An impassive part of Serial’s podcasts is the authority and credibility it gains by using first hand accounts from the people a part of Bowe’s disappearance, one of them being Bowe himself. In addition to Bowe’s interviews with Mark Boal, Sarah Koenig interviews various eyewitnesses including people like General Kenneth Dahl. General Dahl was responsible for interviewing Berghdahl and investigating every single move he made in Afghanistan, which concluded with a 380 report on Bowe’s story.
Others that were interviewed act as secondary sources to the account, and include Bergdahl’s platoon mates like Jason Fry and Shane Cross. Cross and Fry provide the podcast with different interpretations of the event. Even though they are one step removed from the situation, it helps the listener see the case from the other soldier’s perspectives. It helps us tell what they were feeling, how others saw Bowe, and what they did to take action. In addition, in episode 4, “The Captors,” we also hear from David Rhode who, though had no contact with Bowe, was also captured by the Haqqani network. He explains his time as their prisoner, and as listeners we are able to compare the two experiences.
The story develops to be more compelling as we gain insight from several sources and viewpoints. It forces us to think deeply while it simultaneously showcases the complexity of returning this particular POW. I am drawn to Serial because I not only get to hear from Bowe, but I also hear form members of his platoons, his friends, the officers above him, those who worked on his case, and people who knew him back home.
The production team at Serial has done a great job of crafting a non-bias report of Bowe’s disappearance. From listening to the podcast thus far, I have a better understanding that well developed research pulls from many angles. It is also important to note that the primary source, Bowe, makes the development of the story more interesting. I would feel less compelled to keep listening if it was solely a record of what others thought of the events. The graphics, attached videos, and maps also make the story more interactive. I have enjoyed listening to Serial because it has kept my thinking well informed.
