As I lounged on my couch, opening Netflix, I fully prepared myself to watch “New Girl” for the thousandth time. But I was immediately intrigued by “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal.” I wasn’t looking for any new TV shows to start, but ads about highly-respected lawyer from South Carolina Alex Murdaugh’s high-profile court case had been a common occurrence on my Instagram explore page. I decided to give it a watch.
“Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal” is a thrilling three-episode limited series and documentary about the five murders attached to the Murdaugh family, including the murders of Mallory Beach, Stephen Smith, Gloria Satterfield, Maggie Murdaugh and Paul Murdaugh. And let me tell you — this show had me gasping.
The show focuses on Alex and his family, including his wife Maggie and his sons Buster and Paul. They are described as practically running the small counties of Hampton and Colleton in South Carolina where the Murdaugh law firm stood — but this all changed on Feb. 24, 2019 when the Mallory Beach accident occurred.
The first episode immediately hooked me with the murder of Beach. From the outside, Beach’s death was seen as an accident — boat outing gone wrong — but the layers dig much deeper. I frantically sat at the edge of my seat as the interviewees, with their Southern accents, explained the night in detail.
That night Paul Murdaugh, Mallory Beach, Beach’s boyfriend, Paul’s ex-girlfriend and one other couple took the Murdaugh family boat and drove around the river, drinking heavily. A hammered Paul refused to give up the control of the wheel and drove the boat straight into a bridge in Archer’s Creek. The way the members on the boat spoke about the night made me feel like I was actually there.
Beach was declared missing and the rest of the crew was rushed to the hospital, but not without Alex Murdaugh arriving at the hospital to clear his son’s name. Alex visited every room and slowly gaslit each member into thinking that another boy was driving the boat. Beach’s body was found on March 3, 2019 in a nearby marsh and Paul still hadn’t been suspected of the crime.
The misconception is one of the most compelling parts of the series. In every episode and in every murder the Murdaughs have such control over this town that they can cover it up.
Once the police suspected that Paul was driving the boat, the previously cold cases of Stephen and Gloria came back into the light. Stephen’s murder was covered up as a hit-and-run, but he didn’t have the injuries to prove this and was spotted with Buster Murdaugh just minutes before his death. Gloria was said to have fallen down the stairs, after having found an old Murdaugh family secret. Each lie and cover-up made my jaw drop closer to the floor.
“Murdaugh Mystery: A Southern Scandal” added a different genre to my Friday night routine and now I leap at the chance to bring up the detailed murders in conversation.
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