The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is no different from other true-crime entertainment

Los Angeles Times

The Netflix docuseries on the torture and murder of an 8-year-old boy is really out to entertain viewers, despite its subject matter, says Robert Lloyd. "Without disputing its worthiness, or the serious intent of its makers, it’s still worth stepping back to consider how the economic circumstances of its production shape its message," says Lloyd. "News, even bad news, is a form of entertainment and a commercial enterprise: show business. Something besides a desire to educate Netflix subscribers about the state of social services amid the poor populations of Los Angeles County, and the desire of Netflix subscribers to know these things, has brought Gabriel Fernandez to the top of the chart: the sensational horror of the torture and murder of a child."