Broken

Broken is a gripping and provocative documentary series brought to viewers by Netflix in 2019. The series stands out amidst the sea of true crime documentaries and fictional content by honing in on the systemic failings of certain industries impacting everyday life that are ripe with corruption and greed. Through each of its four episodes, the series uncovers the truth behind consumer deception, ensuing damage, and the human casualties resulting from these dire situations.

Broken delves into four different consumer industries: cosmetics, e-cigarettes, furniture, and plastic. Using an engaging, deep-dive investigative approach, it essentially puts these industries under a microscopical lens. The series seeks to educate consumers about the products they trust and often use daily, about how and what goes into making these products and at what cost. It exposes exploitative practices, raises important questions directed at the legal systems in place, and discusses the ramifications of unchecked consumerism.

Split into four standalone episodes, each lasting roughly an hour, Broken's incisive narrative unfolds through interviews, case studies, and expert testimonies. The series incorporates a wide array of perspectives – industry insiders, activists, lawyers, victims, and journalists, thereby offering a comprehensive insight into these deeply-rooted issues. It is tightly knit with a compelling narrative style that keeps viewers hooked through every revelation and shocking discovery.

The first episode examines the cosmetics industry. This segment provides insightful details into the workings of the beauty industry while revealing the shocking lack of regulation and fraudulent practices. It explores the booming e-commerce market comprising counterfeit makeup products, showcasing their dangers via first-hand accounts of victims and expert scrutiny.

The e-cigarette industry is thrown wide open in the next episode. Broken unveils the darker side of this ‘safer’ alternative to traditional smoking. It examines how vape manufacturers, with their candy-flavored products and hip marketing campaigns, have been targeting young audiences, leading to alarming addiction rates. The episode also dives into the health concerns and controversies that have emerged along with the popularity of e-cigarettes.

The third episode turns its focus to product liability, specifically homing in on the furniture industry. Broken sheds light on the worrying trend of cheap, poorly constructed furniture leading to injuries and even fatalities. Herein, the series compels viewers to rethink the trade-off between affordability and safety while urging law-makers to enforce stricter regulation.

Finally, Broken takes on the global plastics industry. While many documentaries curating environmental themes have endeavored to expose the plastic menace, Broken chooses to direct its angst and attention toward the recycling sham. In this episode, viewers are guided through the realities behind the plastic recycling system and the enormous waste generation that feeds the ocean's infamous floating garbage patches.

Throughout the series, the producers give significant emphasis to the global nature of these issues and how matters of consumer safety, corporate greed, and environmental conservation are interconnected. By unveiling the realities of our consumerist society, Broken urges viewers and consumers at large, to be more conscious in their trust and consumption of these industries and their products.

With its well-paced storytelling and its stark, grim revelations, Broken engages viewers on multiple levels – intellectual, ethical, and emotional. The short yet impactful series punches above its weight by not only existing as a wake-up call for consumers but also functioning as a critique of unchecked industry operations and superficial regulation systems.

Though the topics appear diverse at first, Broken cohesively ties the theme of each episode under the umbrella of consumer awareness and protection. The overarching narrative of this series is a harrowing account of how, in pursuit of economic growth, human safety, and environmental health are often compromised.

In conclusion, Broken is a critical eye-opener that doesn’t shy away from asking uncomfortable questions and challenging the status quo. It may seem like a disheartening watch, but it's a necessary one. Balancing storytelling with information, frustration with inspiration, Broken compels viewers to think more deeply and critically about seemingly ordinary aspects of their daily lives. It's a well-crafted, thought-provoking, and heartfelt plea for change. More than entertainment, it’s an urgent call to action. This Netflix series is an unmissable watch for those interested in unraveling the darker aspects of consumer industries.