“Dateline NBC” kicks off its 2025 season with a story ripped from the headlines, or perhaps more accurately, unearthed from a backyard. “Killing Big Daddy” chronicles the strange case of Gary “Big Daddy” Farris, a man whose disappearance takes a dark turn when his remains are discovered on his own sprawling ten-acre estate. As with most “Dateline” stories, the investigation quickly reveals a family fractured by greed and simmering resentments. Was “Big Daddy’s” demise a tragic accident, or did someone closer to home orchestrate his final curtain call?
The central question driving “Killing Big Daddy” isn’t just “whodunnit,” but “how could they?” The episode will likely explore the complicated relationships within the Farris family, painting a portrait of a clan consumed by infighting and avarice.
While “Dateline’s” formula can feel predictable at times – interviews interspersed with dramatic reenactments – the lurid details of real-life cases often transcend the familiar structure. “Killing Big Daddy” has all the ingredients for a classic “Dateline” thriller: a wealthy patriarch, a tangled family history, and a shocking discovery that exposes the dark underbelly of the American Dream.
“Dateline NBC” airs Fridays at 9:00 PM on NBC.