One murder, two missing women, a town full of suspects, and one indomitable detective all add up to seven of the most gripping hours on television. Part murder mystery and part character study Mare of Easttown paints a stark portrait of a town at its breaking point and a community struggling to pick up the pieces. At once a study of its world weary heroine and the fractured community around her the series explores such universal themes as grief, trauma, and redemption with an emotional honesty that viewers across the spectrum will be able to relate to. The series' offers twists that are as devastating as they are shocking and characterizations that will resonate long after the final credits fade. By the end of episode one you'll be hard pressed not to want to spend more time with Mare and the rest of Easttown.
The story begins with detective Mare Sheehan attempting to balance her fraught home life and draining professional life. At home she is forced to confront the presence of her ex-husband (who has just moved in next door) and his impending marriage while struggling to raise her teenage daughter and young grandson. Further complicating matters, she enters into a custody battle with her grandson's mentally ill addict mother even as she continues to reel from the recent suicide of her son (the boy's father). She fares little better at work as she struggles to solve the disappearance of a friend's daughter who went missing a year earlier. When a local teenage mother is found murdered Mare's personal and professional lives collide as she confronts the ghosts of her past and the demons of her present.
Television has been inundated with crime dramas in recent years, but Mare of Easttown sets itself apart from its contemporaries by exploring not only 'who done it', but also how did it happen and what happens next. The series begins by painting an unflinching portrait of Easttown, a working class community ravaged by poverty, crime, and addiction. In this way the series establishes a firm sense of place while highlighting issues that plague communities across America. With the murder of teen mom Erin the script shifts its focus to its central mystery, but is careful to offer insight into the ways in which the town's decline led not only to Erin's downfall, but also that of the people around her. One of the script's particular successes is the way in which it showcases the devastation that one violent act can wreak upon an entire community. While Erin's family and friends are left reeling from her death the fallout from her murder also leaves a mark upon the town at large, which is left grappling with the failings that led to the premature loss of one of its own. Similarly, the series' exploration of Mare's personal struggles sheds light upon the ways in which loss and trauma carry down through generations and communities, leaving innumerable consequences in their wake. Even as it offers harrowing insight into such difficult topics as grief, abuse, addiction, and mental illness the series still offers humor, humanity, and even a message of redemption. Through its depiction of the community's hardscrabble efforts to band together in the aftermath of Erin's murder the series reminds us of the ways in which communities can come together even in the darkest of times. Similarly, Mare's efforts to solve the case and regain control of her personal life demonstrates the ways in which with time, work, and humility we can all strive toward a better tomorrow. See for yourself what the critics are raving about and book a ticket to Easttown.
The series transports viewers into the heart of the by turns close-knit and clashing community of Easttown thanks to the stunning work of its cast. Cailee Spainey leaves a lasting impression in her heartbreaking turn as struggling teen mom turned murder victim Erin. Jack Mulhern strikes an ideal balance between overwhelmed and cruel as Erin's former boyfriend, Dylan. Angourie Rice aptly portrays the trauma of Mare's daughter, Siobhan while still exuding youthful charm. David Denman lends depth and humanity to his portrayal of Mare's ex-husband, Frank. Jean Smart steals each scene in which she appears as Mare's smart mouthed mother, Helen. Sosie Bacon's depiction of Mare's grandson's mother, Carrie's, struggles with addiction and mental illness are nothing short of harrowing. Julianne Nicholson lends an aching turn as Mare's best friend, Lori. Joe Tippett turns in a multi-faceted and complex performance as Lori's husband and Erin's uncle, John. Guy Pearce infuses Mare's love interest, visiting writer Richard, with warmth, humor, and charm. Evan Peters is both believable and endearing in his role as Mare's earnest new partner, Detective Collin Zabel. Even in the midst of a talented ensemble cast Kate Winslet dominates every frame as the steel-spined Mare. From her unmistakable Delaware County accent, to her slumping gait, to every drag from her trusty vape pen Winslet more than merely portrays Mare, she fully embodies her. From the series' first scene the English rose of Titanic and The Holiday fame is unrecognizable beneath the salt of the earth Pennsylvania detective. Come awards season statues are certain to be coming to Easttown, with Winslet's tour de force performance leading the way.
Mare of Easttown is thrilling, thought-provoking, and emotionally satisfying; in short its everything that a well made crime drama should be. Through its intricately developed plot and nuanced characterizations the script relates a mystery that will leave you guessing until its final reveal. The expert performances bring each of the series' complex characters to vivid life. The series' depiction of grief, trauma, and redemption will resonate with viewers long after the television has been turned off. For what is sure to be the defining viewing experience of 2021 pay a visit to Mare of Easttown.
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