Killing County, Hulu’s new real crime docuseries, is planned to launch on Friday, February 3, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. ET. The documentary looks at the unexplained killings in Bakersfield, California. It all starts with an investigation into the 2013 killing of Jorge Ramirez, a Bakersfield Police Department informant. The first season of the program, directed by Colin Kaepernick and produced by ABC News Studios, is separated into three episodes. It will be narrated by American actor André Holland, well known for his role as Kevin in the Oscar-winning picture Moonlight (2016).
Colin Kaepernick is the executive producer of Killing County, which he describes as one of the “most impactful projects” he has worked on. He was a football quarterback before becoming involved in civic activities. In 2018, he also won an Emmy for a Nike commercial. Killing County will discuss subjects such as Bakersfield’s high murder rate, its dysfunctional police, and the experiences of mourning families.
What to anticipate from Killing County
Director Michaela Dowd digs into the Ramirez family’s attempt to discover the truth surrounding the death of a family member in Killing County. However, as the tale continues, many more victims of Bakersfield’s cruel system emerge. Furthermore, the Ramirez family’s discovery of the inexplicable murder reveals the terrible truth of corruption in the Californian town. As a result, viewers can anticipate an intriguing narrative with shocking surprises. At the same time, one can see the unwavering spirit of the victims’ families and how they stood up to the savagery of great powers.
According to Hulu’s website, the official summary of Killing County is as follows:
“In Bakersfield, deep in California’s heartland, not everything is as it seems. After a horrific hotel shooting, the Ramirez family begins to doubt all they know about their hometown.”
The description continues:
“It’s a narrative full of twists and turns, corruption, and cover-ups. Who do you turn to when the people who are meant to serve and protect you are not trustworthy?”
The Killing County trailer
Killing County’s two-minute and twenty-four-second teaser reveals that Bakersfield is among the cities with the greatest frequency of police killings.
A lady says in the teaser while talking about her experience:
“I heard Bakersfield had a high murder rate, but I didn’t fully understand what it meant until I moved here.”
While this alone says loudly about the town’s happenings, the documentary also pays respect to the victims’ tenacious family members. They not only demanded justice for their loved ones but also dubbed the Bakerfields Police Department a liar. In the documentary trailer, one activist breaks down and expresses their feelings about attending the demonstration, saying:
“Fuck this, I’m calling the police on cops!”
While the emphasis of the docuseries is on the victims and their families suffering, it also contends that there is more to the force than simply a number of terrible cops. It accuses BPD officers of torture, corruption, and drug trafficking. At the same time, the series provides a forum for police officers to discuss their previous transgressions. One of them even acknowledges his shortcomings by admitting that he went too far in punishing:
“I did not deviate from the rules; I crossed the line.”
Families’ unwavering pursuit of the truth fills this crime thriller with passion. Although the project started as an inquiry, by the conclusion, it had decided to pay respect to the people’s campaign against police brutality, as a victim’s relative eloquently summarizes:
“Who can match these people? Guess what, they’ve met their match.”
