5 reasons why you shouldn’t miss Mare of Easttown

The sensational mini-series, Mare of Easttown (streaming on Disney+ Hotstar), which sees Kate Winslet on the small screen after a gap, came to a resounding end last week. The show has been directed by Craig Zobel, the man behind critically acclaimed shows like Westworld and American Gods. Evan Peters cleans up nicely from his last seen goofy performance as Pietro Maximoff in WandaVision. 

This riveting crime drama follows Mare (played by Kate Winslet), a detective, in the quiet idyllic town of Easttown where the society is shocked by a murder, after a year of a young woman's disappearance. Can the 2 cases be connected? Read on to know why this just might be up your alley. 

Trigger warnings: substance abuse, suicide.

1. Good ol’ style crime

Reminiscent of Broadchurch, this show has the old world charm with a small idyllic town where everyone knows everybody and how gradually the pool of suspects becomes ever-growing with their own angles interspersed with harrowing moments. 

2. A solid family drama

At the root of it, along with crime, it is an equally good family drama, exploring relationships, exploding arguments and mending fault lines with their tender moments. The creators don’t give us picture-perfect characters. We get a main character with many flaws and dysfunctional families in abundance. 

Mare’s relationship with Richard (played by Guy Pearce) could have been explored with greater depth but it’s impressive that the romance isn’t the show’s central theme.

3. Shocking plot twists

Even though there might be some unanswered questions and a few generalised tropes, the viewers might just put 2+2= 22 only because of the clever cloaking of dialogues. There are a few jaw drop moments with ugly revelations and also, keep those tissues ready!

4. A nuanced take on grief and substance abuse

Nothing like watching a nuanced and sensitive take on mental health and exploration of grief and what it does to a family. The mini-series provides a sense of closure on all of that.

5. Stellar performances from the cast

The acting is absolutely *chef’s kiss*. Right from Kate Winslet, to Julianne Nicholson, who plays her best friend Lori, and Jean Smart, as Mare’s mother, Helen, it is a viewer’s delight to watch their performances. Angourie Rice as Siobhan, Mare’s daughter, shines too.

And, we certainly hope to see more of Kate Winslet soon!