The second part of HBO's "The Jinx" arrives nine years after the first season, coincidentally aligning with the Jewish observance of Passover, and poses an intriguing thought experiment rooted in faith and ethical dilemmas. Like the song "Dayenu," the series questions the "enoughness" of its gripping portrayal of Robert Durst’s life and trials.
The first six episodes were praised for their well-structured depiction of a twisting series of unresolved murders tied to Durst, and their revelation of an elusive, candid Durst. It became a true crime pinnacle that included ethical issues about the process of acquiring Durst's confession and the subsequent events that led to Durst's arrest in New Orleans.
The second season, although devoid of exclusive Durst interviews, remains a well-produced true crime docuseries with keen interviews and an engaging case presentation that draws on jailhouse conversations with Durst. It follows on the heel of true crime stories like Making a Murderer and Tiger King, focusing on the impact of the first season on the series' key characters.
The Jinx's new episodes start in March 2015, when Durst was arrested in New Orleans. A constant curiosity in this docuseries is the relationship dynamics between the filmmakers, their legal teams, and law enforcement agencies. The docuseries explores conversations with law enforcement as early as 2013, but fails to provide concrete data points or answers to pressing questions.
At the heart of The Jinx is the cat-and-mouse dynamics between Durst and filmmaker Jarecki. This dynamic, which underpinned the first part of the series, disappears in the second season, where viewers watch the decline of Durst's health. Despite the less exhilarating narrative, The Jinx –Part Two remains a compelling watch.
Beyond its representation of true crime, the docuseries offers a profound perspective on justice. While the first part exposes what miscarriage of justice looks like, the second part presents justice in action, which may not be as dramatically compelling as injustice. Nonetheless, the second season of The Jinx remains a good watch, which ultimately might be enough.
