What is the docuseries about?

Missing: Dead or Alive is a four-part docuseries that premiered on Netflix on May 11, 2023. It follows the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Missing Persons Unit in Columbia, South Carolina, as they investigate cases of people who have disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The docuseries features real officers, real cases, and real footage of their searches, interviews, and evidence collection. The docuseries also shows the personal and professional challenges that the officers face while working on these time-sensitive and emotionally demanding cases.

Why is there controversy?

The docuseries has received mixed reviews from critics and viewers, with some praising its realism and suspense, and others criticizing its production quality and editing. Some viewers have also expressed doubts about the authenticity of the docuseries, wondering if some scenes are scripted or staged. According to sitename, some of the reasons why some viewers think it is not real are:

• The docuseries uses a fake TMZ logo and headline in the first episode, which claims that Madonna is “clinically brain dead”. This is later revealed to be a hoax, but some viewers found it misleading and unprofessional.
• The docuseries features dramatic music, narration, and camera angles, which some viewers felt were unnecessary and distracting. Some viewers also noticed inconsistencies and errors in the subtitles and captions.
• The docuseries portrays the officers as confident and competent, but some viewers questioned their methods and ethics. Some viewers felt that the officers were biased, unprofessional, or careless in handling the cases and the evidence.
• The docuseries does not provide any updates or follow-ups on the cases, leaving some viewers unsatisfied and curious. Some viewers also wondered why some cases were not reported by other media outlets or sources.