hooked

A TV critic has urged everyone to watch a new Netflix true crime documentary he claims is the best of 2026 so far and will leave viewers feeling a wave of emotions

For those who are passionate about true crime, one television critic has shone a spotlight on a brand new Netflix documentary that he insists is a “must-watch”.

Luke Eccleston went further, describing the programme as the finest of 2026 so far, and predicted it would soon become the “top trending” title on the streaming giant. “The documentary I am talking about is called Maternal Instinct,” he revealed in a TikTok video. Despite running at just 90 minutes long, Luke enthuses that it will have all viewers “hooked” from after just five minutes.

“This tells a story from back in 2020 where a young woman is driving down the highway, she gets pulled over by the police and she has a baby on her lap, which had just been born,” he continued.

Expanding on the plot, Luke explained that once the woman and baby are taken into custody by law enforcement, tests quickly reveal the pair are not related. “What comes next is genuinely insane,” he declared.

Keen not to discourage his followers from watching, Luke pressed on: “The more you learn about the story, this woman and what happened… it is one of the most brutal, heartbreaking, emotional and horrible stories you will ever come across.

“Everyone is going to be talking about this documentary – I guarantee it.”

Netflix’s Maternal Instinct synopsis states: “In a small East Texas town, a young woman from a wealthy family falls for a local hog trapper. Their relationship appears perfect, and within months she’s pregnant and proudly showing off her baby bump all over social media.

“But when a state trooper pulls her over and discovers she has just given birth in her car, her story quickly falls apart, exposing the truth behind a terrifying and unthinkable crime.”

Helmed by Jessica Dimmock, Maternal Instinct chronicles the lives of Jessica Brookes, her boyfriend Wade Griffin, Taylor Parker and Reagan Simmons-Hancock.

On IMDb, the documentary has garnered an impressive rating of 7.4 out of 10 from almost 2,000 reviews.

One viewer confessed in a recent review: “I was not prepared! I went into this documentary completely blind, with no idea where the story was headed. It begins with a mystery. Something seemingly impossible has happened.

“But how? As the pieces slowly fall into place, the story takes an increasingly dark turn, far darker than I ever expected. And I have seen my share… the reveal is a complete and utter gut punch and at one point brought tears to my eyes. And I will have to leave it at that.”

And a second added: “I had never read anything about this case, so I went into this doc knowing nothing of the background or repercussions. I was horrified at how one person could destroy so many lives.

“The documentary pursues the whole journey of the perpetrator extraordinarily well, piecing together her journey for the past 10 or so years of her life where her lies keep getting worse.”

True crime fans are urged to check out the Netflix documentary series described as “one of the best” ever made.

A “fascinating” Netflix series with a major twist is the perfect binge watch for fans of true crime documentaries.

The docu-series, which viewers have described as “heartbreaking” and “mindblowing”, first aired back in 2019.

It follows the stranger-than-fiction story of Henry Lee Lucas, who was known as “the most prolific serial killer in the US”.

However, the bizarre case takes an unexpected turn, and the series about his extraordinary life has left viewers stunned.

The synopsis on Netflix reads: “Henry Lee Lucas rose to infamy when he confessed to hundreds of unsolved murders. =

“This documentary series examines the truth – and horrific consequences.”

Titled The Confession Killer, the Netflix series was a hit when it first came out, earning a rare 100% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Audiences took to the review section to share their thoughts on the mini-series, with many praising its detail and calling it a “must watch”.

“Superb, my mind was blown as the story unfolded,” one person wrote, as another agreed: “This is amazing. One of the best, if not the best, true crime doc series of late.”

“Very well described in terms of details and information. Very little bias,” another praised, as a fourth person said: “Henry Lee Lucas is a tragic story where everyone involved was surprised in the end. It’s heartbreaking. You must watch it.”

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Another person reflected: “As someone as complicated as Henry Lee Lucas, this is probably the best and most well put together documentary about him that has ever been made.”

One more viewer observed: “This was fascinating and SO well done. The old footage was terrific as were the interviews with people who are still alive to tell their versions of the story. I was hooked.

“I thought I was just watching a good profile of a serial killer and then everything took a completely different turn. Anyone interested in true crime will find this a compelling documentary. Highly recommended.”

Critics also applauded the documentary, with Mashable noting: For true crime devotees, watching the five-part series will do more than hit the spot.”

The Confession Killer is available to stream now on Netflix.