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It’s easier to watch someone being dealt a heavy blow by fate in a fictional TV show, but knowing that the events depicted on screen happened to real people adds deeper, unbearable layers of disappointment and heartbreak. Shows based on true stories are often difficult to watch, but they are necessary because injustices and misfortunes should never be forgotten. Humans need to sympathize and to learn from others. These shows provide them with the opportunity to do that.
So grab your Kleenex box. These shows will leave you devastated. There was never justice or reprieve for some of the victims in the stories. Thankfully, a few of the tales have a light at the end of the tunnel. No matter the outcome, you’ll totally enjoy the acting, writing, and production techniques. You’ll even wish there were more episodes, but every true story has a point beyond which it cannot be stretched.
Here are 10 very sad TV shows based on true stories.
'A Friend of the Family' (2022)
A Friend of the Family takes us through one family’s dark times during the 1970s. Mary Ann (Anna Paquin) and Bob Broberg (Colin Hanks), and their children Jan, Karen, and Susan, meet their new neighbors, the Berchtolds, but Robert “B” Berchtold (Jake Lacy), the patriarch, seems too interested in Jan. Something’s clearly up with him. In 1974, B kidnaps a 12-year-old Jan Broberg. After she is returned to her parents, he kidnaps her again at age 14.
Be Careful Who You Trust
This highly effective drama builds tension gradually, keeping viewers hooked with a sense of malice and impending doom. Colin Hanks’ Mr. Broberg is a decent man who appears to be the only suspicious person. The trusting nature of other characters blinds them to mounting danger. Anna Paquin is great, too, but it’s Hanks who impresses more. He is a steadier, watchful presence whose character stoically bears the consequences of inaction. The real Jan was often invited to the writers' room to make corrections to the script and provide suggestions, ensuring the story is as accurate as possible.
'A Small Light' (2023)
In 1933 Amsterdam, Miep Gies (Bel Powley), a cash-strapped young woman, is hired as a secretary by Otto Frank (Liev Schreiber), a Jewish man who recently fled Nazi Germany and built a company in the Netherlands. When the Nazis swiftly invade in 1940, Miep helps hide the Frank family in a concealed attic apartment. How long will her actions stay a secret in A Small Light?
Beating the Nazis, by Whatever Means Necessary
Full of cliffhangers (such as when a mysterious man points a gun at Miep’s head at the end of an episode) and smart, A Small Light delivers the goods. Later in the WWII TV show, a romance between Otto’s daughter and the son of Otto’s business partners brings some intense family drama into the mix, but this remains a melancholic affair for the most part.
Among the supporting cast, Sean Hart steals it as Willem Arondéus, an artist who joined the anti-Nazi resistance movement in the Netherlands. History buffs will also appreciate the approach. The story of Anne Frank (one of Otto’s daughters) and her diary has been told widely, so it’s interesting to see it from the perspective of those around her.
'When They See Us' (2019)
When They See Us reminds us of the institutional foulness surrounding the April 19, 1989, Central Park jogger case, where five men of color were prosecuted and imprisoned for allegedly assaulting a woman in Central Park. Their conviction would be overturned in 2002 when it was revealed that another person committed the crime and that he acted alone.
Remembering One of the Justice System’s Biggest Fails
Frustrating and engrossing, the miniseries’ unapologetic condemnation of America’s flawed justice system makes it appealing to all viewers. The taut, no-frills crime drama received a whopping 11 Emmy nominations, and at four episodes, it’s one of the most satisfying short productions you will see. Omar Dorsey is inspiring as the tough, obsessive community organizer who defends the five, and Len Cariou is riveting as a DA handling the case with increasing uneasiness.
'Unbelievable' (2019)
Unbelievable is about Marie Adler (Kaitlyn Dever), a woman who was charged with false reporting for claiming that she was raped, and two hardened, zealous, and aggressive female lead detectives hunting down a serial rapist. The plot draws from the Pulitzer Prize-winning article, "An Unbelievable Story of Rape" by T. Christian Miller.
Believe the Victims
The show has many strong balusters, but the performances stand out the most. All three lead actresses were nominated at the Critics' Choice and Golden Globe Awards. Toni Collette, who plays one of the detectives, also received an Emmy nomination. While depicting trauma and injustice, the show reminds us of the importance of believing the victims. Viewers will be further impressed by the law enforcement techniques, including the extensive analysis of social media posts. Many popular cop shows don’t match the meticulousness shown here.
'The Act' (2019)
The Act is the true story of Gypsy Blanchard (Joey King), who plotted with her boyfriend to kill her overprotective mother (Patricia Arquette) following years of medical abuse. The series traces the events before the matricide, and we see the mother going as far as to make her daughter believe she has cancer, so that she never seeks independence. When Gypsy starts discovering the lies, the relationship sours.
Breaking Free… In the Worst Way
Why would a mother do such things to her daughter? You’ll be asking yourself such a question again and again. A gripping drama based on news reports and Gypsy’s own confession, The Act is a shocker with a capital “S.” Watching all the things that the girl’s mother does to her is simply heartbreaking. You won't forget one scene where Gypsy discovers she is actually 19, not 15 like her mother said. She was lied to to prevent her from interacting with men. Joey King and Patricia Arquette both received Emmy nominations for their incredible work, and the rest of the cast members should have gotten nods, too.
'Painkiller' (2023)
Based on Patrick Radden Keefe's article "The Family That Built an Empire of Pain," published in The New Yorker, and the book Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America's Opioid Epidemic by Barry Meier, Painkiller sheds light on the opioid crisis believed to have been influenced by the aggressive marketing campaigns of Purdue Pharma. The show covers the perspectives of Glen Kryger (Taylor Kitsch), a mechanic who becomes addicted after an injury, and Edie Flowers (Uzo Aduba), a relentless investigator seeking justice.
Different Kinds of Drug Dealers
Taylor Kitsch wrings a rich vein of sympathy from his turn as the mechanic who will do anything to experience less pain. But the true marvel here is Uzo Abuba, the investigator who sees what no one else is seeing. Beyond that, several jabs are directed at Big Pharma, especially the Sackler family, which has been described as the "most evil family in America." As it weaves corporate, legal, and personal viewpoints, Painkiller takes sides, but it also allows the viewers to judge for themselves. Could the patients have taken initiative, too?
'The Salisbury Poisonings' (2020)
The Salisbury Poisonings recounts the failed attempt to poison Sergei Viktorovich Skripal (played by Wayne Swann), a rabble-rouser and former double agent (working for both Britain and Russia). After a dust-up with superiors and a 13-year sentence, he and his daughter were targeted using a Novichok nerve agent while sitting in a park. They survived, but the poison affected many other people in the surrounding area.
Analyzing Collateral Damage in Espionage
This hugely entertaining tale of derring-do and espionage-related malice would not be such a grand miniseries, however, without the towering, compassionate, and majestic allure of Anne-Marie Duff Menzies (playing a public health director) and the dull yet magnificently expressive locations. On many occasions, collateral damage never gets a sentence in stories about espionage, so The Salisbury Poisonings feels refreshing. The choice to use of archival footage in key scenes also boosts the sense of realism.
'Five Days at Memorial' (2022)
Set in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Five Days at Memorial chronicles the fight for survival involving doctors and patients trapped in New Orleans’ Memorial Medical Center. Power failure, rising floodwaters, and the depletion of key resources make things difficult for everyone involved. At the center of the proceedings is Dr. Anna Pou (Vera Farmiga), eager to ensure no lives are lost.
Curbing Unexpected Horrors
Few shows explore moral dilemmas, desperation, and human resilience better than Five Days at Memorial, originally intended as the third season of the FX true crime anthology series American Crime Story. The miniseries feels like a disaster movie, with fresh dilemmas emerging soon after each problem is solved. The best part? It’s all true. Those who read Sheri Fink’s non-fiction book of the same name will be glad that there are no major deviations from the source material.
'The Girl from Plainville' (2022)
In 2014, marine salvage captain Conrad Henri Roy III (Colton Ryan) committed suicide at the age of 18 after a long struggle with social anxiety and depression. It later emerged that his girlfriend, the 17-year-old Michelle Carter, had repeatedly sent him weird text messages, encouraging him to end his life so that his problems would stop. She’d later be convicted of involuntary manslaughter, but what led to all this? The Girl from Plainville has all the answers.
Dating the Devil
It’s sad to watch as the life of a young man, who had joined the military, craving order and justice, crumbles right before us. The miniseries could have been shorter, but the eight-episode length only serves to deepen the viewer’s connection with this assortment of characters. Overall, the saga is beautifully played, particularly by Ryan, Fanning, and Sevigny. Watch it for the story, the performances, and the cinematography. Be sure to also check on any teenage member of your family, and study who they date.
'Chernobyl' (2019)
Chernobyl revolves around the infamous Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster in Pripyat, Ukraine, and the frantic cleanup efforts that followed. On 26 April 1986, a reactor exploded, causing hundreds of direct and indirect casualties. The response involved over 500,000 personnel and cost $84.5 billion to fix, becoming one of the most expensive disasters in history.
Incredibly Flawless
Originally intended as a feature film, HBO's eerie disaster show is nothing short of triumphant. It received 19 Emmy nominations, winning Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Directing, and Outstanding Writing. In addition to that, it won Best Miniseries or Television Film at the Golden Globes. Here, the challenges and destinies of victims and responders are expertly interwoven, while highlighting the bureaucratic mess that caused the disaster to be bigger than it should have been. Who imagined that such a terrible moment in history would make such an immersive television experience? You won't find many other shows as flawless as this.
