Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders Review – Who poisoned the pills?

The Review Geek

5 days ago

Season 1
Episode Guide
Pain Killer
The Bitter Pill
Sealed For Your Protection
Back in 1982, a case rocked the Chicago metropolitan area when seven people died after consuming tainted Tylenol tablets. Upon ingestion, the victims suffered seizures, foamed at the mouth, and subsequently passed away. When examined, the pills were found to be laced with potassium cyanide.
This forms the backbone of Netflix's latest cold case docu-series, The Tylenol Murders. With very little to go on and the FBI desperate to crack the case, the three episodes examine the timeline from start to finish, delving into what happened, how it potentially occurred, and the public backlash that followed.
Each episode explores a slightly different facet of the case. Episode 1 works as an overview, spotlighting Johnson & Johnson's reaction to their tainted product and the general consensus among police at the time.
Episode 2 shifts focus to the prime suspect, James Lewis. A troubled man with a difficult upbringing, Lewis vehemently maintains his innocence — something he calmly reiterates in interview clips here. This chapter attempts to prove (or disprove) his involvement, highlighting the lack of concrete evidence tying him to the crime.
The third and final episode closes out with a deeper dive into Johnson & Johnson's role, featuring revealing statements from officers on duty at the time, family members seeking justice, and a suggested FBI bias that leans toward a single narrative — even in the face of uncertainty.
While this series doesn't offer definitive closure, The Tylenol Murders does a good job exploring many of the most prominent theories. There's strong insight into Lewis's background, though given the short runtime, some avenues — including alternate suspects — could have been given more attention.
One glaring omission is any mention of Stella Nickell. For context, Nickell was sentenced to 90 years in prison for tampering with Excedrin capsules laced with cyanide — a case that closely mirrors the Tylenol poisonings. While it is strongly considered that she's a copycat killer, it still would have been nice to see that brought up here.
What is captured well, however, is the raw bias within the FBI. Even in recent interviews, agents remain adamant that Lewis is their guy, despite the case against him being largely circumstantial. It's a striking insight into investigative tunnel vision, and hints strongly that this could have derailed the investigation from the very beginning, all thanks to one incriminating letter.
Stylistically, the show weaves together a wide range of talking head interviews — from law enforcement to journalists to grieving families. The variety of voices keeps the narrative dynamic, even if the documentary doesn't quite go as deep as it could have.
If there's one persistent gripe though, it comes from the music. The score often feels too upbeat and action-oriented, clashing with the grim, tragic nature of the case. A more subdued, somber composition might have elevated the atmosphere more, and once you notice it, it's hard to ignore.
Ultimately, whether we'll ever truly know who was responsible for the tainted Tylenol is still up for debate. But Netflix's latest true-crime offering remains a compelling and worthwhile dive into one of America's most disturbing unsolved cases.