Netflix's 'Depp v Heard' documentary offers no new insight in a pointless retelling of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's trial

• Netflix's "Depp v Heard" documentary is a pointless rehash of the infamous trial.
• The series puts testimonies from Johnny Depp and Amber Heard side by side.

In April 2022, the internet was abuzz with breathless coverage of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's defamation trial, in which the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star sought $50 million in damages over an op-ed Heard wrote detailing an abusive relationship with an unnamed man.

Shocking accusations of abuse, marital strife, and the revelation of heated text messages dominated the headlines as the trial unfolded. So it was no surprise that Netflix quickly got to work on a docuseries.

Unfortunately, "Depp v Heard" is incredibly underwhelming.

While the documentary puts Depp and Heard's testimonies side by side, making it easier to digest the lengthy trial, it offers little else to the audience beyond that utility.

The only thing "Depp v Heard" expands on outside of the courtroom is how the trial took on a life of its own on social media.

'Depp v Heard' features TikTok creators instead of experts

It's clear from the trial that neither Depp nor Heard acted in healthy ways in their relationship, but the docuseries teeters dangerously close to excusing the criticism Heard, in particular, faced online, judging by the outsized focus given to clips of people complaining about her.

As well as vitriolic tweets, several TikTok users are shown making fun of Heard by using audio of her testimony while pretending to be the actor in "comedic" videos.

While the documentary points out that millions of social media users were biased toward Depp, there aren't any opinions from people criticizing him, making for a lopsided version of events.

There's also a level of insensitivity when it comes to the legal pundits that filmmaker Emma Cooper has chosen to lean on.

One frequent figure that pops up is Darthnews, a YouTuber who wears a Deadpool mask while surrounded by Spider-Man costumes, which trivializes the seriousness of the subject at hand.

Another chunk of footage used comes from controversial presenter Andy Signore, who was fired from the company he co-founded, Screen Junkies, amid multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, the company said at the time.

Signore has denied the allegations against him, but using his footage in a documentary that deals with themes of abuse feels like a misstep, particularly as the documentary also doesn't acknowledge the allegations against him.

'Depp v Heard' needed to include original reporting

The series focuses on the most inflammatory moments from the trial, including Heard's allegations that Depp physically abused her, Depp accusing Heard of defecating in their bed, and the argument that led to Depp losing the tip of his finger. But there's little nuance to be found here.

Perhaps the docuseries should've attempted to conduct interviews with the respective legal teams involved in the trial, or at least spoken to experts who could've provided more insight into the testimonies and tactics of both parties. It also might've been more interesting for the series to speak to psychologists about how both parties presented themselves.

Most importantly, by keeping the same lurid details in the spotlight, the docuseries does nothing to address the wider conversation about domestic abuse and victim-blaming that stemmed from the trial, as people on social media picked sides between the two stars.

If the docuseries had explored that in much more detail, it could've led to a more nuanced discussion about how society deals with high-profile cases of problematic behavior and abuse.

To put it bluntly, "Depp v Heard" is not the documentary we need on this case. Perhaps one day, another will do a much better job at unpacking it.