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Let's Talk about The Mortician on HBO

🕑 Added 2025-06-02 20:08:31 +0000 UTC

Comments

QueenofAngryMoths

I'm deeply disappointed that there is no regular crematory to counter David Scocne's pratices. That's a disservice to people.

Pelks

Gosh, I chose to watch all three episodes before I came to this video and I'm kinda mad that I did. Not only did your summary of the situation in the beginning of this video do a better job explaining the whole case, but I totally agree they spent WAY too much time sympathizing with Sconce and/or sensationalizing cremation. The whole tone of this documentary just felt... off? There was one quote - I forgot if ep 1 or 2 - where Scone's wife was describing how David always had money making schemes and she said "He had a lot of fires burning" and I almost spat out my tea. That lives rent free in my mind now.

Dean

I've been hesitant to watch this because I was worried about Sconce being given a platform, and hearing your review does bear some of that to fruition — what I wonder, without the "this is what normally happens in a cremation" portion you mentioned as necessary, we're supposed to take away as viewers. Is it just horror? If so, it's funeral horror, and horror over the dead body, that I think is pretty irresponsible given that Sconce's actions themselves are deeply so. I worry that this will just make people more scared of funeral operations, not less!

Chris

Pennsylvania had a similar David Sconce incident with a funeral home owner who also cremated pets. He was pulling a Sconce on the animals. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=60--sFYyoeE

Nancy Weitendorf

Unfortunately I don’t have access to HBO, but I’d rather listen to your take on it anyway!

Marlena Noland

Also, when the professor from Cypress College talked about what a funeral director's "job" is, I immediately said to my fiancé "I wanna hear Caitlin's take on this! I'm sure she had some thoughts." 🤣 Not to mention, evidence-based practices regarding grieving and mental health outcomes agree with you, Caitlin!

Marlena Noland

(I've only seen the first episode so not sure where the series exactly goes yet) I also don't appreciate they don't offer a counterpoint to show how a crematorium operates when it's ethically run. They make the whole industry look like a horror show

Marlena Noland

Maybe a unique take? My fiancé and I are therapists; he works with offenders and both of us have experience working with victims of crimes and abuse. We frequently get into hours-long discussions about the multitude of cognitive distortions offenders presents with and talk about how we do/could challenge them. The two of us had to pause this series many times to just rant and go off about the disgusting ways Sconce justifies his behavior and I imagine we will get to talking about what his treatment might look like if he were one of our clients. I am *shocked* he was paroled with the absolute lack of remorse he shows for his victims.

historianKelly

I didn't appreciate the lack of counterpoint to his braggadocio. I mean, is HBO Max ASSUMING that the rest of us understand why he's a bad guy? Usually they don't leave things to chance. Sconce's entire family just comes off slimy.