“Anatomy of Lies” Documentary Review

(*This article contains topics of suicide, abuse, and trauma that could be triggering. Read at your own discretion.*)

“Anatomy of Lies” is a documentary miniseries produced by Peacock that chronicles the life of Elisabeth Finch, a former writer for the long-running television series “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Finch was hired after an article she wrote caught the attention of the show’s creator, Shonda Rhimes. The article detailed her experience living with chondrosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer.

However, it is revealed that Finch fabricated this story, exemplifying one of many lies explored in the documentary.

Throughout the documentary, Finch appears to need a connection to every tragedy around her. Whenever someone was dealing with trauma, she would fabricate a similar story.

A notable example is her claim of knowing victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, asserting she traveled to Pittsburgh immediately after the attack. It later emerged that she did not know anyone involved and was actually at a Halloween party.

In her writing for the show, Finch heavily borrowed from her experiences and those of others. In one instance, she wrote an episode based on trauma shared with her by a fellow writer.

The episode, titled “Silent All These Years,” became one of the highest-rated in the show’s history, but Finch never asked permission to use that story. Finch also projected herself onto the character Jo Wilson, played by Camilla Luddington.

As Finch faced her struggles, so did Jo. When Jo was admitted to a PTSD treatment facility, Finch was also seeking treatment and also admitted herself to a similar facility.

At this facility, Finch met Jennifer Beyer, who became a primary victim of Finch’s deception. Jenn was admitted for PTSD stemming from being stalked by her ex-husband which led to her losing mental stability and also losing custody of her children.

As a response to Jenn’s comments about her husband, Finch claimed to Jenn that her brother abused her. Following her husband’s suicide, Finch alleged that her brother had also taken his life.

While her accusations remain unverified, it is known that her brother is alive. This perceived shared trauma led to a bond between them that blossomed into a romantic relationship.

After their release from the facility, they married, and Jenn welcomed Finch into her family, believing Finch could help her regain stability. This hope of Jenn’s all comes crumbling down when she discovers the truth about Finch but hesitates to reveal the truth out of fear of looking crazy and potentially losing her kids again.

The documentary depicts a woman willing to go to desperate lengths for fame. At one point, Finch is labeled a “trauma vampire,” a fitting description considering how she appropriated the trauma of others in her writing and personal life.

Many of Finch’s lies remain undisclosed in this article; the complete documentary, including all her deceptions, is now streaming on Peacock.

Rating: 4/5

Nikolai Wagner is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To email him, contact njw5648@psu.edu.