"The Case Against Adnan Syed, Part 5" is a gripping HBO documentary

Reel Perspectives

September 23, 2025

"The Case Against Adnan Syed" is a gripping HBO documentary series directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Amy J. Berg, best known for Phoenix Rising and It's Never Over: Jeff Buckley. The compelling series explores Adnan Syed's murder conviction in the tragic case of Hae Min Lee and the arduous journey to have his conviction overturned. With new details developed, it raises significant questions about our judicial system and the impact of racial stereotypes influencing the case.

Originally premiering in 2019, HBO released a follow-up episode to the four-part series titled "Part Five: The Tree Grew" on September 18, 2025, and it is currently available to stream on HBO Max. The compelling series provides exclusive access to Adnan Syed, who, after spending 23 years in prison for the 1999 murder, at the age of 18, finally saw his conviction vacated. The documentary follows his release from prison and introduces the latest developments in Adnan's story, which was initially documented in the popular podcast "Serial."

HBO

Episode 5 chronicles Adnan's personal journey from his incarceration to his heartfelt reunion with his family, including his mother, Shamim Rahim, and his brother, Yusef Syed. We also meet Rabia Chaudry, a close friend and one of his strongest advocates, who consistently believed in his innocence. The episode highlights the diligent efforts of the year-long investigation led by his new lawyer, Erica J. Suter, along with attorneys Susan Simpson and Becky Feldman.

Undisclosed evidence points to other potential suspects, including Alonzo Sellers, who discovered Hae Min Lee's body in 1999. He had been arrested for assaulting a postal worker who saw him emerging from the woods naked and wearing a mask. Furthering suspicion, stacks of newspaper clippings from the exact time of the murder were found under his couch, however it went ignored by the police department, including DNA from the crime scene that has remained untested.

Adnan's legal team revisits the case, advocating for a new investigation, however the prosecution remained firm, resulting in a legal and political war that throws Adnan's case into chaotic uncertainty. 

Adnan's saving grace came in the form of Marilyn Mosby, the State's Attorney for Baltimore, who exonerated thirteen men during her tenure and uncovered shocking discrepancies while investigating the case. She relentlessly fought for DNA testing of evidence that had been repeatedly suppressed and denied, raising serious questions about the integrity of the original investigation and prosecution. Mosby was the most prominent figure willing to help Adnan and faced several pushbacks from the State in their unwillingness to assist her efforts to uncover further suppressed evidence.

HBO

Although Adnan was eventually freed, the Maryland Court of Appeals sided with Lee's family and reinstated his conviction. However, in March 2025, a judge ruled that he would not have to return to prison. To this day, the case remains unresolved, as the Baltimore Police Department refuses to investigate both old and new evidence that could provide closure for Adnan and Lee's families.

Adnan, now 44, works at the Georgetown Family Prisons and Justice Initiative, however, the police department's refusal to pursue evidence raises the important question: why? What is the real motive behind their refusal, and is there a coverup?

Episode 5 tactfully raises more questions than answers, shedding light on a decades-long case that deserves the unfiltered truth. Its exploration of the secrets and potential coverups behind Adnan's case warrants our full attention. With renewed interest in the case, hopefully, full transparency can be achieved with the continuation of Episode 6. 

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"The Case Against Adnan Syed" is currently available exclusively on HBO MAX.

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