Stars: 4.5/5
Buzzfeed has held a monopoly on the online entertainment sphere for millennials for the past few years. But, let’s face it, the “people try x” format of most of their video series has definitely gotten old. Thankfully, they’ve tried their best to rectify that, especially in the form of “Buzzfeed Unsolved.”
“Buzzfeed Unsolved” is part of Buzzfeed’s Blue channel and covers alternating seasons of unsolved true crimes and unsolved supernatural stories. The hosts, Ryan Bergara and Shane Madej, are funny, ridiculous and entertaining. Part of what makes the show so engaging is the constant battle between the two around the show’s central theme. Bergara believes in ghosts — and the possible truth of any of the supernatural stories they investigate — while Madej bases his views in more of a scientific frame and believes that aliens are real, though ghosts are most certainly not.
The most recent episode was posted to YouTube Friday, Feb. 3 — the second episode in the show’s third season — and covered a true crime story I hadn’t been aware of until watching the episode. Granted, this episode may not have included such iconic scenes as Madej’s “Hey there, demons: It’s me, ya boy” line, but it’s a tale ripe for one of the most engaging bits of the series to blossom: the conspiracy theories.
Not only is the series a great way to relieve the monotony from any boring week you’re having, but it’s also a great resource if you’re interested in some of the biggest world-wide mysteries from all across history. The show has covered everything from Bigfoot and Jack the Ripper to O.J. Simpson and the famously haunted Dauphine Orleans Hotel.
Madej and Bergara traveled to England for this past season of supernatural episodes as well as the current season of true crime mysteries, which has added an additional spice to an already diversely entertaining show. Though I’m not what you would call an avid fan of horror movies, true crime and reality-based supernatural stories interest me quite a bit. Plus, hearing the information in a documentary-like setting also takes a good bit of the spooky out of it.
After each episode, Madej and Bergara do a Q-and-A session, rounding up some questions from “Buzzfeed Unsolved’s” Instagram comments as well as the show’s Facebook group. Within the base of regular fans, a sort of Team Edward versus Team Jacob dichotomy has developed between those fans who, like Bergara, believe in ghosts and the fans who, like Madej, do not. The two groups, dubbed by the hosts as “Boogaras” and “Shaniacs,” are proof that this is one of Buzzfeed’s ventures that hasn’t joined the others in the pit of repetitiveness.
Overall, “Buzzfeed Unsolved” meets all of my criteria for a good show: it’s funny, interesting, engaging and just a little bit stupid. And, it’s most definitely worth the watch. You can find “Buzzfeed Unsolved” on YouTube and now on Hulu.
