Something’s different…
I have to admit that at the end of episode one, I was skeptical. How were they going to take such a shocking and bizarre attack and make it stretch into a story with a deep plot and strong motivations? How were they going to make this seemingly random act of violence actually make sense.
As I watched this series, I repeatedly wondered these things. I would follow along only to be in disbelief again. How would these new pieces fit together? Time after time I was left in suspense, not just about the story, but the cohesiveness of it.
I am very glad to say that I was not disappointed.
Compelling characters…
A big piece that makes or breaks a series is your roster of characters. How many of the characters are interesting to your viewer? Do their motivations and actions line up and make sense together? When I watch a show, I want to believe that it is the story of something that happened to the characters, not that they’re just tools for the plot.
I think this series did an outstanding job developing the main characters as well as some of the supporting ones. We see Cora and Mason’s relationship. There are healthy and unhealthy pieces to it. It weighs on them in different ways, but they are both dedicated to it. Initially Cora’s actions seem like a desperate attempt to escape from her life, but we come to see that she desperately wants that life back.
We see our lead detective with his shame and shortcomings. He is unfaithful, afraid, and desperate. He is hardly what you would expect from a hero. He isn’t one, actually. He is a flawed character who often makes questionable judgement calls, and that plays into why he feels like such a real piece of this story. We get hints that there is even more lying underneath what we’ve seen so far, and I look forward to learning more about his character over the next two seasons.
Complicated topics…
This show deals heavily with serious topics. I really admire series that are able to take a complex experience and provide a window into that for viewers. Survivors of assault, and traumatic stress of other kinds, have so much to work through in life. Memories, involuntary reactions, PTSD… learning to cope with all of the aftermath of trauma can be overwhelming and it is impossible to understand that without going through it.
This show wove real world topics deep into a mystery plot. I was blown away with how deep the truth was buried in this story, which I thought reflected reality quite well.
Building a show…
This show is structured in an odd way. We are dealing with an unreliable narrator. A woman who has forgotten her past, remembers false details, etc. This makes us have to work through the story if we want to see her remember what happened to reach the point we’re at in present times. We also have to be on our guard. We can’t be sure who is good and who is bad. We do not know that she is telling the truth or if she even knows what the truth is. This series leads you in the wrong direction multiple times before you get to go down the right path.
I have not seen a story structured this way before. It was refreshing and original as a viewer. I felt on edge and was more invested in the story. Having to look at the narrative and remain skeptical of the story made me more aware of it and alert to details within the story. It is a truly brilliant means for a series like this.
Closing…
I would highly recommend this series to any mature viewer that is interested in a well done mystery series that deals with dramatic real world issues. It is a deep and touching story, but it does contain heavy themes. So, if you are a sensitive viewer, consider watching this with someone who you trust and who is capable of discussing the themes with you in a mature and healthy manner.