The awful incidents of Jan Broberg Felt’s childhood are once again being encapsulated onscreen in the new true-crime series A Friend of the Family. For those that aren’t familiar with the name and haven’t seen the Netflix documentary Abducted in Plain Sight, then allow us to introduce you to the harrowing story of a young Jan Broberg.
At both the ages of 12 and 14 she was kidnapped by the same man, family friend and neighbor Robert Berchtold. Adding to this already shocking occurrence is the fact that Jan’s father Bob Broberg later admitted to being romantically involved with Berchtold around that time as described in Vanity Fair.
Now unlike when viewers yelled at their screens when they watched Abducted in Plain Sight in disbelief this could happen to one family, the new series portrays the true crime story with new dynamics on how a conniving predator can deceive and take advantage of a family.
Jan even commented on the project in a statement on the Oxygen website saying:
"We were a loving, trusting, educated family. We were not stupid or careless. So how could this happen in our neighborhood, where we knew everyone and everyone was a friend? The truth is that most predators are not strangers but people we know — people who can build trust, create special friendships and separate family members psychologically."
Here’s everything we know about A Friend of the Family.
A Friend of the Family episode guide
All episodes of A Friend of the Family are now streaming on Peacock.
Below we've provided an episode guide for the series.
Episode 1: "Horseback Riding in American Falls"
"A trusted family friend picks up Jan after school to go horseback riding, but as nightfall looms and they're still not home, what seemed like a casual afternoon slowly turns nightmarish"
Episode 2: "The Mission"
"The search for Jan escalates as the Brobergs call in the FBI. Jan is tasked with a disturbing life-or-death responsibility."
Episode 3: "The Gift of Tongues"
"The Berchtolds and Brobergs grow closer, but as Mary Ann and the girls fall under the spell of their fun-loving neighbor, Bob sees him as a threat."
Episode 4: "Articles of Faith"
"The Brobergs fight to restore a sense of normalcy as they prepare to face B. in court."
Episode 5: "The Bitter Cup"
"As the Brobergs’ marriage is thrown into jeopardy, B. strengthens his sinister hold over Jan."
Episode 6: "Son of Perdition"
"In Jackson Hole, Jan finds herself overwhelmed by the demands of the mission. Bob and Mary Ann organize an aggressive legal strategy to bring her home."
Episode 7: "The Great Deceiver"
"Jan goes missing again and the FBI's hands are tied, but the Brobergs press on in their search for answers. The case takes a heavy toll on Pete as he digs deeper into B.'s past. Jan learns to blend in a strange new environment."
Episode 8: "Outer Darkness"
"Mary Ann prepares for a high-stakes showdown. Pete works double time to find Jan, disobeying direct orders. Worn down by fear and secrecy, Jan nears a breaking point."
Episode 9: "Revelation"
"With Jan home, Bob and Mary Ann take steps toward healing, but as her 16th birthday approaches and the mission reaches its do-or-die moment, Jan prepares for the worst."
By the way, wondering about the true story behind the new limited drama series? Make sure you check out our Fact vs Fiction: A Friend of the Family article.
What is A Friend of the Family about?
Peacock describes the synopsis of A Friend of the Family as the following:
"A Friend of the Family is based on the harrowing true story of the Broberg family, whose daughter Jan was kidnapped multiple times over a period of years by a charismatic, obsessed family 'friend.' The Brobergs — devoted to their faith, family and community — were utterly unprepared for the sophisticated tactics their neighbor used to exploit their vulnerabilities, drive them apart and turn their daughter against them. This is the story of how their lives were permanently altered — and how they survived."
A Friend of the Family cast
Starring as the central individuals to this entire story are Hendrix Yancey and Jake Lacy who play a young Jan Broberg and her kidnapper Robert 'B' Berchtold respectively. Yancey has previously been seen in Stranger Things and Charming the Hearts of Men. Lacy’s recent body of work includes Being the Ricardos and The White Lotus.
Below we’ve provided a list of other main cast members and the characters you can expect them to play in A Friend of the Family.
- Anna Paquin (True Blood) as Mary Ann Broberg
- Lio Tipton (Vengeance) as Gail Berchtold
- McKenna Grace (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Jan Broberg
- Austin Stowell (The Old Man) as Pete Welsh
- Colin Hanks (The Offer) as Bob Broberg
- Patrick Fischler (The Rookie) as Garth Pincock
- Bree Elrod (Red Rocket) as Jennifer Ferguson
- Philip Ettinger (First Reformed) as Joe Berchtold
In a surprise to many, in the A Friend of the Family finale, the real-life Jan Broberg appears in the role a therapist who works with Jan.
A Friend of the Family trailer
Check out the trailer Peacock released ahead of the series' debut. The clip is both chilling and gripping, which is enough to pique anyone's interest.
A Friend of the Family: True Evil documentary
Even though A Friend of the Family is now wrapped up, viewers can continue to explore the story with A Friend of the Family: True Evil documentary airing on Peacock on Tuesday, November 15.
The documentary features interviews from the real Broberg family, including Jan, and also introduces another woman who alleges she too is a survivor of Robert Berchtold. Based on the trailer below, it looks like this documentary will go even deeper into what happened than Netflix’s Abducted in Plain Sight.
How to watch A Friend of the Family
A Friend of the Family is a Peacock Original series. Those hoping to watch episodes as they air need a subscription to the streaming service. Currently, Peacock offers two membership tiers for subscribers to choose from.
In the UK, Peacock is a service that can be accessed utilizing a Sky or NOW account.
