Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Face to Face with Scott Peterson’ on Peaco*ck, which features Scott’s first interview since being convicted of his wife Laci’s murder two decades ago (2024)

21 years ago, a case of a missing pregnant woman in California swept the nation. Scott Peterson was convicted for the murder of his wife Laci, but now the case is aiming to be reopened by the Innocence Project. This Peaco*ck docuseries features first person interviews with Scott himself — not to be confused with Scott Peterson: An American Murder Mystery, which hit MAX not long ago.

FACE TO FACE WITH SCOTT PETERSON: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: A woman pulls out a photo album of the wedding of Laci and Scott Peterson, and voiceovers from the news at that time implicating Scott in Laci’s disappearance and murder play over. The woman is Scott’s brother’s wife and she states that she believes Scott was falsely convicted, leading into Scott’s first time speaking about the case in this docuseries.

The Gist: In 2002, the disappearance and murder of 8-months-pregnant Laci Peterson captivated the country — a case that would culminate in the conviction of her husband Scott Peterson. 21 years later, Scott gives his first interview from prison as his appeal for a retrial is taken up by the LA Innocence Project. Featuring interviews from Scott and his family as well as the police investigators from the case, the ordeal is re-litigated from both sides in this Peaco*ck docuseries.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? There’s no shortage of movies and docs about this case, including American Murder: Laci Peterson, which landed on Netflix earlier this month.

Our Take: True crime from a pre-social media era hit differently. There was a monoculture, and much of that centered on watching national news stories that were handpicked by the media unfold in real time on our screens. This century, there have only been a handful of cases more notorious than the murder of Laci Peterson.

Many who were alive in the early 2000s had a clear feeling about whether or not Scott Peterson was innocent or guilty. There was initial benevolence towards him followed by a serious backlash once he was revealed to be an adulterer, thereby providing a motive for ousting his pregnant wife. These facts were present at the time of the case and were argued in the court of public opinion, and this Peaco*ck docuseries does little beyond rehashing the details of the case.

In the first episode, which is what this review is based on, Scott’s testimony doesn’t convey any new information or exonerate him in any way. Aided by his sister-in-law, Scott, now 20-years deep in prison and appearing as a gaunt version of his former self, tells the story matter-of-factly. He chuckles at a police officer thinking his loving voicemail to Laci indicated some sinister actions; he recalls his affair as a selfish moment of weakness rather than a motive for murder.

And of course he would. He’s not going to change his tune now, especially as his case has been picked up by the Innocence Project. But I was hoping his first interview in all this time would reveal something deeper, or provide a more nuanced read on the events that transpired. For now, though, Face to Face with Scott Peterson hasn’t illuminated anything new, which only works if you want a refresher on how the case went down in the first place.

Sex and Skin: In this missing person case, there’s nothing sexual to see here.

Parting Shot: Scott alleges that a lead that claimed to have seen Laci after Scott left the morning of her disappearance was not looked into by the police. In April 2024, his new lawyer pleads for the case to be reopened in court, and his sister-in-law doubles down on his innocence.

Sleeper Star: Scott’s sister-in-law who is helming his side of the narrative provides a compelling character testimony, and is the reason behind the docuseries.

Most Pilot-y Line: “I can’t believe I’m saying these four words: Scott Peterson Innocence Project,” the harsh delivery from Nancy Grace says in a pulled clip from earlier this year when the LA Innocence Project took up Peterson’s case. Given the wild interest in the case and strong feelings against Scott Peterson, the case being reopened was shocking to many.

Our Call: SKIP IT. Even with Scott’s new testimony, the series isn’t adding anything new to the narrative that didn’t already exist.

Radhika Menon (@menonrad) is a TV-obsessed writer based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared on Vulture, ELLE, Teen Vogue, and more. At any given moment, she can ruminate at length over Friday Night Lights, the University of Michigan, and the perfect slice of pizza. You may call her Rad.