Netflix's When They See Us Is The Ideal One-Night Binge

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John Leguizamo as Raymond Santana Sr. in When They See Us

Published Apr 18, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT

Faith Roswell is a Senior Writer on Screen Rant's Classic TV team. Since earning her degree in Creative Writing over a decade ago, Faith has written articles on film and TV from a variety of different angles. Faith now combines her knowledge of psychology with her love of monster movies to give more insight into what makes the best ones.

You may have read her Screen Rant lists and features covering horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, or read her Amazon Top 10 book, "Movie Monsters of the Deep."

Faith has had an extensive career as a writer, appearing on BBC live radio, researching true crime for Rotten Mango podcast, and writing for publications including Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, and The Daily Jaws before beginning here at Screen Rant.

This article contains discussion of sexual assault.

In 1989, Trisha Meili was running in Central Park, where she was sexually assaulted. There were many teenagers in the park that night, and five were arrested and charged with the crime. However, the following events raised many complex issues, and the story became the subject of a harrowing four-part Netflix miniseries. True crime is an extremely popular genre and, as a streaming giant, Netflix does not shy away from tackling disturbing and upsetting true-crime stories. That said, while not all true-crime shows are of equal quality, this Netflix miniseries is perfect from start to finish.

When They See Us begins by introducing viewers to the teenage boys who would soon become known as "The Central Park Five." From then, the series begins its dark trajectory to the assault, the court case, and, finally, the outcome. When They See Us powerfully covers the Central Park Five case using perspectives and details that had previously been overlooked, and without the padding and over dramatization that can often happen in the true crime genre.

When They See Us is a perfect one-night binge, as the series' four episodes last for just under an hour each, bringing the runtime to five hours. Each episode focuses on a different phase of the case, from the arrest to the aftermath, making it easy to follow. Rather than relying on common crime thriller tricks like cliffhangers, the show's emotion drives the narrative, with viewers binging the story to see justice rather than to discover a plot twist.

The show is not an easy watch, but it is an essential one for people interested in true crime and the criminal justice system. Both Director Ava DuVernay's direction and the highlighting of injustices within the legal system were highly praised, with a Roger Ebert review saying, "it demonizes the right people and demands your fury over the events presented." The true story of the Central Park Five remains at the core of the series, showing respect to the people involved, and all five men walked the red carpet as DuVernay's guests at the 2019 Emmy Awards.

When They See Us Contains Some Of The Best Performances In Any Netflix Miniseries

Famke Janssen as Nancy Ryan in front of a wall of papers in When They See Us.

One factor that makes When They See Us stand out as an excellent true crime drama based on a real case is the acting. Six of the show's actors were nominated for Emmy Awards, with Jharrel Jerome winning Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his portrayal of Korey Wise. Over time, Jerome's performance changes dramatically, showing Wise turning from a frightened and vulnerable teenager to a man changed by prison, especially solitary confinement.

The actors playing the five do not allow viewers to see the teenagers as one entity, instead showing their different reactions to the accusation and court case. The first episode's scene in which they start to admit they accused each other to try and save themselves is one of the most powerful in the entire series, foreshadowing their fate while highlighting their differences.

The Central Park Five and Their Actors

Real Person	Played By
Antron McCray	Caleel Harris
Kevin Richardson	Asante Blackk
Yusef Salaam	Ethan Herisse
Raymond Santana	Marquis Rodriguez
Korey Wise	Jharrel Jerome

It is not always easy to cast two actors for the same part, with actors playing the younger versions of their characters. However, When They See Us did it perfectly, with the characters seamlessly changing from one actor to the next, except in the case of Jerome, who played both versions of Wise. Many of the actors met the people they were portraying, which gave the show an extra feeling of authenticity, which is especially important for true crime, which can often appear to over-dramatize the subject matter for entertainment.

In addition to the actors playing the men now known as "The Exonerated Five," Marsha Stephanie Blake (Linda McCray) and John Leguizamo (Raymond Santana Sr.) were both highly praised for their performances as parents, with McCray battling the system and Santana Sr. trying to protect his son. As with any TV show based on a real case, some details have been left out, but the miniseries captures the emotional heart of the case, and with a 96% positive critics' rating, When They See Us is a miniseries where every episode is perfect.