Season 1 – The Thing About Pam

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2:05

Mar 2022

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

46%

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28 Reviews

59%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

When Betsy Faria is murdered in small-town Missouri, the police believe it's an open-and-shut case involving her husband, who is arrested and found guilty of the crime. However, unanswered questions remain, and the case not only leads to a wrongful conviction but also sets into motion a chain of events that exposes a diabolical scheme involving Betsy's close friend Pam Hupp. Never considered a suspect, even though she was the last person to see Betsy alive, Pam keeps changing her story as she evades questions and leads investigators through a chilling series of unexpected twists and turns.

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Critics Consensus

Renée Zellweger is visibly having fun, but The Thing About Pam's glossy take on a true crime is neither as entertaining or insightful as it aims to be.

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Jack Seale

Guardian

Jul 21, 2022

2/5

Alarm bells ring within the opening seconds of the first episode, because The Thing About Pam is cursed with an ironic, singsong narrator. Apparently minor creative choices can, on occasion, communicate everything that is wrong with a show.

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Anita Singh

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Jul 21, 2022

2/5

You don’t think of Pam Hupp when you watch it. You think: look at Renée Zellweger waddling about on screen, wearing a fake nose and pretending to be fat.

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Richard Roeper

Chicago Sun-Times

Mar 12, 2022

3/4

Renée Zellweger transforms in this darkly funny true-crime series.

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Michael Cook

Geek Vibes Nation

Jul 17, 2025

3/5

The Thing About Pam is a wild ride, to be sure. It might not make a particularly compelling drama, but as a fun, somewhat experimental show? It’s enjoyable enough.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

May 19, 2022

Despite an impressive supporting cast that includes Josh Duhamel and Judy Greer, it’s Zellweger who very much ensures the spotlight stays on her.

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Sarah Knight Adamson

Sarah's Backstage Pass

Apr 24, 2022

3/4

Renée Zellwegers award-worthy performance, shes almost unrecognizable as Pam Hupp--which makes the series watchable.

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Slingin Monkey P

@RT47851171 Jun 18, 2026

RT is full of it…(what’s new) this show deserved an Emmy. Watching it right now for the second time.

Gustavo R

@rodrigug Apr 1, 2025

Shirt series about real life murderer Pam Hupp staring Renee Zwellweger. Real shocking story. Good acting. Really entertaining 🍿🍿🍿🍿/5 on Peacock

Tony P

@T-dog94 Feb 18, 2025

I found the series to be really good, and I'd watch anything Renee Zellweger's in because she's a really great actress!

Rachel O

@RT04343966 Apr 27, 2024

Very good and suspenseful. I loved how the used the same names as the victims/criminal.

Tweety K

@Birdissa Nov 13, 2023

People wonder what the mind of a serial killer is like. Some people are morbidly fascinated with it. Here is an excellent look into one horrible mind. Pam Hupp. Wearing a fat suit was a condition of Rene Z. taking the role. It was a small price to pay for what she accomplished. She is brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. One of the best evil villain performances in a while, imho. She deserves a lot of credit for showing what a homicidal maniac could be like. I am astounded at her work most of the time, anyhow, and I look forward any movie she is in.

RAR D

@RT55549560 Aug 5, 2023

I think the people who're disappointed by this show were expecting a realism / documentary-style series with a somber depressing tone.... well... it's not. It's a campy can't-stop-watching, sarcastic, almost-satire. I agree the characters, mainly the 'villains', (Pam, Leah Askey, Pam's mother) aren't 3-dimensional complex human beings, but instead they've become caricatures we're allowed to mock. The truth is... the real Pam was also very much a caricature on the surface, and this show exploited that rather than glorifying her into a complex being we can sympathize with.

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Renée Zellweger

Pam Hupp

Judy Greer

Leah Askey

Glenn Fleshler

Russ Faria

Katy Mixon

Betsy Faria

Suanne Spoke

Janet

Gideon Adlon

Mariah Day

Episode 1

Aired Mar 8, 2022

She's a Good Friend

Pam Hupp, Betsy Faria's close friend, is the last person to see Betsy alive after dropping her off at home on the night of her murder; Betsy's husband, Russ Faria, makes a distraught call to 911.

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Episode 2

Aired Mar 15, 2022

She's a Helper

Pam becomes a source of support not just for Betsy's family, but also for law enforcement and District Attorney Leah Askey as they build their case; Russ hires Joel Schwartz, a top criminal defense attorney from St. Louis.

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Episode 3

Aired Mar 22, 2022

She's a Star Witness

Pam gets her 15 minutes of fame when DA Leah Askey calls her to the stand as a witness for the prosecution even as Joel Schwartz tries to poke holes in the case against Russ.

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Episode 4

Aired Mar 29, 2022

She's a Loving Daughter

As Russ' new trial looms ahead, Pam faces money troubles, a relentless "Dateline" producer and difficulty caring for her sick mother; DA Leah Askey realizes Pam may not be the star witness she thought; Joel Schwartz makes breakthroughs in his case.

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Episode 5

Aired Apr 5, 2022

She's Not Who You Think She Is

Pam gains notoriety once the "Dateline" episode airs; as she squares off against Betsy's daughters in a civil suit for the insurance money, public opinion turns against her; Leah Askey finds her seat as District Attorney challenged by Mike Wood.

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Episode 6

Aired Apr 12, 2022

She's a Killer

Pam goes to shocking and absurd extremes to extricate herself from the web of lies she has spun; some measure of justice, redemption and hope is finally found.

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The Thing About Pam: Limited Series First Look

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The Thing About Pam: Limited Series Trailer 2

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The Thing About Pam: Season 1 Trailer

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Director: Logan Kibens, Adam Kane, Scott Winant
Executive Producer: Renée Zellweger, Carmella Casinelli, Jenny Klein, Mary-Margaret Kunze, Scott Winant, Jessika Borsiczky, Liz Cole, Noah Oppenheim, Jason Blum, Chris McCumber, Jeremy Gold
Screenwriter: Adam Lash, Jessika Borsiczky, Matt K. Turner, Kirk A. Moore, Jenny Klein, Cori Uchida
Network: NBC
Rating: TV-14
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date: Mar 8, 2022

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Season 1 – The Thing About Pam

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