Fans of true crime know that not all Netflix documentaries are equal. Some have been met with controversy and pointed out as inaccurate, while others offer the most exhaustive and detailed exploration of events available. However, the recent Untold: The Murder of Air McNair is a let-down unlike any other before it, with the documentary doing little to expound on the case or deliver information with any insight beyond a simple Google search.
Dealing with a sensitive subject and a case marred by controversy from those following it and doing such a disservice to both has led many to speak out against the Untold installment on Netflix, as viewers aren’t impressed with what they saw.
Untold: The Murder of Air McNair Painfully Misses the Mark
Continued speculation and doubt around the investigation, which concluded that the death of NFL star Air McNair and his 20-year-old mistress Sahel “Jenni” Kazemi was a murder-suicide, had many believing that Untold: The Murder of Air McNair was going to shed light on the issues. However, brushing off alternative theories as a quick side note with little follow-up is just one of the documentary’s most significant issues that have perplexed viewers.
There was an abundance of information glossed over or missed, especially considering the quality many have come to expect from Netflix’s true crime originals. There was a lack of substantive info on the forensics, technical evidence, or investigation details. This is best highlighted in the quick glossing over of the awkward responses of Jenni’s boyfriend during his police interviews that put his involvement out as a theory but never followed up beyond a quick ‘that was kind of weird, police should have looked into that more.’ Another instance, McNair’s friend Wayne Neely finding the body and, allegedly, caught trying to give money to an office shortly after that, was never explained or discussed beyond stating it happened.
The Interviews in The Murder of Air McNair Were Not Informative
The interviews were surface-level examinations, and McNair’s family was omitted (whether this was by their choice still adds to the lack of context around the crime). Instead, viewers got an early career highlight of the beloved sports star and confirmation that he had been shot with a quick note of an alternative theory. The documentary fails as an investigative work or a means to shed light on the case. This is all unfortunate, given Air McNair’s stardom and the desire of those who want a clearer picture of what happened.
The documentary expects a lot from its audience, with many elements treated as ‘in the know,’ which does not work for a casual Netflix audience or true-crime enthusiasts, for whom the documentary is their entry point into the case of Air McNair. The documentary could have worked better by approaching the subject as a ‘rise and fall’ with how much it focuses on his accomplishments in football and personal life to the point of his death. As a true-crime documentary, Untold: The Air McNair Story fails spectacularly.
Unfortunately, this continues a trend of people being unhappy with the Untold series, with many aware of the true-crime program not surprised by the lack of depth, repetition, and failure to address bigger questions. Still, McNair’s death shocked the football world and his community; fans of the Titans hold his name synonymous with the 2000s Titans and the 11 seasons he spent with the team. The 13-year career coming to a shocking conclusion deserved a better documentary than what viewers got. Untold: The Murder of Air McNair is streaming on Netflix.
