'The Yogurt Shop Murders’ Did Everything Right, Except Please Its Audience

'The Yogurt Shop Murders’ Did Everything Right, Except Please Its Audience

Header Image Source: HBO Max

The Yogurt Shop Murders wrapped its four-episode series on HBO Max this week. The series took an unusual approach, centering as much on the grieving community as on the crime itself. It’s a rare true-crime documentary produced as much for the people involved in the case as for the audience watching. It’s designed to help the families of the four victims process their grief 34 years later, while also giving police officers and community members a chance to reflect on their mistakes.

It’s exactly the kind of true-crime documentary audiences often say they want: one that turns the camera on the genre, gives families space to voice their grief without exploitation, and digs into just