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Original poster

Anyone watching Dirty John and want a discussion thread?

86 replies

Aberforthsgoat · 14/02/2019 18:03

Just started watching on Netflix - two episodes in and quite like it so far.
I’ve alresdy listened to the podcast so interested to see if they stick with the actual story

OP posts:
ElasticFirecracker · 16/02/2019 10:26

@TwitterLovesMAPs Thank you for the True Crime Profile podcast recommendation, it's great.

crystalize · 16/02/2019 11:08

I sat down after work yesterday to watch a film but this popped up in a trailer and I thought give it a go... I watched the whole series until the early hours!!! I too was livid at her passivity, moving him in and marrying within weeks and handing over control of money etc... especially the effect on her daughters.
It was gripping stuff though, I liked how it delved into the past, giving an insight to their backgrounds. Her mother was seriously fucked up too forgiving her daughters murdering husband.
I thought the performance from the daughters were brilliant... what an ending I was literally gobsmacked!
Maybe this thread could be copied into the relationships section as there's so many threads for online dating...

TwitterLovesMAPs · 16/02/2019 12:24

ElasticFirecracker, it’s great isn’t it?

They’re also discussing the Lyn Dawson casenin Australia at the moment. A masterclass in how the patriarchy has been fucking women over for decades.

I see a lot of parallels with Debra Newell and her family and the Broberg family in the ‘Abducted in Plain Sight’ documentary. Both very religious and very, very naive.

TwitterLovesMAPs · 16/02/2019 12:27

The thing is, if you grow up fully buying into the narrative that women are pretty pink princesses, and one day a big, handsome rich man will come and sweep you off your feet and you’ll love happy ever after, then of course you’re not going to question it when someone offers that on a plate.

That’s not to victim blame Debra. He saw that in her and that’s why he targeted her. He predated on her naivety.

CameliaCamelia · 16/02/2019 12:41

I watched the whole thing yesterday

Interesting that it didn't focus too much on her religious beliefs

She is accepting of the man who murdered her sister so stands to reason she would accept johns bullshit

I recognised some traits of my ex husband in John

MeOldChina · 16/02/2019 12:45

Oh I'm so excited by this @Aberforthsgoat!

By total coincidence I listened to the podcast about 3 weeks ago and was gripped, so I know the story. I'm enjoying watching it with DH who had never heard of it and seeing it unfold.

I have to say it's very true to the podcast so far. I've watched 2 episodes.

Original poster
Aberforthsgoat · 16/02/2019 16:55

A few more episodes in - agree the actresses who play the daughters are brilliant

I’m so frustrated with Debra!

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thenightsky · 16/02/2019 18:12

I've just watched Ep 1. Can anyone tell me who the dark haired woman was in hospital in pain? Was she the same one who broke into the house? I fear I've missed a bit Confused

Original poster
Aberforthsgoat · 16/02/2019 18:16

No she’s just a patient who is used to illustrate another plot line about John...

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reallemonade · 16/02/2019 19:09

I think it's brilliant. How was she so good career wise and so appalling at relationships though??? I wouldn't consider 5 weeks of dating to be a relationship, let alone time for marriage.

thenightsky · 16/02/2019 19:54

she'd been married four times previously so must have had some blind spot when it came to men. I'm only on Ep 3, so I'm not clear how her other marriages ended... perhaps it will come to light in later episodes.

BartonHollow · 16/02/2019 20:12

Feels tight to keep blaming an elderly woman but how crap her Mum is with Men (permissive/submissive) obviously influenced her own approach

Original poster
Aberforthsgoat · 16/02/2019 22:03

Yes, I feel bad but all the way through I was just repeatedly thinking WTF

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BartonHollow · 16/02/2019 22:10

I don't know if you saw it @Aberforthsgoat

But someone started a thread saying how the storyline is unbelievable and all the characters and what lazy cliched idea/writing it was and it died a death when it was pointed out it's not fiction!

Original poster
Aberforthsgoat · 16/02/2019 22:12

Haha @bartonhollow no I didn’t! But I can totally see how you would come to that conclusion if you didn’t realise
The truth certainly is stranger than fiction sometimes!

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Mmmgoats · 17/02/2019 10:37

I cannot stop watching

thenightsky · 17/02/2019 10:56

Me neither goat I hoping DH goes off to the gym soon so I can get another 3 episodes in.

I do find Debra infuriating though. Then I feel bad for victim blaming. She's just sooo wet... even her speech is soft and drippy - I want to see her get angry!

I also wonder how she managed to become such a sharp business woman. And what's with keeping 90k in cash in the bottom drawer?? That's not very business like at all.

Mmmgoats · 17/02/2019 11:08

@thenightsky I don’t understand it either
Hugely successful with lots of money and a thriving business... but none of her decisions regarding the money in the house the paying the rent upfront etc seem to align with that

Original poster
Aberforthsgoat · 17/02/2019 11:14

I’ve finished it! But don’t want to post spoilers Grin Incase people haven’t listened to the podcast or read about it previously
So hurry up everyone so we can discuss Grin

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Lightofday · 17/02/2019 11:16

What i don't get is that she had been married 4 times before and instead of thinking 'hmm you know these things don't seem to work out for me very well, maybe I'll hold off this time' she jumps into another one within weeks.

Let's face it, I think there's more than codependency issues going on there. Not portrayed in the show but... IRL I wouldn't be surprised if she was some sort of borderline/narcissist too. Jumping in to marry a doctor, nm what her kids thought.

Lightofday · 17/02/2019 12:13

Ah just reading that in the real case he actually kept asking her for a while before she agreed to marry him. Makes more sense.

Original poster
Aberforthsgoat · 17/02/2019 12:35

Yes it does although it was still pretty quick!

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CantstandmLMs · 17/02/2019 13:07

I'm currently binging it! I find all the female's painful expect for John's ex wife!

However, it's really intriguing! I am going to listen to the podcast too as I love a podcast.

Original poster
Aberforthsgoat · 17/02/2019 13:08

The podcast is even more maddening when you hear the way they talk about it all @cantstandmLMs but definitely worth a listen, I totally binged that too

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ElasticFirecracker · 17/02/2019 17:53

As well as the podcast and the drama, there is a documentary which I do t think is available in the UK.

I found someone has posted it on YouTube, it's called Dirty John: The Dirty Truth. I think it answers many questions.

My favourite episode of the drama is ep6 where events are replayed showing what John was doing.