Tyrell Cobb

I wasn't able to watch this past the 2nd episode. There are now 2 documentaries about this Nxivm thing and I recommend you skip both. The first one, the Vow has some pretty serious omissions and spends most of its time telling the story from the perspective of one group who look like they have an axe to grind. They don't disclose that the documentary makers were enrolled in nxivm when they decided to make the documentary or that one of the main characters was previously a member of another cult before joining nxivm among other things. It is also very iffy about what part exactly some of the main characters played in the whole saga and what benefits, financial or otherwise they reaped from participating. Some of them come across as financially very well-off in the documentary, which could do with some explanation given they supposedly devoted several years and even decades full-time to nxivm. As for this documentary, it comes across as a PR campaign for one of the well-heeled and well connected 'victims'. All in all I've lost interest in the story as all the people involved, perpetrators and 'victims', seem to be spoiled and self-serving narcissists with an agenda. I recommend skipping both and waiting until an independent journalist/filmmaker with no connection to any of the characters objectively tells the story. The story itself is very compelling and deserves such a treatment.

The review that said that they feel less and less sympathy is spot on. It's hard to listen to the gobbledygook this 'cult' leader spouts with his too obvious deliberate affect and have sympathy for anyone who takes it seriously. I'm on the 6th episode and still trying to figure what crime exactly was committed. Sure branding etc. sounds morally dubious, but these 'victims' seem to have participated willingly for many years as mature and quite privileged adults. In the documentary, their crusade to expose the cult even sometimes comes across as vindictive and a little self-righteous. Maybe the documentary will pick up and shift focus to some of the actual crimes he is alleged to have committed and those victims (minors, people confined without consent etc.)