Dateline: Season 21
Season 21 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Dateline Season 20.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 21 Progress Shield
The Plot Thickens
Sep 28, 2012 · 45 min
Correspondents take a look into the case of a gunned down Hollywood stuntman and the investigation that leads to a femme fatale, once married to a movie mobster.
Secrets in the Snow
Oct 5, 2012 · 43 min
A woman with a mysterious secret is murdered, and a look at how a possible love triangle could have been the reason. Keith Morrison reports.
Family Affair (2012)
Oct 12, 2012 · 43 min
A family feud erupts between a man's wife and step-daughter after the wealthy heir to Miami's Fontainebleau Hotel is murdered.
Crossing the Line (2012)
Oct 19, 2012 · 43 min
Ex-NFL cheerleader Sarah Jones and her former student Cody York have their first interview together after the sex scandal this summer.
In Broad Daylight
Apr 8, 2011 · 43 min
When Amber Dubois vanished in San Diego County, a search turned up nothing. Then, a year later, Chelsea King disappeared in a neighboring town. Tonight, Keith Morrison reports on t
The Boy from Baby House 10
Apr 10, 2011 · 43 min
Reporter Keith Morrison explores the plight of unwanted children in Moscow, recounting the story of an institutionalized boy whose life took a positive turn after years of rejectio
Deadly Liaisons, The Night Before Halloween
Apr 15, 2011 · 43 min
Rob Stafford investigates the cold-blooded slaying of an expectant mother. In a second report, Keith Morrison tracks the work of a dauntless detective and a determined attorney to
Inside Mexico's Drug War
Apr 17, 2011 · 43 min
Chris Hansen files a report on Mexico's drug war. Hansen joins with Mexican federal officers on a secret assignment to capture kingpins and relates the story of a hit man leading a
Deadly Concoction, As Darkness Fell
Apr 22, 2011 · 43 min
Dennis Murphy delves into how two brothers were killed under odd conditions but at different times and in separate locations. In addition, Keith Morrison details a family hunting t
Her Royal Journey
Apr 24, 2011 · 43 min
NBC’s Dennis Murphy traces the journey of Kate Middleton from commoner to Her Royal Highness.
Path of Destruction, The Royal Wedding
Apr 29, 2011 · 43 min
The impact of the recent tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flash-flood warnings in the United States; reports from London include behind-the-scenes coverage of the royal wedding.
Steven Tyler, Back in the Spotlight
May 1, 2011 · 43 min
First lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden talk about their ``Joining Forces'' campaign, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' staff discuss the shooting, singer Steven Tyler talks about succ
The Bathtub Mystery
May 6, 2011 · 43 min
A man who was arrested and tried three times for the death of his wife of four months talks about the case.
Father and Son
May 8, 2011 · 43 min
David Goldman, whose five year battle for custody of his son made international news, talks about life since being reunited with his child.
The Great Escape
May 13, 2011 · 43 min
A doctor disappears while on vacation with his wife, leaving her $6 million in debt.
The Hansen Files AZ
May 15, 2011 · 43 min
Hidden cameras reveal how quickly, honestly and efficiently repairmen do their jobs.
Daughter's Quest
May 20, 2011 · 43 min
A young woman teams with a U.S. Marshal to find the man who murdered her mother 18 years earlier.
The Hansen Files NY
May 22, 2011 · 43 min
Chris Hansen visits a shop in New York that sells bath salts, a new designer drug.
The Haunting
May 27, 2011 · 43 min
Keith Morrison reports the story of an Oklahoma pastor's son and daughter who endure a remarkable road to recovery after witnessing a terrible family tragedy.
A Fathers Mission
May 29, 2011 · 43 min
Richard Engel reports on the Battle of Wanat, one of the worst casualty counts of the Afghanistan war that left nine soldiers dead and 27 injured the families of one platoon come t
Lost & Found
Jun 3, 2011 · 43 min
A successful young man is shot down in front of his Philadelphia home. A woman finds her way back to her family after being kidnapped 30 years earlier.
Circle of Friends
Jun 5, 2011 · 43 min
The citizens of a Wisconsin town come together to renovate a family's home.
My Kid Would Never Bully
Jun 12, 2011 · 43 min
Hidden cameras reveal how teens react to different bullying situations.
Taking Theresa
Jun 17, 2011 · 43 min
Josh Mankiewicz probes the cold-case murder of a casino-sales executive.
Casey Anthony Trial
Jun 17, 2011 · 43 min
New details and courtroom dramas key Dennis Murphy's update on the Caylee Anthony case. Anthony's young mother, Casey Anthony, is accused of murdering the toddler in 2008.
Lost at Sea, Deadly Exposure
Jun 24, 2011 · 43 min
When a 38-foot empty Donzi boat is found making circles in the ocean with nobody on board, a mystery begins in the Bahamas. While hundreds of Americans die every year from accident
Faces Against Violence
Jun 26, 2011 · 43 min
Lester Holt takes viewers into Chicago communities, children who grow up quickly and die young.
Bringing Brooke Home
Jul 1, 2011 · 43 min
An Oregon family struggles with the mysterious disappearance of their daughter, and Kate Snow looks into the investigation that plagued family and community.
Rescue on the High Seas
Jul 3, 2011 · 43 min
A year after being taken captive by Somali pirates, Captain Richard Phillips talks with Matt Lauer about his harrowing experience and brave rescue.
Mystery on the Catawba, Casey Anthony Update
Jul 8, 2011 · 43 min
A young detective investigates a college student's death; chronicling the events of the Casey Anthony murder trial.
How Lucky Can You Get?
Jul 10, 2011 · 43 min
Chris Hansen goes under cover with California lottery investigators; testing the integrity of lottery clerks in New York.
Deadly Game
Jul 15, 2011 · 43 min
When a woman goes missing in a small town in rural Michigan, her husband becomes the primary suspect. But eyewitnesses and surveillance cameras support his alibi that he was in Vir
Children of the Harvest
Jul 17, 2011 · 43 min
A year-long investigation into children migrant workers.
Kidnapped in the Jungle, Burning Suspicion
Jul 22, 2011 · 43 min
A 24-year-old U.S. citizen targeted by kidnappers in South America and taken; the story of a man who is suspected of murdering his wife in a fire.
Follow the Money
Jul 24, 2011 · 43 min
Chris Hansen goes face-to-face with a man, who along with other conspirators, cheated a Connecticut woman out of her life savings through an internet scam.
Secret Life of the Homecoming Queen
Jul 29, 2011 · 43 min
A former homecoming queen comes under suspicion after her husband is found stabbed to death and an affair with the local youth pastor is uncovered.
Taking the Hill: Inside Congress
Jul 31, 2011 · 43 min
Brian Williams documents a day behind-the-scenes on Capitol Hill where viewers will get an unprecedented look at life under the U.S. Capitol dome.
The Mystery on Halloween Night
Aug 5, 2011 · 43 min
An admired sports editor is killed on Halloween night.
The Road Back
Aug 7, 2011 · 43 min
Tom Brokaw reports the story of three different families throughout the war in Iraq.
Over the Edge
Aug 12, 2011 · 43 min
A couple's romantic night at the Hudson Palisades ends in a tragic fall, leaving officials questioning whether or not it was an accident.
The Mystery of the Murdered Major
Aug 12, 2011 · 43 min
The murder of a husband exposes the shocking secret life he had with his wife. They were swingers.
The Town That Jobs Forgot
Aug 14, 2011 · 43 min
Lester Holt reports the story of three American women who face the Great Recession and their own worst fears.
A Father's Fight, The Day She Disappeared
Aug 19, 2011 · 43 min
A young father fights desperately across the United States for custody of his baby girl. Plus the story of Nancy Cooper who went missing while jogging in a suburb of Raleigh, North
Amazing Animals Caught on Tape
Aug 21, 2011 · 43 min
Watch amazing animals and the true stories behind some of the most popular videos on the web.
Mystery on Blood Mountain
Aug 26, 2011 · 43 min
A serial killer stalks human prey through America's national forests until clues help trigger a multi-state manhunt.
Heaven is For Real, Dick Cheney, Miranda Lambert
Aug 29, 2011 · 43 min
Former Vice President Dick Cheney discusses his new memoir with Jamie Gangel; Grammy award winner Miranda Lambert is interviewed by Hoda Kotb; 12-year-old author of "Heaven is For
Somebody's Daughter
Sep 2, 2011 · 43 min
Reports from a desert in New Mexico which has become one of the largest crime scenes in history, where the remains of eleven female bodies were found buried.
Mystery at Bootlegger's Cove
Sep 4, 2011 · 43 min
When a young woman disappeared in Alaska, police looked at two brothers as suspects. Would anyone be able to breach their loyalty and find the truth?
America Remembers
Sep 9, 2011 · 43 min
Tom Brokaw, recaps some of the most powerful stories reported by NBC News in the days and months following the tragic assault on our nation.
Deadly House of Cards
Sep 16, 2011 · 43 min
An indie film-maker is connected to the case of a missing man, which started as an obsession with "Dexter". Was it a publicity stunt or something far darker?
Ransom
Sep 23, 2011 · 43 min
A young Florida mother abducted at gunpoint and taken for ransom. Three failed attempts to drop the ransom put everyone on edge and no one imagined the bizarre way this crime would
The Secret
Sep 30, 2011 · 43 min
A troubled marriage, then suddenly a man disappears, leaving behind a daughter and step-son. The truth from a secret kept for over eight years.
Strangers On A Train
Oct 7, 2011 · 43 min
A young woman disappears following her chance encounter with a stranger on a train. Her desperate family hires a dream team of detectives to follow the mysterious trail she left be
Someone Was Watching, The Ballad of Mike & Dalia
Oct 14, 2011 · 43 min
A couple with the perfect marriage until Cristi was found dead in the backyard spa. And, a story-book marriage, NO lust, greed and deceit led to an elaborate murder plot that makes
Deadly Retreat
Oct 21, 2011 · 43 min
In October 2009, James Arthur Ray, a renowned self-help author and speaker, held a "Spiritual Warrior" retreat in Sedona, AZ. Three people died during the retreat, and Ray was char
The Player
Oct 28, 2011 · 43 min
A couple meets at the craps table in Las Vegas. She was a beautiful trapeze artist and he was a professional poker player -- with a secret. Did he take a gamble that led to murder?
The Last Days of Michael Jackson
Nov 4, 2011 · 43 min
The case against Michael Jackson’s doctor, Conrad Murray, is in the hands of the jury, who will decide whether he played a role in the death of the pop star.
Crossing the Line
Nov 11, 2011 · 43 min
A fatal car crash in Montana may not have been an accident after investigators find a revealing set of text messages.
The Mystery at Heath Bar Farm
Nov 18, 2011 · 43 min
Tom Foley is shocked to find himself the lead suspect in the case of his wife Darlene's murder. Thinking the case was over, the defense team is soon approached by a stranger with
Missing in Paradise
Dec 2, 2011 · 43 min
A vacation in Aruba that morphed into a mystery, Robyn Gardner went missing and many presume she's dead.
After Midnight
Dec 9, 2011 · 43 min
2 years ago the young mother from Utah vanished. A husband under suspicion, a father-in-law under scrutiny, and investigators under pressure to solve this mystery at last.
The Case of the Missing D.A.
Dec 16, 2011 · 43 min
10 Years ago, the accusation that Penn State Coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused a child, came to the attention of Ray Gricar, the local district attorney. 3 years later Gricar we
The Town That Jobs Forgot
Dec 23, 2011 · 43 min
Millen, Georgia, a small industrial town so devastated by the Great Recession, its unemployment numbers peaked at 21% - more than twice the national average.
Deadly Triangle
Dec 30, 2011 · 43 min
The story of an unsolved case involving a woman's love triangle that ended in her husband's fatal stabbing in front of their home, but more than two decades later, detectives have
Suspicion
Feb 3, 2012
In the lead up to a murder trial, it begins to look like police arrested the wrong man.
Mystery at Payson Canyon
Jun 28, 2013 · 45 min
Investigating the murder of a brilliant professor.