"A chilling inventory of the internet's most dangerous corners."
Released in 2022, Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet stands as a sobering record of the digital age's most volatile intersections. This six-part anthology, produced by Imagine Documentaries, meticulously documents how misinformation and online subcultures can manifest in physical tragedy. From the fatal consequences of "swatting" to the sophisticated machinery of state-sponsored hacking, the series serves as a critical archive of 21st-century fragility. By centering on the human victims and the investigators chasing shadows, Netflix provided a platform for understanding the high stakes of our interconnected reality. It remains a definitive look at the blurred boundaries between virtual malice and tangible harm, reminding viewers that the web is never truly a world apart from our own.
| Watched? | # | Air Date | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1 | Jun 15, 2022 | Death by SWAT | |
| E2 | Jun 15, 2022 | A Murder in D.C. | |
| E3 | Jun 15, 2022 | I'm Not a Nazi | |
| E4 | Jun 15, 2022 | Sextortion | |
| E5 | Jun 15, 2022 | The Stingray - Part 1 | |
| E6 | Jun 15, 2022 | The Stingray - Part 2 |
Production Type: Limited Series
Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet is a standalone Limited Series designed as a completed, finite historical narrative. This anthology production was crafted to dissect specific, high-stakes digital crimes through a lens of investigative journalism and cinematic reenactment. By focusing on distinct case studies ranging from swatting incidents to the spread of extremist misinformation, the creators prioritized a deep-dive structure that provides comprehensive closure for each individual narrative arc within the broader technological context.
The production scale involved extensive interviews with victims, law enforcement, and perpetrators, ensuring that the series functioned as a definitive record of the internet age's unique dangers. Because the show was conceptualized as a thematic anthology rather than a continuing procedural, its status as a finite run allows it to serve as a permanent historical document of contemporary cybercrime. The decision to conclude the series after its initial batch of episodes reflects a commitment to quality over quantity, ensuring each story maintains its impact without the need for seasonal expansion.