Did you grow up half-listening to your parents’ mid-afternoon viewings of "Law & Order SVU" and now you have a stunted perception of what is shocking while your sense of humor has in turn grown pitch black? Then you’ve come to the right place! Keep reading, IF YOU DARE…

If you’re like me and you often find yourself deep in a Reddit page at 1 a.m. instead of finishing a paper, then buckle up kiddo because I have some advice for you and just in time for finals!

Instead of finishing that paper, you need to get yourself a big glass of wine (don’t be ashamed if it’s in a Care Bear mug), maybe a dope snack, and tune into a lil true crime doc! Find something horrible that will make you simultaneously aware of your own mortality and the freedom that life entails.

To make this easier for all you kids, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite distractions from the real world that are all totally available on Netflix and have included some snacks that can easily be found in most kitchens or 7/11’s. So sit back, add another tab to your growing collection on your web browser, and try to relax despite your growing list of responsibilities and all that’s wrong in the world.

CAUTION: I do not recommend marathon-ing these documentaries because eventually you WILL hit a melancholy wall and the world will seem as fucking gray as a Tim Burton movie, but like without Johnny Depp and all the whimsy. So I’ve taken the liberty of pairing these selections with a pallet cleanser to watch after when you are just trying to make dinner or live your damn life without wondering if Ted Bundy is in your closet.

1. "Casting Jonbenét" (2017) Dir. Kitty Green

Okay, so we’re going right in with a child murder. This documentary has attracted many different opinions on it depending on who you ask, but as someone who has been following the murder of the 6-year-old beauty queen, Jonbenét Ramsey, since I was about her age, I think this documentary is really cool, and dare I say ... fascinating?

If you are not familiar with the case, I recommend reading the Wikipedia page or watching one of the many other docs about it before diving in with this one because the purpose of it is not to explain, but to play with the story and explore its place within society.

This documentary is perfect for those of us who want to escape even further into the world of documentary crime because the plot of this doc is based on the stories of the citizens of Boulder, Colorado who remember the murder and the resulting media frenzy that occurred surrounding the case. These citizens are now local actors who are being auditioned for a fictional film about the murder and have created their own little slice of reality within a reconstruction of the Ramsey home.

What makes this documentary special is that it plays into something that I struggle with as a true crime aficionado: where is the line between the awful truth, and the engrossing story that exists because of it? When do we cross over into purely entertainment purposes and leave the injustice of the situation out of the conversation as we gather within sensationalism?

These are all questions that will not evade us as we watch the little girl at the heart of the story disappear into a seemingly fictional plot that exists as half history, and half cautionary tale of the “perfect” nuclear family.

Also some of the people Kitty Green interviews are quite enjoyable and at times even silly to watch, so give up the world and escape into the layers of Casting Jonbenét.

Pairs nicely with: Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate and Eggo waffles.

Follow with: "Toddlers & Tiaras"

2. "Amanda Knox" (2016) Dir. Rod Blackhurst and Brian McGinn

Considering going abroad? Oh honey, do I have the documentary for you!

This one focuses on the story of the titular woman who was—potentially—wrongfully imprisoned for 4 years for the murder of her roommate while she was studying abroad in Italy. She has since been released and returned to America, but whether or not she is guilty now rests in the hands of the viewers who choose to believe her story, or not. Even deeper than that, we get a view into the way that stories can run away from us and the media can have an effect on the public perceptions of a case and the people within it.

I personally believe that she is a victim of the police instilling a narrative into her brain, and being an awkward person whose mannerisms can be misconstrued. But with that said, her eyes know something and they are bad at keeping it hidden—sorry that was kinda extra, but it’s true! HER. EYES. KNOW. WHAT’S. UP. GIR.

Pairs nicely with: Chillable Red Franzia and Spaghetti-O’s

Follow with: "The Amanda Show"

3. "The Staircase" (2004) Dir. Jean-Xavier de Lestrade

Catch this story coming to Netflix later this summer, but if you can’t wait, I’m sure you can find it online somewhere semi-legally!

This documentary series originally came out in 2004 and examines the murder of Kathleen Peterson at the suspected hands of her novelist husband, Michael Peterson. The title of the documentary comes from the fact that Kathleen was discovered dead in a pool of blood at the foot of their extravagant staircase inside their home—in a similar fashion to a family friend of Michael’s who had been found 20 years earlier in which he was one of the LAST PEOPLE TO SEE HER ALIVE.

As the story progresses, who is truly innocent comes into question—which like isn’t a particularly new thing in true crime stories, but it is never a bad thing for plot development!

The doc is filled with extensive amounts of footage that goes beyond the bounds of “thorough” and in turn create an upsetting, but a truly enthralling story.

Get even MORE excited because when this series comes to Netflix this summer, it will be with 3 new episodes! So if there’s one thing to get you through finals week, it’s that tea!!

Pairs nicely with: Yellowtail and Ritz Crackers

Follow with: "Arrested Development"

4. "The Keepers" (2017) Dir. Ryan White

Remember when I said to buckle up? Because this one is DARK, Linda.

This documentary series chronicles the story of several post-Catholic school women who are trying to uncover the truth behind the murder of their former teacher, Sister Catherine. If you can believe it, what they find is part of a bigger conspiracy that goes very deep into the church and the cover-up that followed.

This one is super devastating and I had to take many breaks while watching this series, but it is truly worth it if you have a lot of responsibilities to avoid and an unshakably positive outlook on life.

Pairs nicely with: Sweet Tea and buttered toast

Follow with: Sister Act I, II, and if there isn't a third one, honestly, take some time off to create one--you deserve it.

5. "Cropsey" (2009) Dir. Barbara Brancaccio and Joshua Zemen

Remember how I told you to buckle up for "The Keepers"? Well, maybe just like get a whole new system for keeping yourself together because this one is a WHOLE thing.

What begins as the investigation of an urban legend, turns into a look at someone much worse and, unfortunately, incredibly real for the filmmakers who grew up with the story of Cropsey. The man behind the myth is Andre Rand, who kidnapped and murdered several children with disabilities during the 70’s and early 80’s on Staten Island.

I recommend watching this one if you are more in the mood for a horror movie or an intense thriller because this story gets chilling fast and the best/worst part is that it transcends the bounds of urban legend.

If you like "Blair Witch" give this a view instead of doing a lab report.

Certified ooky-spooky-mega-la-mooky!

Pairs nicely with: Leftover Halloween candy, and lots, and lots of water/whisky.

Follow with: A prayer session to our lord and savior, Alyssa Edwards, and LONG walk.

6. "American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson" (2015)

While this is not a documentary, and it takes some liberties with the story for entertainment purposes, the whole series is available on Netflix, and is highly recommended if you are more interested in the courtroom side of true crime, and less invested in the grizzly details of murder—also if you have a lot of time to kill or a particularly big thing that you are avoiding, consider the fact that there are 10, hour-long episodes just for you, chickadee!

From the creator of "American Horror Story" and "Glee", this is the story of football star, O.J. Simpson and the ensuing court battle that gripped the nation as the facts of the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, became increasingly twisted with each new television broadcast. Also involved in the story is Robert Kardashian (father of Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe)

Here are my main reasons why YOU (yeah, you specifically) should watch this show:

• A newly released interview with O.J. from 2006 shows him “hypothetically” explaining how he would have committed the murder and everyone watching was like ... what. So give that a viewing if you want to freak out about how he WASN’T CONVICTED.
• If you are someone in the age range of 20-25, you grew up in the aftermath of this case and are living in a different world because of it. This arguably affected the way we view true crime as a society and is one of the reasons why the medium has become such a form of sensationalized entertainment. Without the O.J. case, there would potentially be way less true crime documentaries and an article like the one I am writing currently would come off much more offensive and disgusting. So ... thanks dude??
• And finally, Sarah Paulson is everything and continues to be a queen even outside of her AHS kingdom.
• ALSO spot the lil Kardashian tykes in the show!

Pairs nicely with: Orange juice and western omelets.

Follow with: That episode of "Glee" where they do a mashup of Thriller with the entire football team and it was actually really nice for both groups.

7. "Zodiac" (2007) Dir. David Fincher

Clearly I’ve abandoned all sense of structure and form because I am getting into straight up fictionalized movies now! But I’m only including this bad boy because it is truly a work of art in every factor. The cinematography is beautiful, the acting is great, the story is intense, and from what I gather it is fairly truthful to its source material.

Zodiac follows the story of Robert Graysmith, a cartoonist and true crime enthusiast at the San Francisco Chronicle at the start of the Zodiac Killer’s spree in the early 1970’s. The story follows his eventual obsession with the case and his incessant need to solve the unsolvable as the story progresses over 30 years and the puzzles become increasingly more frustrating.

This movie is a long one, but it’s worth it to see Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo’s face for three hours.

Pairs nicely with: Toaster Streudel and an IPA that you DON’T have to finish (I understand—it’s a lot!)

Follow with: An episode of "Bob's Burgers" but just one because you have work in the morning.

8. "My Favorite Murder"

Continuing my absolute abandonment of the documentary format (I’m freaky like that) my final recommendation is a podcast that truly feels like home to me.

The premise is simple: two best friends, each covering a murder case. Picture the gals from "Broad City" reading a Wikipedia page about Jeffery Dahmer and making jokes about how they can’t do math. This podcast finds a nice balance between their ability to make these situations more light-hearted while also giving us the truthful story and keeping it respectful of the deceased, which seems to get disregarded more and more within the genre these days.

I cannot rave enough about how incredible these ladies are and every week I get so excited for the newest episode, so what are you waiting for?

Catch MFM on the Apple Podcast app, Spotify, or online at myfavoritemurder.com!

Pairs nicely with: Cooking any meal in your kitchen or going for a long drive—regardless of the weather!

Follow with: "What's the Tea w/ Rupaul & Michelle Visage"

So go forth and procrastinate! Don’t face your problems! Stop crying about that boy, and cry about Jonbenét! Give up any ability to do work and lose yourself in the world of true crime! And to borrow a line from "My Favorite Murder": Stay Sexy, and Don’t Get Murdered!