What Jennifer Did leaves unanswered questions

Despite some unanswered questions and missing details, the main focus of Netflix’s What Jennifer Did is not to provide a complete narrative, but rather to convey a specific message.

The Jennifer Pan case has gained significant recognition in the true crime community, thanks to the documentary by YouTube personality JCS which has amassed an impressive 42 million views. In 2015, journalist Karen K. Ho wrote a comprehensive article for Toronto Life, providing a thorough account of the case and its background.

In 2010, Pan’s family experienced a traumatic event when masked attackers entered their home in Markham, Canada. Unfortunately, Pan’s mother lost her life and her father was badly hurt. After thorough questioning, detectives began to question the validity of Pan’s account and she eventually became the main suspect. However, when Pan’s father regained consciousness, their suspicions were confirmed.

Jennifer and her ex-boyfriend Daniel Wong were both implicated in a murder-for-hire scheme, resulting in their incarceration along with their co-conspirators.

Despite the nearly 15 years that have passed since the attack, filmmaker Jenny Popplewell has revisited the case in her latest documentary, What Jennifer Did. The film has quickly climbed to the top spot on Netflix’s Top 10 chart in the US, but it has faced some backlash for omitting important details.

After reading the Toronto Life feature, a Redditor noted that it provided more insight than the Netflix documentary. They also pointed out that the film failed to mention Jennifer’s brother, which was surprising. This sparked agreement from others, with one person even stating that the film portrayed Jennifer as if she didn’t have any siblings.

Another individual commented, “It’s strange that they didn’t bring up the fact that she had recently organized and participated in her mother’s funeral before her arrest. Although her friend briefly mentioned it, I expected them to feature the notorious photo of her and her brother at the funeral.”

There were also numerous inquiries regarding Jennifer’s ability to maintain her dual identity. She had deceived her parents for years about graduating from high school, attending university, residing on campus, and volunteering at a blood-testing laboratory. “I feel like they just brushed it off,”remarked one person. “I mean, she fabricated completing an entire degree, can we please delve into that further?”

While it is true that there were some rushed moments in What Jennifer Did, these key details are still crucial. However, it is important to remember that the documentary was limited to a brief 85-minute timeframe, so Popplewell and the production crew could only include so much.

What sets What Jennifer Did apart from other true crime titles is its direct approach. Instead of spanning multiple hour-long episodes, the series hones in on the police investigation and Jennifer’s interrogation, providing a more focused and concise narrative.

The documentary stands out because it allows us to personally meet individuals who played important roles in the case, such as detectives, family friends, and former classmates. Additionally, it provides valuable information on her mental state at the time, as evidenced by her text messages to Wong that reveal her complex motives.

Detective Alan Cooke in What Jennifer Did — Netflix

Detective Alan Cooke is one of many officers from the case who shares insights in What Jennifer Did

“What Jennifer Did”does not take a stance on whether something is right or wrong. Instead, it offers a factual account of the events and supports it with unbiased context. This approach allows viewers to form their own opinions.

According to executive producer Jeremy Grimaldi, in an interview with Now Toronto, most documentaries tend to present their own opinions and judgments. However, this particular documentary takes a different approach by allowing the viewers to form their own conclusions, which is unique and has been well-received by audiences.

Despite its shortcomings, What Jennifer Did remains a valuable contribution to the ongoing case of Jennifer Pan. It ignites discussions about important topics such as morality, family expectations, and mental health.

Jennifer’s latest work, What Jennifer Did, is now available for streaming on Netflix.