FOOL ME ONCE
UK/US, 2023, 8 x 50 minutes, Colour.
Michelle Keegan, Adeel Akhtar, Richard Armitage, Emmett J.Scanlon, Thea Taylor-Morgan, Marcus Garvey, Dino Fetscher, Joanna Lumley, Daniela Griver, Daniel Burt, Hattie Morahan, Natalie Anderson, Laurie Kynaston, James Northcote, Jade Anouka, Nicholas Farrell.
Directed by David Moore, Nimer Rashad.
From the 1990s, New Jersey writer, Harlan Coben, has been a bestseller author of crime and detection fiction. In more recent decades, he has become involved in television adaptations of his books, a substantial number of them being filmed in the US, but also in Britain and in Poland. Many of them have found streaming outlets, especially Netflix, and continued success for these adaptations.
This adaptation has a British setting, contrasting class, echoes of British involvement in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, corporate mismanagement.
There are eight episodes and several strands of the story, all eventually coming together with some twists.
At the centre is Maya, Michelle Keegan, helicopter pilot on active service overseas, making a decision against orders which has resulted in the killing of civilians who had been judged as enemy. This has had an effect on her, continued nightmares, sense of guilt, regret. While in action, her sister has been killed in what seems like a burglary. Then, her husband, Joe (Richard Armitage) has been shot while in a park at night with his wife, two masked young bikies suspected.
On the one hand, this is the story of Maya, her devotion to her little girl, at home, kindergarten, memories of her husband. He belonged to a wealthy family, the matriarch played by Joanna Lumley in her Joanna Lumley style. Grandmother wants her granddaughter and is rather despising of her daughter-in-law. There are complications when a friend gives Maya a camera for security for the nanny and little daughter, but her husband appearing in the footage.
On the other hand, there is the story of the police inspector, played by a Adeel Akhtar (inspector Lestrade in the in Enola Holmes films). He has had tragedy in his life, fiancee killed in action, his drinking, her appearing to him, urging him to AA meetings which he neglects, but skilled in his work, in interrogations, given an assistant who talks too much, is a health crank, reveals himself as gay, but who contributes substantially to the investigation.
There is also the family of Maya’s dead sister, father Eddie (Marcus Garvey), two teenage children, who discover more about their mother, an early pregnancy, adoption, tracking down the father, their half brother – all conveniently local for the development of the plot.
And, there are a variety of suspects, a journalist whistleblower who had exposed Maya’s actions against the civilians, leading to his further investigations, contact with my sister, issues of the company run by the family (reminder of the opioid scandals and the Sackler family). There is a bullying football coach and his bikie son. There is also Maya’s sympathetic associate who helps her get information about various suspects.
The series gives full attention to each of the characters and develops aspects of their activities, involvement.
Ultimately, of course, there is an unexpected revelation for Maya, for the Inspector and his growing ill-health. And, a pleasing postscript, almost 18 years into the future.
- The popularity of Harlan Coben novels? Miniseries adaptations?
- The setting, the 2020s, flashback to the 1990s? The background of British war involvement, military sequences? The world of aristocratic and wealthy families? The world of international corporations? Chemicals? Echoes of the opioid families and scandals?
- The tone of the opening, the boys, hazing, sinister? The flashbacks? The final dramatising?
- The focus on the murder of Joe Burkert, the visualisation, being shot? The young masked men, bikes, in the park, suspects? The effect on Maya, memories of her marriage, flashbacks, her love for her daughter, care for her?
- The police investigation, Sami Kierce, his background, the death of his fiancee, his hallucinations with her, talk, companionship, going to AA meetings, his drinking? His grief, drinking, the effect on his health? Skill as a policeman? With superior officers? The Burkert case, Marty appointed, irritation with his talking, concerns about health? The bonding between the two, Marty and his mannerisms, yet efficiency? His confiding to Sami about his boyfriend? Sami’s health issues, the blackouts, the car crash, the dangers, Marty driving, concealed from the officials? Sami, the interrogations, his shrewdness, Maya, th all e Burkert family, Eddie and his family, the football coach, the episode with his son on the roof, his fall? Tracking down the accomplice in the park, the confession?
- Maya, strong personality, military, the war episode, her decision, the killing of civilians, her continued nightmares, Cory the Whistler, the expose, the mystery of the audio not revealed? Her working with Shane, as pilot and helicopter, his help, getting information, checking the bullet and the gun, his care for Lily, not being told the truth, his exasperation? Her telling him the truth?
- Judith Burkert, the Joanna Lumley type of aristocrat, her background, 40 years psychologist, her marriage, widowhood, the company, her relationship with her children, protecting them, the bribes to the captain of the yacht, suggesting Sami was taking bribes, Caroline and her mental health, Neil and his running of the busInezs, the death of Andrew, the murder of Joe? Her wanting to see her granddaughter? Manipulating, demanding, confronting Maya? The buildup to the final confrontation, her wanting to make a deal, admitting the truth about her children, Caroline and her shock, Neil and the gun and threats? The irony of the technology used to expose them?
- Maya, her devotion to her sister, memories of travels in France, the children fighting the photo of the pregnant Claire, Dan and his being an IT whiz, identifying the father, Abby going to see him, his shock? The irony of his identity, the past relationship, moving to the area for business, not knowing he had a son? Eddie coming and assaulting him? And his later helping him with the boy? The irony of finding the boy, the DNA tests, his being the coach assistant, his story, meetings with Claire, taking him to the fashionable school, this leading Claire to further investigations? The bonding within the family? Eddie, his drinking, grief, father, lack of self-confidence, his false alibi and the woman, justifying himself, and Maya writing him the letter to care for Lily?
- The football coach, bullying, Maya pulling his pants down, the reaction, the boy assistant? His son, on the bikes, their tracking him down, the pursuit, on the roof, his fall? His friend, Sami pursuing him, the truth?
- Cory the Whistler, the phone calls from Claire, Maya going to the club, tracking Cory down, his personality, journalist, expose, the truth about Claire and the information about the Burkert’s, her murder, his reaction? The investigation about the captain of the plot, his wife and Maya seeing her, the money bribes, the storage, Maya and Cory discovering the body, her calling the police, the pursuit and arrests? Cory and his secret headquarters, Sami and the pursuit? The extent that surveillance? The dangerous driving?
- The eventual relation of the truth, that Maya killed Joe, the issue with the gun and the bullets, the joke killed Claire, her revelations about the busInezs corruption? The background of Joe, the killing of the footballer, Maya and her visit to the mother of the boy, the story, going to the headmaster, threats of defunding, getting the truth? Joe, the flashback, the vodka and the dead boy, Andrew and his reactions on the yacht, Joe pushing him over?
- Judith, using the staff, the camera for security, digitalise in the image of Joe, Maya’s reaction, the babysitter assaulting her, Judith tracking them down, the confrontation, the truth, stranding them?
- Maya, and nightmares, issues of responsibility, forgiveness, her death wish, atonement? Laying the gun down, Neil and the gun, shooting her?
- 18 years later, Lilly giving birth, and in the family and their story, Sami and his son, calling the baby Maya?
