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In 2009, Bowe Bergdahl was a household name. Bergdahl abandoned his post in Afghanistan only to be captured until 2014 after the Taliban made a deal with the United States government. He was an icon for the war with many asking the same unanswered question: why did he leave his post?
It’s 2016 and Sarah Koenig is still searching for an answer in season two of the podcast Serial. And while her drive and voice are remarkable, this season lacks the obscurity that made the first one so special. Bergdahl’s name filled front pages across the country. We all know his story.
But before season one, nobody knew Adnan Syed. No one talked about him years after his slain ex-girlfriend’s case was closed. No terrorists were released from the U.S.’s control in return for his release. He was forgotten.
Serial took the nation by storm in 2014, and with good reason. Listeners fell in love with Adnan. We tuned in week after week, hoping that new evidence would surface in favor of the sweet man with a not-so-sweet attorney. We all danced along to the catchy theme song. We were intoxicated with anything—and everything—Serial.
Then something changed.
Maybe it was the mid-season change to bi-weekly releases or maybe it’s because we were anxiously anticipating the new release with high expectations. Maybe it was neither, but it still lacks the same connection between listener and protagonist that season one thrived on.
Journalist-turned-host Sarah Koenig is a fantastic addition to the Serial team. She contributes significantly by locating new information and doesn’t hold back. Koenig’s voice paints a picture that keeps you interested, even if you already know the story. That in itself is worth tuning in for.
Even with the absence of novelty that made the first season a hit, season two is still a nice break from a bright television screen. It provides relief from reality TV shows and offers a thought-provoking, in-depth look at a misunderstood man.
