True Crime Garage – Best of True Crime 2025 (Episode 895)

Release Date: January 7, 2026
Hosts: Nic & The Captain

Episode Overview

In this special "Best Of" episode, hosts Nic and the Captain ring in 2026 by looking back at their favorite true crime documentaries and dramatizations released in 2025. Rather than a case deep-dive, the conversation focuses on smart, candid recommendations for true crime viewing, packed with personal reflections, banter, and heated takes. Each host counts down their top three picks, providing insights into why each one stands out, and what makes great true crime storytelling in the current landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New Year Reflections and Purpose of the Episode (03:12)

• Welcoming listeners into 2026, expressing gratitude for the podcast community.
• Nic: "When it comes to true crime, you have been listening. We have been listening, but we've also been watching."
• The hosts introduce the theme: their recommended true crime documentaries and dramatizations from 2025, complete with "strong recommendations" for fans.

2. Nic and the Captain’s Top Three Documentaries of 2025

Nic’s #3: The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)

• Timestamp: 05:55–12:59
• A shocking, immersive documentary mostly told through real police bodycam footage from a 2023 incident in Ocala, Florida.
• Reminiscent of early reality TV like "Cops" for its unfiltered, train-wreck intensity.
• Invites viewers to decide for themselves who’s at fault as, “it’s like you’re sitting on the shoulder of the cop.”
• Focuses on neighborhood disputes and Florida’s stand-your-ground laws.
• Winner of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival Directing Award.

“What I loved about it was this reminded me of being a kid and when I first got captivated by the show Cops, right? … It was groundbreaking.” — Nic (06:48)

Captain’s #3: Amy Bradley Is Missing (Netflix)

• Timestamp: 12:59–17:03
• Three-part Netflix docuseries about Amy Bradley, who vanished on a Caribbean cruise ship in 1998.
• Stylishness compared to "Unsolved Mysteries" in longer format; praised for compelling, accessible storytelling.
• Leaves out some possible theories, which the hosts see as a strategic move to keep the story tight and focused.
• Noteworthy for sparking widespread true crime conversations and even a guest appearance from journalist James Renner.

“It inspired a lot of conversations and that was really interesting… you pop into a place, and … hear them talking about the Amy Bradley case.” — Nic (15:53)
“But surprising—again we both like this documentary. It’s my number three, but Rotten Tomatoes only gives it a 67%.” — Captain (16:47)

Nic’s #2: My Father, the BTK Killer (Netflix)

• Timestamp: 17:03–27:12
• Focuses on the daughter of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer, Carrie Rawson, her shock and struggle with her father's crimes.
• Nic admits initial skepticism, feeling the BTK case was over-explored, but was gripped by Carrie’s raw honesty.
• Highlights Carrie's regret over past critical comments about true crime authors and her journey toward public vulnerability.
• The hosts discuss the secondary victimization of killers’ families and society’s lack of empathy for them.

“This documentary really made me feel something for Carrie… and it’s not that I’ve had any ill will against Carrie. It was just like I wanted to kind of grab her and go, oh my God, what you’ve been through?” — Nic (18:33)
“They become victims as well. And I think sometimes we don’t show them as much grace as we show the other victims.” — Captain (21:37)

Captain’s #2: Unknown Number – The High School Catfish (Netflix)

• Timestamp: 31:51–34:17
• Documentary about a teen girl and her boyfriend harassed via anonymous text messages, which spirals from seemingly trivial to dark and devastating.
• Praised for its manageable feature length (1hr 34min) and its capacity to spark animated discussion among viewers.
• Rotten Tomatoes rating: 85%

“This is one, as it’s going, you stop and talk to whoever you’re watching it with … I thought it, you know, it was well worth the watch.” — Captain (33:57)

Nic’s #1: The Secrets We Bury (HBO/ID)

• Timestamp: 34:17–41:01
• Standalone documentary tracking the Carol siblings’ investigation into their missing father and the dark secrets of their family.
• Lauded for brilliant, complex storytelling and masterful direction (Patricia Gillespie).
• Weaves old family footage with contemporary interviews, exploring the theme of generational secrets and personal trauma.

“This is such a complicated story to tell. You have to be a freaking genius to be able to lay this out in the masterful way they did.” — Nic (39:31)

Captain’s #1: Devil In Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)

• Timestamp: 41:01–47:06
• Peacock’s eight-part docudrama on serial killer John Wayne Gacy, praised for its acting, polish, and multi-dimensional portrayal.
• Focuses on how Gacy presented different personas to the world, with the “Factor X” motif recurring from other serial killer cases.
• The Captain contrasts the binge-worthiness to the slow-going, disappointing Ed Gein docu-series.

“One of the things I really liked about it is … you kind of see the multiple characters that he played in his own life.” — Captain (43:32)
“It kind of reminds me, like, if somebody said to me, ‘This was made by the guys that made Mindhunter’ … because it feels similar.” — Captain (45:55)

3. Nostalgia, Storytelling Craft, and the Evolution of the Genre

• Praise for documentaries that avoid unnecessary bloat and keep to the emotional core of the story.
• Appreciation for classic visual and audio touches, film craft, and the way new docuseries harken back to "Unsolved Mysteries," "Cops," and other formative shows.
• Shared skepticism about certain mainstream true crime dramatizations that prioritize sensationalism over substance.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “They could have called the show the dumbest people on earth.” — Captain, on "Cops" (07:35)
• “My only critique of her [Carrie Rawson] was that statement. Maybe it was just me being a fanboy and enjoying Stephen King’s book too much.” — Nic (18:34)
• “I want to thank you guys so much for joining us here in the garage each and every week and each and every year, 10 years of True Crime Garage.” — Captain (47:26)

Host Recommendations Recap

Nic’s Top 3:

1. The Secrets We Bury (HBO)
2. My Father, the BTK Killer (Netflix)
3. The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)

Captain’s Top 3:

1. Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)
2. Unknown Number – The High School Catfish (Netflix)
3. Amy Bradley is Missing (Netflix)

Full list summary: 47:06

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:12] — Episode Theme & Introduction of Best Of Concept
• [05:55] — Nic’s #3: The Perfect Neighbor
• [12:59] — Captain’s #3: Amy Bradley is Missing
• [17:03] — Nic’s #2: My Father, the BTK Killer
• [31:51] — Captain’s #2: Unknown Number – The High School Catfish
• [34:17] — Nic’s #1: The Secrets We Bury
• [41:01] — Captain’s #1: Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
• [47:06] — Full Recommendation Recap

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “It’s like you’re sitting on the shoulder of the cop and just viewing it, and you are allowed to decide for yourself what you think has happened in that particular scenario or who is at fault.” — Nic on ‘The Perfect Neighbor’ (11:05)
• “And I think sometimes we forget that … those victims have families and friends, and so they become victims … (families of the killers) become victims as well.” — Captain (21:37)
• “It was Factor X that was within him. And according to Dennis, driving him to kill and to do the evil, bad stuff in his life. It wasn’t him. It was Factor X.” — Nic, discussing the psychology of serial killers (44:21)
• “I had this weight on me that was like, but hey, Captain, you’re the captain of true crime. You have to watch this.” — Captain on enduring a slow docuseries for the sake of expertise (43:32)
• “The cinematography on it looks incredible.” — Nic, on Devil in Disguise (45:45)

Tone and Style

The episode maintains the signature True Crime Garage blend: smart, irreverent, and generously self-reflective, mingling beer-and-garage banter with serious, thoughtful analysis. Nic’s passion for nuanced storytelling and the Captain’s humor and candor make even their digressions engaging and in the spirit of true fans talking shop.

Conclusion

For True Crime Garage listeners—and anyone looking for fresh, thoughtful recommendations—this Best Of episode delivers a thorough, debate-driven list of 2025’s best new true crime documentaries. From Netflix stand-alones to HBO and Peacock docudramas, the hosts’ picks reflect both personal taste and community buzz. As always, the Garage rules: “Be good, be kind, and don’t litter.”

For more: Check out True Crime Garage’s massive back catalog and stay tuned for their recommendations of both what to watch—and what to skip—in the ever-expanding universe of true crime media.