tigerlily82 Review of The Way Down

The Way Down (2021–2022)

What a fascinating hair - I mean, docuseries!

[9/10 · 3 October 2021]

I'm trying to think of where is best to start...probably hair - I mean here: Yes, the three initial episodes do feel a little scattered and a bit like poor journalism, however, I think this is because just a couple months before this docuseries was meant to air its subject died in a plane crash. You have to imagine that all the research, interviews, filming, and even most if not all of the editing on all five episodes was finished at this time and then the story changed. I am sure there was a rush job to make decisions and changes so that the series could still be released, and they had to cut two of the episodes entirely so that they could be done in the future once more information comes to light about the plane crash and the impact on the cult and its "church." So, again, yes, it is a little disjointed in its story telling, but I understand why it ended up that way. All that said, watch this. Cultism and extremist thought is growing rapidly in America and this is an interesting snapshot as to how it takes root in people's lives. I was entirely unfamiliar with this story in any aspect, so I was fascinated and immediately drawn into the hair - I mean story (dang, why does that keep happening?!). If you find cults of interest, I highly recommend this docuseries. The stories from former members and their loved ones are heartbreaking, and if you say you didn't tear up at all when Mr. Beene was discussing the loss of his wife to this cult, you have to be lying. My heart also breaks for Gwen's children who appear to be the living embodiments of pain itself. I hope her son finds some freedom now, and I am concerned it might be too later for her daughter, who appears to be taking over for Gwen, though I'm also fairly certain if she doesn't eat something, anything, soon, she'll simply blow away in the first stiff Tennessee wind. I did lower my review by one star because of the scattered feeling that almost made me stop watching in episode one, and because while it is briefly mentioned they don't actually discuss what the hell is going on with that hair - I mean...no, wait, I do mean hair!!! What on earth is happening there?! Gwen gives a whole new meaning to "tease it to Jesus." There has to be some sort of internal structure in there. There just has to be. What is it? Is it Styrofoam? Is it a small dog? I gotta know! I was so excited when Gina started talking about it, but then they immediately switched topics. Please, in the final two episodes, tell us about the hair! If you think the image in the thumbnail is an exaggeration, you are in for a surprise. Maybe they didn't want to speak terribly ill or make a mockery of the dead when discussing the hair, but Gwen was an atrocious human being, so who cares! And speaking of which, the news coverage of the crash seems to be a little sparse on details. They keep saying they found "human remains" and there seems to be no further research onto the 'why/how' of the crash. I feel suspicious. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I am a skeptic, and I just don't trust this as the information stands. Perhaps the docuseries will have more info for us in the future, but what I'm seeing on the internet doesn't convince me who went down in that plane at all or that this was a tragic accident of any kind. It's got "faked their own death" written all over it. Just sayin'.