"Born in Synanon: Unveiling the Horrors of a Violent California Cult"
The Paramount+ docuseries "Born in Synanon" explores the history of the violent California cult, highlighting its abuse, sexual coercion, and murder-for-hire plots. The series follows Cassidy Arkin, a former member of Synanon, as she delves into her past and grapples with the organization's positive impact on her life. However, the series fails to provide a comprehensive overview, painting an excessively positive picture of Synanon's origins and downplaying the rampant abuse and insanity that occurred within the cult. Only in the later episodes does the series delve into the dark side of Synanon, including child abuse and forced abortions.