Dr. Death is the harrowing true story the disgraced Dr. Christopher Duntsch

Podcasts have become a new medium for true crime fans to learn about more chilling stories. And as Dr. Death proves, podcasts also make great TV adaptations. The Peacock crime drama follows the true story of the disgraced Dr. Christopher Duntsch (Joshua Jackson).

Duntsch was a neurosurgeon and promising doctor in the Dallas medical community. And Unlike many projects that seem to glorify serial killers and other predators (such as Ted Bundy), Dr. Death keeps it real, highlighting what truly matters. This is one of the many reasons to watch.

The crime drama focuses on not only Duntsch’s crimes, but how badly the healthcare system failed his victims. In fact, we learn a lot about the victims and keep up with their story in each episode.

The series is never seeking sympathy for the villain. It sticks to facts and places the main focus on the brave men who stood up to challenge the healthcare system and bring Duntsch to justice.

It’s incredibly frustrating watching Duntsch get away with so much, even more maddening is trying to make sense of how any of this was possible in the first place.

Randall Kirby (Christian Slater) and Robert Henderson (Alec Baldwin) share the audience’s frustration and deliver great performances, particularly Kirby who the watcher will find amusing and relatable. This duo is one audiences will want to see more of (Peacock, how about a spin-off?).

Jackson is a truly spine-chilling and sinister Duntsch. No recent horror movie or series has made me cringe and look away quite like Dr. Death. Watching (not to mention, hearing) Dr. Duntsch hammer nails and turn screws into the bones of his victims in all the wrong ways is unforgettable — and knowing this is a true story only adds to the horror. The sounds of the bones crushing and breaking will stick with you.

Like many other true story adaptations, one can do a quick Google search about Christopher Duntsch, but Dr. Death manages to keep audiences engaged, angry, and eager to see how Duntsch will be brought to justice.

Viewers will walk away feeling uncomfortable at how long it took to stop Duntsch, and we’ll definitely all think twice about the healthcare system and the trust we put in it.

All episodes of Dr. Death go live on Peacock on July 15, 2021.