With the whole of the UK on an unofficial lockdown, I’m sure a lot of people will be looking for a new TV show to sink there teeth into to pass the time and I think I may have found the perfect show for this.
In the first season of this Netflix original, we follow Detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) and his investigation to find a motive to why Cora Tannetti (Jessica Biel) murdered what seems to be an innocent man on a family trip.
First off I want to say this story has a bit of everything, it’s shocking, emotional and has a few twists and turns along the way. Not only this but the way it tells the narrative is pretty unique as it provides the viewer with a different type of perspective compared to different detective shows as we really get to know Cora Tannetti, what triggers her past traumas and of course the grizzly story of why she did what she did on the family trip. Telling the narrative this way really lets the viewer know and sympathies with Cora as she is seemingly a relatable character living a normal life with her husband and son.
The narrative also follows several sub-plots one being Cora’s husband Mason Tannetti (Christoper Abbott) and how he is dealing with the murder he witnessed his wife commit and another being the troubled marriage and hidden secrets of detective Harry Ambrose. The screenplay writers and Directors of all the episodes do a fantastic job of juggling all these plot lines without the show feeling too bloated. Just like Cora’s main story Line the subplots of each character gives them weight and value within the story allowing the audience to get attached to each character, this is something detective shows forget to do sometimes and here it works so well.
In terms of how well the show is actually made. The show is shot quite well, providing the audience with great establishing shots as the timeline in the story does tend to jump around, but never left me confused of where I was or what I was looking at. However the editing for me is a particular highlight as I said the timeline jumped around and without the great editing we would have a ‘the Witcher’ situation where it can be very complicated to know when and where in the story a specific scene takes place, but I’m happy to say this show suffers no such thing.
But what really holds this show together is the performances of both Jessica Biel and Bill Pullman they really make this show what is and I couldn’t see this show without them, which is why I’m intrigued what I will think of season 2 which is about a different case. Specifically Jessica Biel as Cora Tannetti really blew me away, she provides one of the best performances I think I’ve seen in a tv show. She is just so convincing and well and truly disappears in the role of a mother in a normal family with a hidden and troubled childhood and past. Bill Pullman also provides a strong performance as a committed detective who also has a dark secret and a troubled marriage at home. All of these factors in the Harry Ambrose allows Bill Pullman to provide a realistic and emotional performance that certainly made me feel for him but also loathe him.
In summary watch this show, it really has surprised me, as I did not expect to be so intrigued and invested in the narrative and characters. The performances from all actors and actresses in the show make it such a pleasure to watch. The Narrative is so compelling, moving and shocking with a lot of twists and turns but also provides the viewer a perspective of the criminal which we don’t get very often in detective shows.
This is the perfect show to watch and pass the time during your self-isolated. And for that reason Out of 10 this show is a solid 8.5 for me.
Alex’s Movie and TV Review Blog 