3 fascinating Paramount+ docuseries to binge this weekend (May 8-10)

We’re just a week away from the big premiere of Taylor Sheridan’s newest Yellowstone offshoot, Dutton Ranch, which will undoubtedly draw much attention to the throngs of Paramount+ subscribers hungry for more Duttons. But I believe that a TV diet balanced by a regular dose of realism is healthy, and that’s where I come in with your weekly lineup of docuseries.

We’ve got a varied list of shows for your weekend (or weekday) watching, including a neat series that sits down with the kids of some of the biggest musical acts in the world for their perspective, a new season of a long-running FBI true-crime series, and a five-part examination of the rise of an American soccer legend—perfect timing for this summer’s World Cup.

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Family Legacy

Music’s biggest icons through the eyes of their kids

I was surprised to find that there are two seasons of this neat and interesting sit-down documentary series that focuses on the children of some of the world’s megastar musicians and artists, and their unique perspectives and experiences living in their atmospheres.

The MTV/Paramount+ co-production Family Legacy is a unique music docuseries with a twist that I haven’t seen before—it passes the mic to the kids of such huge stars, including Draven Bennington (son of the late Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington), Andrew Hagar (son of Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar), Tron Austin (son of TLC’s Chilli), and Reginae Carter (Lil Wayne’s daughter), Bailey Etheridge (daughter of Melissa Etheridge), and the wild sons of heavy metal icons from Slipknot and Korn, to name but a few.

Each of the show’s 14, 20-minute episodes focuses on two artists, and is like a little retrospective filled with archival footage, home videos of the stars with their kids, and more. The heart of each segment, though, is the on-camera sit-downs with the children as they share stories about their parents, some of whom are no longer with us, causing emotions to run high. The series’ narration keeps things moving along, and even that is a family affair—season one is voiced by Quincy Brown, son of R&B singer/songwriter Al B. Sure!; and season two is narrated by Method Man’s daughter Cheyenne Smith.

Brand

Apple

Operating System

tvOS

Resolution

4K

Ports

HDMI

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FBI True

Real FBI agents swap some of their craziest stories

If you’re looking for an authentic true-crime docuseries with less hyperbole and grandiose storytelling and more of a matter-of-fact approach told by the investigators themselves (often over a couple of beers in a bar setting), then give FBI True a try.

Created by Craig Turk (one of the producers on the CBS scripted series FBI) and former FBI agent Anne Beagan, FBI True has so far delivered eight seasons of concise, stripped-down episodes, where real-life agents—many retired and many still active—tell the stories of their craziest, deadliest, and most emotional cases they’ve ever worked on. Free of scripted reenactments and other fluff, the successful format mixes direct-to-camera interviews with archival footage and expert commentary from the agents involved.

Season was released on Paramount+ in March, but there’s a massive treasure trove of crazy and fascinating cases to dive into—involving everything from terrorism and organized crime cases to serial killers, kidnappings, and more. Season eight’s highlights include the disappearance of an 11-year-old boy, the 2022 Colleyville synagogue hostage standoff in Texas, and a two-parter on the FBI’s hunt for mobster John Gotti. FBI True feels more like you’re sitting around with your retired FBI agent uncle, who has the craziest stories.

FBI True

Release Date

February 28, 2023

Network

CBS, Paramount+

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You Don’t Know Where I’m From, Dawg

The trailer-park-to-World-Cup rise of Clint Dempsey

One of the most accomplished and recognizable American soccer players in the world, Clint Dempsey was widely recognized for his intense, versatile play and his wily, often aggressive “chip-on-the-shoulder” competitiveness on the pitch. He’s also known for his trailer-park-to-riches rise to international soccer fame, all of which is covered in the new five-part Paramount+ sports docuseries, cleverly titled You Don’t Know Where I’m From, Dawg.

The title, a now-iconic phrase that Dempsey shouted at Manchester City’s Micah Richards during a heated on-field altercation, is thoroughly discussed in the series, of course, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You Don’t Know Where I’m From, Dawg traces the life and career of the Texas-born forward, with each episode focusing in on different eras—From growing up in Nacogdoches and his rise in Major League Soccer to leading the U.S. Men’s team in the 2006 World Cup, to his move to England, where he played eight stellar seasons in the English Premier League, and his subsequent return to MLS.

The series blends a ton of great game footage as well as interviews from Dempsey himself and a who’s who of soccer, including Thierry Henry, Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, Gareth Bale, and even Richards. But it doesn’t just focus on Dempsey’s career; Dempsey talks candidly about his upbringing and delves into the troubling health news that nearly ended everything in his prime.

A trio of fascinating docuseries

Hopefully, one of these picks helps to settle your “what should we watch?” debate this weekend—and enlighten you more than another episode of Landman. For more weekend inspiration, see all of what’s on Paramount+ in May, and check out our other curated streaming guides.

Subscription with ads

Yes, $8/month

Simultaneous streams

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