your Image
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjQ4MTY5NzU2M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDc5NTgwMTI@._V1_SY100_SX100_.jpg)
WW1241
Reviews
Louis Theroux: Forbidden America: Porn's Me Too (2022)
The Strongest of the Forbidden America Eps
I found the first two episodes of Forbidden America to be somewhat lacklustre, falling shy of Louis' usual work. This episode felt far stronger. Intriguing characters, darkness, and the documentarist-interviewee connection all brought this together as a classic example of Theroux.
Louis Theroux: Forbidden America: Rap's New Frontline (2022)
Not Louis' Best
I'm an avid enjoyer of Louis' docs, but I've found the first two episodes of Forbidden America to below his usual standard. Broadly, I felt this episode didn't really have anything to say - it focused on a topic that has been done time and time again: the relationship between rap and violence. Though this didn't necessarily leave the subject matter entirely doomed from the start, it didn't feel as if anything insightful was said about the topic.
I had high hopes for another Theroux documentary on rap, but this one fell relatively flat.
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (2021)
Unsubstantiated Conspiracies and Nonsense
This document really is laughable. Rather than objectively and rationally assess the case, they choose to push conspiracies. It really is absurd that their explanations for the death include the supernatural; the government using her as a vehicle to spread TB; a conspiracy by the LAPD (for what purpose?); and a metal singer murderer.
The so-called web sleuths frame themselves as experts, refuting the findings of the toxicology report but providing no actual substantive rebuttal. They claim to care about Elisa Lam, but are seen laughing and smiling when in the Cecil Hotel 'investigating'. To them the whole thing is a game, a means of entertainment.
It doesn't seem a terribly complex case, something along the lines of: she did not take her bipolar medication, suffered from a psychotic episode, climbed the fire escape, and entered the water tank.
Far too much time is spent validating mindless conspiracies rather than looking at it with any ounce of rationality. The final episode really redeemed this, hence the 3/10. This was the only time they actually assessed the situation objectively. This episode really relieved me, as I hope it dispels the nonsense in previous episodes.
The truth is this case is far less 'exciting' than the theorists are desperate to believe.
As a broader point, the constant repeating of already stated information and the over-examination of the history of the Cecil Hotel was rather tedious.
Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father: Episode #4.1 (2020)
Too scripted
Really enjoyed the previous episodes but this was easily the worst so far. Way too scripted. If this is anything to go by I hope they don't make anymore episodes.