'Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric and Elizabeth?' Introduces Viewers to a Shocking Case

         On August 8, 2024, Max premiered 'Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric and Elizabeth?', which is a documentary series that focuses on the 2012 double abduction of two cousins, 10-year-old Lyric Cook-Morrissey and 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins, in Evansdale, Iowa. The series has received a mixed reception from critics, but what exactly did the critics say?

        Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard of Heaven of Horror says, "The three episodes all end on virtual cliffhangers leading to a new suspect and more victims. It’s the ideal setup to keep audiences engaged. However, it doesn’t mean it won’t still end with many unanswered questions. One main suspect is dead, which alone makes for a terrible situation as he can’t be questioned. Many fall under suspicion over these three episodes and the police aren’t too forthcoming with information to the families." Concluding, "Of course, some things cannot be revealed in an open investigation, but it’s hard to witness the desperation of the family members. Evansdale, Iowa, seems permanently scarred by the case which still hasn’t been officially closed."       

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         Radhika Menon of Decider writes, "There isn’t anything groundbreaking about the filmmaking, but the true crime at the center of the story is compelling." Continuing, Using typical talking head interviews and archival footage, the series pieces together the logical narrative that the investigation went through, but to no avail. There’s nothing incredibly flashy about this presentation, and the story is presented plainly and completely. Aside from the tragedy, the most compelling aspects of the three-part series is that the mystery is as-yet unsolved and that Elizabeth’s parents aren’t entirely convinced that Lyric’s parents aren’t involved—even after they are absolved by the police. And with a cliffhanger that alludes to a larger child abduction ring, the series does offer a lot for true crime junkies."

       Nick Schager of The Daily Beast notes, "What it proffers, ultimately, isn’t a definitive answer to its title question, but rather a snapshot of the pain, fury, and annihilation wrought by senseless, mysterious tragedy." Adding, "Bolstered by home movie clips, archival photographs, and commentary from Drew, Heather, Misty, and Dan (from multiple chats recorded since 2015), Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric and Elizabeth? proves a comprehensive and deeply empathetic overview. Sires’ interviews are rife with tears, heartache, and candid confessions about the tormented feelings that never go away; hearing Drew admit that he felt some relief when Lyric and Elizabeth’s bodies were found—and, ever since, he’s been wracked by guilt over those feelings—epitomizes this docuseries’ warts-and-all portrait of the grieving process. In its many sit-downs with parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, and detectives (some of whom struggle to refrain from crying while discussing this ordeal), the proceedings provide a bracing up-close-and-personal perspective on this most horrific of situations, putting the emphasis as much on the survivors as on their deceased loved ones."