Listener sentiment
Bear Brook continues to command passionate listener loyalty, with the overwhelming majority of recent reviewers praising Jason Moon's meticulous journalism, evocative narration, and the show's respectful, unsensational approach to devastating cases. Season 1 remains the universally celebrated flagship; Season 2 draws more divided reactions, with several listeners independently citing slower pacing, excessive runtime, and conversational filler as weaknesses, even as many others find it equally gripping and emotionally powerful. Production complaints recur around ad density and, most recently, unintelligible raw audio recordings that some listeners feel undermine an otherwise gripping narrative. A small but vocal contingent of one-star reviews objects to a Season 2 episode addressing the January 6 Capitol riot, framing it as political bias rather than journalism — a reaction that accounts for most of the show's lowest scores. Across both seasons, listeners consistently describe Bear Brook as a gold standard for true crime, praising its accessible handling of genetic genealogy, emotional depth, and investigative rigor.
Apple4.7 · 730
Summary generated Aug 12, 2026
