Netflix fans stop new show minutes into first episode as they 'don't know who to believe'

Netflix's latest riveting docuseries entitled The Manhattan Alien Abduction, has audiences at the edge of their seats, casting doubt and piquing curiosity with its retelling of Linda Napolitano's extraordinary claim.

She asserted that aliens seized her and made her float up into a UFO above New York City on the night of November 30, 1989.

The story takes an intriguing turn as over a dozen bystanders stepped forward to back up her tale, insisting they witnessed a woman being lifted into the air and drawn into a mysterious object aloft.

Adding to the compelling nature of the narrative is Carol Rainey, ex-spouse of prominent Ufologist Budd Hopkins, who penned a book exploring Linda's purported encounters.

The three-episode saga delves deep, investigating both angles of the tale and daring to ask whether it's an intricate ruse or indisputable evidence of extraterrestrial existence.

Yet, viewers find themselves in a quandary after binge-watching the series, torn between what to trust.

Many took to Reddit to share their views, with one user admitting: "I just finished it! I thought it was really interesting. Not sure who to believe though... "

Scepticism mixed with belief as another remarked on the likelihood of the abduction, noting: "I don't think it's as simple or black and white as Budd's wife vs Linda, right or wrong. I think there is some truth from all sides. Budd may have blurred the line between compassion and romantic feelings for Linda and lost some investigative objectivity."

The newly released series has certainly polarised viewers, with reactions pouring in immediately, reports the Mirror.

One viewer confessed on social media: "I'm watching now and after the 1st 2 minutes, I had to pause. To ask Google if this was actually a mockumentary? Because I don't think I've ever seen this woman or this case, mentioned. Ever. That alone has me feeling pretty sceptical."

Linda Napolitano's extraordinary tale has been told before the Netflix release.

The abduction story first came to light in Budd Hopkins' 1997 tome Witnessed: The True Story of the Brooklyn Bridge Abduction, subsequently featured on the Somewhere in the Skies podcast in 2018, and spotlighted in the 2022 documentary Linda Napolitano: The Alien Abduction of the Century.

However, Napolitano herself is far from happy with Netflix's rendition of her alleged alien encounter, to the point where she filed legal action against the streaming giant in an effort to halt the documentary's release.

After seeing the final product, she felt taken aback by the portrayal and asserted that the programme cast her 'as a villain for purposes of controversy and conflict'.

The Manhattan Alien Abduction is streaming now on Netflix.