The Idiot - Trailer

Serial Productions introduces a new five-episode series titled *The Idiot*, hosted by M. Gessen, a writer typically recognized for analyzing totalitarianism and human rights. This investigative narrative pivots to a deeply personal and shocking family saga involving Gessen’s cousin, Allen, who was implicated in a murder-for-hire plot. The series utilizes undercover recordings and law enforcement tapes to document Allen’s interactions with individuals he believed were "cartel level" criminals, revealing a dark yet absurdly humorous descent into criminal conspiracy. By examining the disconnect between knowing that anyone’s relative could be capable of violence and actually witnessing a family member plot a murder, the show explores the limits of understanding human behavior. The story serves as a character study of an unlikely criminal, blending the gravity of a potential homicide with the bizarre reality of Allen’s decision-making process.