Criminal

Criminal, hosted by Phoebe Judge, tells stories about crime that are really stories about people who did something, or had something done to them, and then had to continue their lives.

The cases are not chosen for shock. A small theft can get the same care as a famous trial. Judge’s narration is dry, and the interviews are allowed to include affection, boredom, and regret.

The series, now with Vox Media, is a model of narrative true crime that does not need a cliffhanger. You stay because you want to know who this person is, not because a soundtrack told you to be afraid.

Episodes stand alone and are usually one sitting. The sister show This Is Love uses the same muscles on a different subject. Criminal itself rarely needs a previous chapter.