LIFE & CULTURE

‘Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story’ Is Your Next True Crime Must-Watch

The second season follows "one of America's messiest divorces"

After the first season of Dirty John captivated viewers in 2018, the real-life story of Debra Newell and John Meehan’s twisted, romantic relationship was intriguing to say the least.

For fans of the series or just true crime fanatics in general, Dirty John is back—this time telling the true story of socialite Betty Broderick.

Based on a true story, season two focuses on Betty Broderick, a woman who was convicted of murdering her husband and his second wife. Sharing four children together, her then-husband Dan Broderick was a successful lawyer from San Diego.

However, events spiral when Betty becomes suspicious when Dan hired a much younger legal assistant, Linda Kolkena. After manipulating and gaslighting Betty, Dan admits to his infidelity and marries Linda.

The second season is based in the mid to late 1980s, and looks to follow the pair’s complicated divorce, that involved restraining orders, custody battles and eventually murder.

Dirty John

Leading the season is Amanda Peet (Something’s Gotta Give), who plays Betty Broderick herself. With Christian Slater (Heathers), starring as Dan Broderick, her lawyer husband whose life ends tragically. Rachel Keller (The Society) plays Linda Kolkena, the secretary-turned-legal assistant hired by Dan.

In an interview with Variety, Peet revealed that she didn’t want Betty to come across as unhinged, saying: “I am very close with Holland Taylor, and before I started, she gave me a great piece of advice: Don’t play crazy. She encouraged me to look at each scene as a legitimate protest or a justified experience.”

The second season of Dirty John is available to stream on Hulu on June 2. If it’s anything like season one, we can assume that the series will Netflix soon.

Interested? Take a look at the gripping trailer below:

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