MARE OF EASTOWN

US, 2021, 7x55 minutes, Colour.

Kate Winslet, Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart, Angourie Rice, John Douglas Thompson, Joe Tippett, Cameron Man, Jack Mulhern, Izzy King, Sosie Bacon, David Denman, Neal Huff, James Mc Ardle, Guy Pearce, Ruby Cruz, Caelee Spain, Phyllis Somerville.

Directed by Craig Zobel.

Mare of Eastown was one of the most successful television series of 2021, winning many awards and nominated for a great number of others, winning especially for Kate Winslet and her central performance, wins and nominations for supporting actress for Julianne Nicholson and Jean Smart. The seven episodes have a large cast, some up-and-coming actors like Caylee Spain, Australian actors including Guy Pearce and Angourie Rice.

The series was written by Brad Inglesby, successful film writer, Out of the Furnace, The Way Back. The sea was directed by Craig Zobel, best known for a range of television direction.

The setting is a small Pennsylvania town, relationships, murder, police investigation, range of suspects. The series is so well-written that audiences are eager to follow the characters, what has happened, discover the intricacies and deceptions of relationships.

At the centre is the depressed detective, Mare, one of Kate Winslet’s best performances (and they have been many, Oscar for, awards for Mildred Pearce…). There is also the relationship with her best friend, Julianne Nicholson, tensions with her mother, Jean Smart, a relationship with a friend, Guy Pearce, the issue of her ex-husband and of her teenage daughter, Angourie Rice.

There are many subplots, continual revelations, a great deal of ugliness under the surface of the town. As a portrait of American society in small towns, is a portrait of a range of characters in this context, the series is excellent.

1. Popularity and awards? 2021?
2. The dramatic effect of seven episodes, crises at the end of each episode, the links? Drama and suspense?
3. The small Pennsylvania town, atmosphere, homes, shops, police precincts, the countryside, the woods, the river? The musical score?
4. The murder mystery, the setting, the victim, her age, her little boy, his deafness? Dylan as the putative father? The issue of money for the surgery? Her anger, the outing and the interactions amongst the young people? Her body being found? Seven episodes, the final revelation, the various suspects, Frank and his teaching and the DNA test, Dylan and the relationship, the diaries and the revelations? Her father and his anger and shooting at Dylan? The relationship to the Ross family? The Deacon, phone contacts, his disposing of the bike? The Ross brothers, blood spatter clothes, the intervention of their father, Lori and her friendship with Mare, her husband’s infidelities, protecting her son? The revelation of the photo with John? John intending to kill his brother, stopped, his confession, too glib – and the revelation that he was protecting his son? Mare, at the school, Ryan running, the full confession and motivations?
5. The portrait of Mare, screen presence of Kate Winslet, age, appearance, skill as a detective, long experience, her relationship with his mother her mother, the tension, her mother living in, the detailed interactions? Mourning the death of her son, Kevin, his limitations, with his girlfriend, the birth of Drew, his collapse, suicide? The flashbacks, his illness, death? His girlfriend, drug dependence, prison, trying to rehabilitate? Custody of Drew? Siobhan, her age, her relationships, the lesbian friendship? Wanting to leave for study? The divorce from Frank, his engagement, and her visits, disruptive? The encounter with Richard, charm, talking, dates? The detective from outside, eventual acceptance, working with him, sharing? The pressure on him, the search for the missing girls, the shootout, his death? Mare wounded, hospital, recovery? Visiting the detective’s mother and the rebuff?
6. Lori, the long friendship, their discussions, Lori and John’s affairs, Ryan and his awareness of this? The child with Down Syndrome? The bond, friendship and lies, family protection, Lori’s ultimate anger with Mare? The truth from Ryan, his father defending him, Ryan taking the gun and returning it? The video? School, Chase, confession?
7. Frank, the relationship with Mare, the divorce, his new fiancee, the party, the alibis? His work at the school, willing to take the DNA test? His concern about Drew, Drew’s mother?
8. The abductions in the town, the girls in prostitution, the angry mother, her cancer, media protests, antagonism towards Mare? The recovery of her daughter?
9. The abductions, the leads concerning the vehicle, checking them out, the search and interviews, the confrontations, alibis? The revelation of the girls in the basement? The abductor, the tracking, the shootout, the detective’s death, Mare wounded?
10. Mare at work, her boss, with the detective, her manner with people, methods, intense, taking things personally? Crossing the line and planting the drugs on Drew’s mother? Suspension, her continuing?
11. Betty, the opening, the squatter and her being upset, her case, her death, dementia? Her husband, his outburst at the wake about his affair with Helen? The issue of the gun and its disappearance?
12. The black man, his problems, Betty afraid, his sister, her caring concern, in the house, the scam to get money from the mother of the abducted girl? His death? The sister giving the house to the abducted girl?
13. The police, the squad, working with Mare, the treatment, collaboration? The variety of leads, the friend who manage the prostitutes and her information? Interrogations? Methods?
14. The episodes, the suspects, the range of information, the angry girl and her spite against the victim, jealousy? At the diner, the arrest, later giving information? Dylan, his attitude towards the girl, towards the boy, to get the money, the girl’s father shooting him, spittle? Touch of tenderness with the child? Later giving Lori the money?
15. The Catholic Church, the priest, related to the family, the Deacon, his ministry, the complaint in the past, suspicions, the phone contact with the dead girl, the bike over the bridge? His being physically attacked? Going to jail? His decision not to leave the town? The gathering of so many of the townspeople in the church?
16. The final resolution, the solving of the murder mystery, Drew and his mother, her admitting the need for rehabilitation? The custody meeting, Mare, the custody of the boy? Lori, taking responsibility for her husband’s daughter? Dylan and the money? Frank, the wedding? Siobhan going to study outside the town? Mare, with her mother, finally going up to the attic where her son killed himself?