Saagar Kote
Created by K.J. Steinberg, Hulu’s ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox’ is a crime-legal drama series that narrates the story of Amanda Knox (Grace Van Patten), a young American student in Italy who is wrongfully convicted for the murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher. What starts as a case of misunderstanding soon becomes a complex legal case that captures media attention. The story explores her trials and tribulations as she fights against Italy’s justice system to prove her innocence and achieve liberation. The narrative, based on a true story, highlights the themes of justice and human rights in a nuanced manner. Inspired in parts by Knox’s memoir ‘Waiting to Be Heard: A Memoir,’ it is a deep dive into the idea of justice. If you enjoyed watching the performances and the themes in the drama series, these shows, similar to ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox,’ will intrigue you.
12. The Cry (2018)
Based on the eponymous novel by Helen FitzGerald, ‘The Cry’ is a drama series that explores the lives of Joanna Lindsay (Jenna Coleman) and Alistair Robertson (Ewen Leslie), a couple who battle against the odds when they find themselves in an unprecedented and dangerous situation. What begins as a story of a custody struggle between Alistair and his ex-wife for the custody of their daughter Chloe soon becomes complex after the disappearance of Noah, who is Joanna and Alistair’s son. Written by Jacquelin Perske, it resembles the emotions of ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox’ because of Joanna’s ordeal, which is similar to what happens to Amanda. Both women become entangled in lies and deceit as people around them try to paint them guilty. The element of an innocent woman being suspected of a crime she wasn’t a part of is an important part of both stories.
11. Criminal Justice (2019)
The crime-legal drama ‘Criminal Justice’ is an Indian series based on the eponymous 2008 British series by Peter Moffat. Adapted by Shridhar Raghavan, it tells the story of Aditya Sharma (Vikrant Massey), who gets wrongfully accused and arrested for the murder of a girl named Sanaya Rath (Madhurima Roy) after he hooks up with her at her house. Because of police inefficiency and faulty observations, he becomes the subject of a media trial and social media scrutiny. A lawyer named Madhav Mishra (Pankaj Tripathi) is the only one who stands between the protagonist’s life and freedom. The elements of miscarriage of justice and wrongful arrest of the protagonist connect the story to ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox.’ The main characters in both shows have to face the brunt of the media and the people around them, who prematurely conclude that they are guilty. The thematic connections of justice and liberty are prominent in both shows.
10. Defending Jacob (2020)
Based on the eponymous 2012 novel by William Landay, Apple TV+’s crime thriller series ‘Defending Jacob’ is the story of Andy Barber (Chris Evans) and Laurie Barber (Michelle Dockery), a couple who attempt to save their son Jacob Barber (Jaeden Martell) from being convicted of murder. Andy, an assistant district attorney himself, faces a dilemma where he must balance his legal morality with his love for Jacob. The themes of justice, conviction, evidence, and freedom portrayed in ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox’ are dealt with from a different and primarily familial perspective in the Mark Bomback creation, which connects the two stories on a spiritual level.
9. Presumed Innocent (2024-)
Created by David E. Kelley, Apple TV+’s ‘Presumed Innocent’ is a legal thriller series based on the eponymous 1987 novel by Scott Turow and the eponymous 1990 film by Alan J. Pakula, which was also based on the novel. It follows Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal), a public prosecutor who gets arrested for the murder of a woman named Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve), with whom he had an affair. It resembles ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox’ due to its portrayal of the complexities of the justice system and its commentary on the morality behind the ideas of conviction and acquittal. The protagonists in both shows are wrongfully blamed for murder, which makes them the target of media attention.
8. TIME: The Kalief Browder Story (2017)
Created by Julia Willoughby Nason, Jenner Furst, and Nick Sandow, ‘TIME: The Kalief Browder Story’ is a crime documentary series that explores the idea of justice in all its complexities. It deals with the true story of Kalief Browder (Kalief and Donnell E. Smith), who was wrongfully arrested as a teenager and went on to become a symbol of human rights after his acquittal. He killed himself by hanging in his parents’ house. Despite being a documentary, it resembles the themes of ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox’ due to its portrayal of the ideas of systematic inefficiency, bias, wrongful conviction, evidence, and liberty. The thematic similarities between the stories connect them on a greater level.
7. Innocent Defendant (2017)
Also called ‘Defendant’ or ‘Pigoin,’ the South Korean crime drama series ‘Innocent Defendant’ is written by Choi Soo-jin and Choi Chang-hwan. It follows the journey of a prosecutor named Park Jung-woo (Ji Sung), who unexpectedly and inexplicably lands on death row. Due to his amnesia, he finds it difficult to remember how he landed in his current ordeal. The protagonist must do everything he can to prove his innocence before being executed for a crime he doesn’t remember carrying out. Akin to ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox,’ it focuses on the idea of an inexplicable arrest and how it can change a person. Media attention on the protagonists is also a commonality between the two narratives. The idea of justice is the glue that connects the two stories on a spiritual level.
6. The Staircase (2022)
Created by Antonio Campos, HBO’s ‘The Staircase’ is a biographical crime drama series based on the eponymous docuseries by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. It narrates the story of a man named Michael Peterson (Colin Firth), who must battle the authorities after he finds himself embroiled in the murder case of his wife Kathleen (Toni Collette), who was found dead by the staircase of their house. Facing murder charges and indictment, the protagonist faces an unprecedented challenge wherein he has to overcome the odds to prove his innocence and survive. The elements of wrongful conviction, false testimonies, injustice, and the plight of the protagonist forge a deep connection between ‘The Staircase’ and ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox’ on a philosophical level.
5. Making a Murderer (2015-2018)
Written by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, the Netflix documentary crime series ‘Making a Murderer’ sheds light on the life of Steven Avery, who was wrongfully convicted of sexual assault and attempted murder in 1985. His trials and tribulations are documented in the series in a nuanced manner. The various perspectives behind his case are examined to provide the viewers with an authentic understanding of the matter. Akin to ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox,’ it is also based on a true story and mainly narrates the idea of miscarriage of justice that affects the protagonist’s life. Despite not being a drama series, it resembles the ideas, messages, and morality of Amanda Knox’s story.
4. Unbelievable (2019)
Based on Pulitzer Prize-winning article ‘An Unbelievable Story of Rape’ and the book titled ‘A False Report’ by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, Netflix’s crime drama series ‘Unbelievable’ is a harrowing tale of gender based justice and liberty. It is narrated through the eyes of a young girl named Marie Adler (Kaitlyn Dever) who is suspected of lying about rape. The nucleus of the story is the societal attitude towards rape victims and the culture of gaslighting young women when they claim something based on lived experience.
Marie’s accusations are not considered seriously by the cops, who blame her instead for supposedly lying about rape and charge her for the same. Meanwhile, two female detectives named Grace Rasmussen (Toni Collette) and Karen Duvall (Merritt Wever) might be the ray of light that the protagonist needs. In ways similar to ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox,’ it has a female protagonist who is wrongfully painted as a liar. Despite Amanda’s issue being a murder case and Marie dealing with rape, their experiences are spiritually connected as examples of initial miscarriage of justice and eventual victory against the system.
3. The Night Of (2016)
HBO’s ‘The Night Of’ is a crime drama series created by Richard Price and Steven Zaillian. It narrates the story of a young man named Nasir Khan (Riz Ahmed) who gets wrongfully arrested for the murder of a woman. He is represented in court by a lawyer named John Stone (John Turturro), who could be his only way out of his predicament. Based on the British series ‘Criminal Justice’ by Peter Moffat, it delves into the complexities of the justice system, while also looking at the human cost of wrongful arrest and conviction. Akin to Amanda in ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox,’ Nasir also finds himself arrested under false assumptions. The legal struggles showcased in both stories connect them on a philosophical level.
2. When They See Us (2019)
Netflix’s crime drama series ‘When They See Us’ is a haunting tale of injustice, systemic corruption, bias, and liberty. Created by Ava DuVernay, it chronicles the experiences of five individuals of color who are wrongfully prosecuted on charges of sexual assault. Due to the inefficiency of the justice system and prevailing racial bias, the five individuals are subsequently convicted of assault. Starring Caleel Harris as Antron McCray, Ethan Herisse as Yusef Salaam, and Asante Blackk as Kevin Richardson, the series is connected to the themes of miscarriage of justice and liberation showcased in ‘‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox.’ Despite the Netflix show featuring race-based commentary, the two stories are complementary because they narrate a story of vindication and resistance against injustice.
1. Rectify (2013-2016)
The crime drama series ‘Rectify’ is a tale of wrongful conviction, judicial inefficiency, and liberty that is narrated through the experiences of the protagonist, Daniel Holden (Aden Young), who is sentenced for rape and murder. Created by Ray McKinnon, it deals with the complexities faced by the protagonist, wherein he has to survive the ordeal of jail, but when new evidence is found, it leads to unexpected consequences. In ways close to the happenings in ‘The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox,’ it features a protagonist who is jailed based on lies. The complications that are caused by the unraveling of new evidence are also an important part of both stories. The journeys of Daniel and Amanda are philosophically connected due to their experiences with the various facets of liberation and justice.
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