Entertainment
‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ Meets ‘Sharp Objects’ in Apple TV’s Overlooked 3-Part Crime Series
Netflix’s 4-season legal drama, The Lincoln Lawyer, is a compelling look at an attorney who makes it his life’s work to defend his clients. Each fascinating storyline dives further into the law and its consequences. HBO’s Sharp Objects is a heart-wrenching and often disturbing examination of a female protagonist who is haunted by her hometown and the murders of two young girls. At first glance, these two shows have little in common, but a completely underrated Apple TV series perfectly captures the best of both.
What Is ‘Truth Be Told’ About?
Truth Be Told, based on the 2017 novel Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber, began airing on Apple TV back in 2019 and ran for three seasons, wrapping up in 2023. The series follows a well-known podcaster named Poppy Parnell (Octavia Spencer), whose claim to fame was covering the murder of a professor named Chuck Buhrman (Nic Bishop) back in 1999. Poppy was convinced that a young man named Warren Cave (Aaron Paul, as well as Hunter Doohan in flashbacks) was responsible for the gruesome murder.
The only problem is that Poppy now has reason to believe that Warren may have been wrongfully convicted of the crime. Because of her immense guilt, she feels driven to correct her mistake and discover the truth about who actually killed Chuck. Truth Be Told unfolds with an eerie, twisty narrative, complete with family secrets, betrayal, and lies. Subsequent seasons of the series allow Poppy to investigate other cases, similar to The Lincoln Lawyer, including the murder of a filmmaker in Season 2, and the terrifying disappearances of several young Black girls in Season 3.
‘Truth Be Told’ Captivates With Its Suspenseful Storytelling and Stellar Cast
All 28 episodes of Truth Be Told are thrilling to watch because the storytelling is so gripping. It’s easy to find yourself drawn into Poppy’s cases, especially because she becomes so enmeshed with both the victims and the suspects. She’s not a perfect protagonist, since she’s responsible for putting a potentially innocent person behind bars, but her dogged desire to fight for the truth is both admirable and riveting. The dark, almost Southern Gothic vibe, similar to the one found in Sharp Objects, becomes almost another character, portraying the setting as mysterious and dangerous. Plenty of red herrings and twists and turns help the pacing of each episode fly by.
Truth Be Told doesn’t feel like your average prestige thriller, and much of this is because of the impressive cast. Oscar winner Spencer shines in a role that allows her to dig into the messier sides of humanity, a far cry from her hilarious performance in the recent Prime Video hit Ride or Die. Paul, as impeccable as always, has a hardened edge to his performance that demonstrates the harsh effects of growing up in prison, and his scenes with Spencer are incredibly intense. Lizzy Caplan is a standout in Season 1 in a dual role as Chuck’s traumatized twin daughters, while Elizabeth Perkins is heartbreaking as Warren’s cancer-stricken mother. The Pitt‘s Katherine LaNasa even pops up in a supporting role as Noa Havilland, the producer of Poppy’s podcast. One of the most fascinating aspects of Truth Be Told is that Seasons 2 and 3 provide brand-new cases and even more extraordinary cast members; Kate Hudson, Gabrielle Union, and Peter Gallagher are just a few of the actors who help bring Poppy’s world to life in later episodes.
Truth Be Told was cancelled after Season 3, but many felt the show had run its course due to its anthology storytelling format. With just three seasons, the series is now the perfect length for a binge-watch. Even if the content is pretty heavy, you’ll be drawn in by the captivating twists and authentic performances in all three seasons of Truth Be Told.
Truth Be Told is available to stream on Apple TV in the U.S.
Truth Be Told
- Release Date
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2019 – 2023-00-00
- Network
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Apple TV+
- Directors
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Fred Toye, Alrick Riley, Bille Woodruff, Rosemary Rodriguez, Sarah Pia Anderson, Nelson Cragg, Dawn Wilkinson, Kat Candler, Loni Peristere, Millicent Shelton, Tucker Gates, Ariel Kleiman, Jet Wilkinson
- Writers
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Darla Lansu, Amanda Segel, Leonard Dick, Matt Johnson, Chitra Elizabeth Sampath, Jai Tiggett, Jeanine Daniels, Davita Scarlett, Matthew Montoya
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Daniel Buran
Marv Lanelle
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Devin Sidell
Micah Devotee
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