Podcasters visit a small town in Ireland to solve a 20-year-old mystery. It's a cool, moody mystery with an enjoyable and dramatic Will Forte performance.
A small town in Ireland with an unsolved case from over 20 years ago seemed like the ideal setting for a podcast. 3 strangers disappeared during a Halloween type of local festival. So, Gilbert Power (Will Forte), an acclaimed, American podcaster decides to fly to Ireland and visit the little, coastal town of Bodkin to create a true-crime podcast. True-crime podcasts are all the rage lately so it makes sense. Turns out Power bites more than he can chew as the mystery unravels giving us a fresh, entertaining TV series by first-timer Jez Scharf.
Power gets an investigative journalist from The Guardian to assist him, Dove Maloney (Siobhan Cullen), with a research assistant, Emmy Sizergh (Robyn Cara). Solving the case is not exactly the assignment as per Power. He wants to create a mood with his podcast that will excite and captivate the audience and get him out of the financial hole he is in. But most evenings, he tests his Irishness by getting drunk at the local pub. As Power, Forte has taken a refreshing dramatic turn and reminds us of the promise he showed in Nebraska by giving a well-rounded performance. He aces every scene mining the most comedy out of them, given his comedic chops. He sounds like an experienced radio jockey with the many different notes he hits vocally.
As Power approaches the operation with the mindset of building relationships, Dove uses the ‘move fast, break things’ strategy. Confronting potential wrongdoers head-on and manipulating sources are a by-product of the journalistic trade, in her opinion. A source from her previous assignment befalls a tragic death and the guilt of her involvement brings out the worst in her. Playing a depressed mope, bothering everyone she encounters, Cullen faces the challenge of playing the least likeable of the leads.
Emmy has the best arc in the show as she has a ‘road to Damascus’ -like journey. In awe of her professional teammates initially, she soon discovers idolizing them is a waste, and takes a more active role in the investigation. Cara plays this transformation convincingly. Even, appealingly.
At Bodkin, people aren’t too enthused with the invasion of the podcasters. When told about the podcast the first question from most of them is, ‘And people will listen to it?’. Just like people everywhere, they enjoy the company of visitors but don’t want to be judged. The town is full of interesting people such as the nuns living on an island teaching yoga led by Mother Bernadette (Fionnula Flanagan); Teddy, the giant with an angel’s voice (Ger Kelly); The cop in charge of the disappearances from 20 years ago, Sergeant Power (Denis Conway); among others.Â
The show does take a few pages from the Hot Fuzz and The Wicker Man books. A small town in the countryside invaded by naive but wary strangers. The locals act friendly but seem less forthcoming. It’s all very mysterious and hence, intriguing. And it looks incredible too because of the lovely locations. With such intriguing elements, Bodkin is a podcaster’s fantasies come to life and Power’s excitement is valid.
But a good mystery is never just a mystery. The different work styles of Power and Dove create a conflict with each leading their separate investigations. As the plot thickens, so does the conflict. Since the events being probed are from long ago, the show also deals with regret. Reopening old wounds can be a costly affair. Not to mention, painful. People everywhere live interesting lives that can be turned into cheap entertainment. The question becomes of how one handles these personal tales; with empathy and care. Or sensationalism?
Bodkin is a mature show about our culture and society with a good mystery at its centre. I highly recommend it.
Gilbert Power – ‘My name is Gilbert Power. When I started this podcast, I didn’t expect to solve anything. I didn’t expect it to change my life.’