Here’s the story from HBO Max: As her life crumbles around her, a small-town Pennsylvania detective Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet) investigates a local murder. The series explores the dark side of a close community and provides an authentic examination of how family and past tragedies can define our present.
NO SPOILERS in this review.
Here’s what works: Kate Winslet. We’ve never seen a character like this, and her performance is exceptional. She makes looking like a completely different person effortless.
Here’s what else works: the large cast of characters reflects a normal community and each storyline is developed so that you never know who or what are the red herrings. Some great acting all around, and some exciting young newcomers.
Here’s what doesn’t work: the large cast of characters can confuse at times, especially which kids belonged to whom.
Here’s what else doesn’t work: the ending. I mean technically it works. It’s explained well. I will tread carefully because no spoilers but I will say this: Mare treated the law like a buffet table where you can take some of one and leave the stuff you don’t want for the entire season, but then when the killer is revealed — someone who has reason to leave outside of the law — Mare is ALL about the letter of the law. I found it displeasing to me personally, but more importantly I found it inconsistent with the character we had come to know so well.
Pet Peeve No One Will Care About More Than Me: the wannabe Boston-ness. The in-your-face Philadelphia accents couldn’t distract from this wannabe Boston show. The setting looked too much like Boston. Mare actually says, “let the healing begin,” while in her therapist’s office. We all worship Good Will Hunting, but when set in Philly, using that line felt like stealing rather than homage. And then Mare’s best friend wearing a CitySports t-shirt in the last episode really pushed me over the edge. Someone wanted this show set in Boston but the studio said “Boston’s been done before, let’s do something new and exciting: Philly.” Wah-wah.
DON’T skip it if: you love family drama with murder mystery. It holds up as one of the best at what it is. It’s worth the seven hours.
DO skip it if: you only want to tune in because of peer pressure. In a month, Mare will be as forgettable as The Undoing.
This is a “sure, watch it” from me.