Mare of Easttown, a seven-part crime drama starring Kate Winslet, was inspired largely by creator Brad Ingelsby’s upbringing in Easttown Township, Pennsylvania. Blending the daily intricacies of provincial life with a grandiose-scale homicide mystery, this limited series by director Craig Zobel lives up to its multiple Emmy awards.
Mare Sheehan (Winslet) is a detective at Easttown’s small police station, which is under fire for its lack of progress in a year-old case of a missing young mother. When tragedy strikes the town again with the murder of another young woman, Detective Colin Zabel (Evan Peters) is brought onto the case—much to Mare’s chagrin. The detectives realize just how small Easttown is, seeing that everyone seems to carry a piece of the puzzle, whether they realize it or not. In the meantime, Mare deals with the aftermath of her son’s suicide, her ex-husband’s impending marriage, and trying to keep her estranged family together.
Winslet leads an outstanding cast with her own stunning performance, from the burdened way she carries herself to her distinct Delco accent. And while some of the relationships Mare of Easttown explores feel superfluous (such as Mare’s fling with Richard Ryan [Guy Pearce], a published author with fewer personality traits than bland lines of dialogue), the series as a whole boasts a varied and complex set of characters.
Overall, the combination of crime shows and feel-good drama works seamlessly. This isn’t your cheesy Hallmark whodunnit; it accomplishes its dramatic narrative, character development, and familial themes without ever losing out on intensity or suspense. As for how the mystery itself plays out, twists will keep you on the edge of your seat, but don’t expect to be able to guess who the culprit is. There are a few too many red herrings introduced simply for the sake of throwing a curveball that has no significance to the murder or disappearance.
However, all of the twists, turns, and subplots surrounding the cases have a greater purpose than simply furthering the mystery. They subtly reveal the layered story of a town and its individuals: their connections, their relationships, their mistakes. And at the core of this story is Mare, who carries the baggage of Easttown on her shoulders. The disappearance and homicide are essentially catalysts to the eventual resolution of Easttown’s individual grievances. The real beauty of the show, then, is its realistic portrayal of a small town and the character growth of its star detective. This riveting series is a necessary addition to crime/drama shelves. Highly recommended. (A. Ham)