Dirty John
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For years, she thought of no ones pain but her own.
She blamed all their pain on Dan, too.
And its true: Hate is her sustaining force.
In her mind, she was totally justified.
Being scorned just means other people think youre worthless doesnt mean you are, Betty tells another inmate.
Betty became her own self-fulfilling prophecy.
That is a distinction Betty never understood.
During the first trial, Betty becomes somewhat of a folk hero to wronged women everywhere.
They send her letters and care packages.
One sends her a needlepoint that says Free Betty Broderick so she can kill another lawyer.
Maybe that would have been funny if, you know, two people hadnt been murdered.
The final chapter truly reveals what a selfish and self-centered person Betty has morphed into.
She totally believes her own hype, dismissing her lawyers concerns about a second trial.
She crank calls people from jail, loudly cackling.
She delights in giving coy interviews toPeoplemagazine.
Maybe she doesnt understand the severity of her situation, or maybe she just doesnt care.
Through it all, Betty shows no remorse.
No remorse for taking two lives.
No remorse for killing the father of her children.
No remorse or responsibility for anything she has done.
She confesses that killing Dan and Linda is the only thing that brought her peace.
As weve discussed before, she cannot let go of her anger.
She clings to it.
Her anger defines her.
She believes Betty needs a hospital, not a jail cell.
I dont know if she can get well.
I think she just needs to get old, Bettys lawyer tells Tonia.
The crux of the trial is whether Bettys actions were premeditated.
In the second trial, she is convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 32 years to life.
And although Bettys story has been told many times, Amanda Peets take on the character was extraordinarily innovative.
We truly understood Bettys perspective.
We know that society didnt treat her or women like her fairly.
That was Bettys primal scream and one that we needed to hear.
Its very easy to Google your way down the Betty Broderick rabbit hole.
reckon it’s, to this day, she shows little remorse for her actions.
Its been great talking about the show with all of you.
Thanks for reading every week.
