This is a first take post on the premier episode of HBO’s new Sunday night drama, Mare of Easttown. Kate Winslet (Titanic, Sense and Sensibility) plays a small-town detective. It’s clear from the first episode that her “complicated” personal life will pose additional challenges, particularly under the small-town lens where everybody knows everybody.
The limited series (7 episodes) was created by Brad Ingelsby (The Way Back) set in a fictionalized version of Easttown, PA where he was born. Other key cast members introduced in the debut are Kate’s friend played by Julianne Nicholson (August: Osage County, Law & Order), mother played by Jean Smart (Fargo, Legion), and love interest Guy Pearce (Mildred Pierce, Memento).
Mare investigates small crimes, such as prowlers and robberies, as well as an unsolved murder. The end of the episode reveals that another major crime has been committed. Her Mom lives with her, and she has a daughter, and grandson. Some holes in the family tree need to be filled in. She’s divorced and her ex-husband has found new love. Richard (Guy Pearce) approaches her at the bar while she’s at a high school reunion and he hears the old “it’s complicated” line. As she vapes and drinks Rolling Rock, she seems lost – lost in the town, job, and life. As Pearl Jam says, “small town predicts my fate.”
So, an interesting set up, but pretty standard fare out of the gate. How many times have we seen the story of a cop with a messy personal life? Several things give me hope that this could turn out to be a worthwhile series, however. First, it’s a HBO Sunday night drama. The pedigree of The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, Six Feet Under, and many, many more leads me to check it out. Also, it’s cool to see Kate Winslet on TV. While it’s not her first such role (she did star in HBO’s limited series Mildred Pierce), her filmography is dominated by movies. Lastly, there’s enough here to continue watching and see what happens. There’s more to learn about Mare and her family. We need to find out more about the characters, such as young mother Erin, and how they all fit within the tapestry of Easttown. After the conclusion of the series, I’ll revisit this and compare notes with my first impression.
D² Rating ◼◼◼☐☐
Trivia ? – For what movie did Kate Winslet win her only Oscar (Best Actress)?
Answer: The Reader