Thinking aloud allowed

I think it is more relevant now than ever, the platform to intellectually tease out and argue a certain event as it is unfolds. The human race has evolved and has weathered the atrocities of Mother Nature simply by being able to critically evaluate their shortcomings and dare to make changes.This is the thought that went through my mind as I completed listening to the 12th episode of the season 1 of 'Serial', the podcast that is taking the podphiles the world over by storm.
A 17year old second generation American boy of Pakistan origin, Adnan Syed, is convicted of murder of his schoolmate cum ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, is incarcerated for life in 1999. Almost 20 years later, the producer decide to re-look into the case files and critically analyse whether justice was carried out correctly.

Over a year, the files are scrutinised. The background of the accused is dissected critically. His background, family, recreational activities are all bare open. The idea whether his racial background had any bearing on the outcome of the trial is also mooted.

Syed's character, his double life of being a religious son at the family level, serving religiously at the local madrasah whilst taking weed and pilfering the mosque's coffers exposed through interviews. Syed was interviewed by phone over the limited time allocated to him.

The witnesses were traced (after so many years). Some of the schoolmates who had gone on with their lives just refuse to be interviewed. Some however, decide to open up as the podcast becomes more famous.

They even go as far as to investigate Adnan's defence attorney, whether she sold out to earn more from the appeal.

The evidence is also scrutinised extensively. Listening to the podcast, we learn quite a lot about telecommunication transmission theory.
It is amazing that the show managed to maintain the attention for a whole season and everybody is left wondering whether Syed Adnan had a fair trial.