Mare of Easttown (TV, 2021)

Creator: Brad Ingelsby
Stars: Kate Winslet, Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart

Synopsis: A detective in a small Pennslyvania town investigates a local murder while trying to keep her life from falling apart.

Verdict: Marianne Sheehan, or Mare for short, fits the description of a character we’ve seen countless times before. She’s a hardboiled detective with a troubled past living in the small Pennsylvanian town of Easttow where a series of unusual events set her on a journey filled with twists and turns. It’s a premise we’ve seen unfold in past shows such as “True Detective” or “Sharp Objects”, but leave it to Kate Winslet to completely turn that cliché on its head!

Now I’m a sucker of investigative crime dramas, and “Mare of Easttown” seemed like a limited series that was right up my alley. I knew that I was going to at least find some sort of entertainment in it, especially with such big names attached to it. What I wasn’t expecting, however, was to develop a strong attachment to the characters that populated the small fictional community. Each one of them is interesting in their own way - sometimes at the expense of coming across as likable - and carried a load of baggage that added to their complexity and mysteriousness. I quickly came to the conclusion that the show was about them rather than the investigation, which was just a vehicle used to explore themes of grief, loneliness, relationships, or the burden of parenthood.

Supported by an impressive cast that includes the likes of Guy Pearce, Jean Smart, Julianne Nicholson, Evan Peters, Angourie Rice, or David Denman, “Mare of Easttown” also sees legendary actress Kate Winslet deliver one of the most commanding performances of her rich career. By inheriting Mare’s tough mindset, aggressive behavior, or Pennsylvanian accent, she simply transforms into the titular character, allowing the audience to sympathize with an individual that could’ve easily turned into an irritating caricature. Craig Zobel’s direction was exceptional and Brad Ingelsby’s writing was pristine, but without Winslet’s phenomenal performance, neither would have had the impact needed to make the 7-episode-long season memorable.

With its gritty atmosphere, head-spinning investigation, multifaceted characters, and very rewarding ending, “Mare of Easttown” will more than satisfy fans of the genre it belongs in. If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, do give it a try.

FINAL GRADE: 8/10