Ep 2. Words and Words Only

In Making a Murderer season 2 episode 2, titled "Words and Words Only," the focus shifts from the courtroom battles of the first season to the post-conviction appeals process for convicted murderer Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey. The episode explores the possibility of finding new evidence to support Avery's innocence and the challenges faced by his defense team in presenting that evidence to the court.

The episode starts with a brief recap of the events leading up to Steven Avery's conviction, including the controversial circumstances surrounding the collection and processing of the evidence used against him. The focus then shifts to post-conviction filings and the work of Avery's defense team in seeking new evidence to support their client's claim of innocence.

The defense team is seen conducting interviews with witnesses who claim to have seen or heard things that were not presented at trial, as well as reviewing old evidence with new technological tools to try to find discrepancies or new leads. This process is shown to be slow and challenging, with many roadblocks in the form of court rules and legal procedures.

The episode also delves into the challenges faced by Dassey's legal team, who are attempting to get his confession thrown out as coerced. Brendan's case is seen as particularly complex, as his confession was obtained through questionable tactics and he was not given proper legal representation at the time of his questioning.

Throughout the episode, the viewer is given a sense of the uphill battle faced by both defendants and their legal teams in seeking justice. The episode ends on a note of uncertainty, as it is unclear whether any of the new evidence or arguments presented by the defense teams will be enough to overcome the weight of the convictions against Avery and Dassey.

In summary, "Words and Words Only" is an exploration of the appeals process for two convicted murderers and the challenges faced by their defense teams in seeking new evidence and arguments to support their claims of innocence. The episode gives a nuanced perspective on the complexities of the legal system and the struggles faced by those seeking justice in a flawed and imperfect system.