Last week marked the release of Buzzfeed Unsolved True Crime‘s Season 6 finale and overall 100th episode. As the title might suggest, this popular web series follows co-hosts Ryan Bergara and Shane Madej as they investigate some of the world’s most intriguing unsolved mysteries. I’ve spent a more than advisable number of late nights watching Ryan and Shane wheeze their way through haunted locations during their Supernatural seasons and cold cases when it came time for True Crime. So, to celebrate this landmark in the show’s production, I thought it would be fun to revisit the best that the Ghoul Boys have to offer.
In this first instalment of a two-part retrospective, I’ll rank my top 10 favorite episodes of Buzzfeed Unsolved True Crime. As Ryan would say, let’s get into it.
1. “The Grisly Murders of Jack the Ripper”
First place on this list belongs to a time-tested classic. Despite his (or her) sudden disappearance in 1891, Jack the Ripper remains one of history’s most infamous, unidentified serial killers today. Shane and Ryan certainly do the Whitechapel Murders justice in this episode, as the boys venture across the pond to walk in the footsteps of the Ripper himself. This episode is what really sparked my interest in true crime and even inspired me to delve into the mystery myself in London.
2. “The Eerie Case of the Watcher”
Despite the fact that this case features no serial killers, axe-wielding maniacs, or strange disappearances, this just might be the creepiest episode of Buzzfeed Unsolved True Crime out there. Part of the creep factor undoubtedly stems from the recentness of the case and the story’s ambiguous ending. But more importantly, “The Eerie Case of the Watcher” strikes a psychological chord with its audiences. If you’ve ever felt watched within the confines of your own home, or if you’ve ever secluded yourself away from windows while spending the night alone, this episode validates those irrational moments of fear in a horrifying way.
(As an aside, Ryan and Shane recently joined forces with Stephen Lim, another former Buzzfeed-er, to launch their own company called Watcher Entertainment. While I’m not certain that this case provided the inspiration for the company’s name, it would be pretty cool if it did.)
3. “The Terrifying Axeman of New Orleans”
Featuring jazz music, potential ties to the mafia, and a killer with an alarmingly low kill rate despite attacking his victims in their sleep with an axe, this story is wild from start to finish. Ryan and Shane’s commentary proves even more priceless than usual as the episode flows between Ryan’s monologues, Shane and Ryan’s in-studio reactions, and the crew’s visits to Axeman-related sites in both New Orleans and Los Angeles.
4. “The Tragic Murder of JonBenét Ramsey”
Another sensationalized and well-documented case, the circumstances surrounding beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey’s tragic murder have spawned plenty of theories and documentaries. The Buzzfeed Unsolved team does an impressive job of balancing these myriad sources of information. This episode also provides an early example of Shane and Ryan’s unique ability to approach dark, often disturbing material with levity while never making light of the crimes they discuss.
5. “The Strange Disappearance of D.B. Cooper”
The story of the trench coat-clad man who passed notes to flight attendants and attempted to pull off a heist by throwing himself out of an airplane without a parachute seems ridiculous enough as it is, but Ryan and Shane render it outright hilarious in their retelling. This episode remains a fan favorite for good reason.
6. “The Mysterious Disappearance of the Sodder Children”
This episode marks Shane’s first appearance in the series in the latter half of season 1. The boys discuss the burning of the Sodder family home and the disappearance of five of nine of the Sodder children in a series of events that points to almost laughable incompetence (or maybe sabotage) on the behalf of local authorities. Ryan and Shane’s apparently effortless chemistry clicks instantly, and it feels almost as if Shane had been sitting on Ryan’s left all along. This episode sets the tone for the rest of Buzzfeed Unsolved‘s 100 episodes to date.
7. “The Treacherous Treasure Hunt of Forest Fenn”
This episode is an absolute gem and a whole lot of fun the entire way through. (Haha, ignore my terrible puns.) Ryan and Shane wrap up True Crime Season 4 by hunting for hidden treasure reportedly stashed in the American Rocky Mountains by art curator and author Forest Fenn. While the boys prove as unsuccessful as the Reddit threads full of treasure-seekers before them, this episode features Indiana Jones-style costumes, lovely scenery, and plenty of comedy (if not literal) gold.
8. “The Bizarre Disappearance of Bobby Dunbar”
I guess I like the wacky ones, huh? As I re-watched this episode in the process of writing this post, it dawned on me that an inordinate number of my top ten start out with Ryan saying something along the lines of “yeah… this case is completely crazy.” Well, this episode centers around the misidentification of a missing boy who disappeared into the Louisiana swamps in the early 1900’s. What happened to the real Bobby Dunbar remains unsolved.
9. “The Creepy Murder in Room 1046”
Bergara himself has described the aesthetic of his show as reminiscent of “a crazy guy in his basement,” and this episode provides an early embodiment of that statement. Ryan and Shane explore the perplexing details of this murder case from the safety of the studio, adding commentary and entertaining anecdotes (punctuated by complementary wheezes) in the form of conspiracy theory-style text on a black screen. The boys don’t necessarily shed any light on the situation, but then again, that’s kind of the point. Fans of the show will also recognize this episode as the birthplace of Ricky Goldsworth, Ryan’s alter-ego and a recurring bit throughout the series.
10. “The Horrifying Murders of the Zodiac Killer”
This final entry represents an anomaly on this list in that it’s the only episode I’ve included from the short period of time in the show’s history where Shane was not Ryan’s co-host. Instead, Brent Bennett accompanies Ryan as they retrace the steps of the Zodiac killer. In “The Horrifying Murders of the Zodiac Killer,” Ryan does a chillingly good job of presenting the facts and timelines of the case as he and Brent drive between the sites of the murders.
Honorable Mentions:
“The Mysterious Death of the Somerton Man Revisited,” “The Mysterious Death of Michelle Von Emster,” and “The Impossible Disappearance of Dorothy Arnold.”
Keep an eye out for my list of my top 10 favorite Buzzfeed Unsolved Supernatural episodes coming soon!