Mare of Easttown (2021) miniseries review

Mare of Easttown starring Kate Winslet, is an HBO murder mystery series that came out in 2021. It’s a solid crime thriller that’s part mystery, part family drama, well written and directed as both. 

Mare (Kate Winslet), born and raised in Easttown, works here as a police detective. This is a town where everybody knows everybody and their grandmother. But Easttown is also a town ripe with drug abuse, teen pregnancies and perverts. A case of a girl who disappeared 1 year ago has yet to be solved when another, Erin (Cailee Spaeny), is found dead. Erin left behind a young son and as the identity of his father comes into question, the list of suspects gets longer. 

Mare is on the case. She is also a responsible member of the community that has so few. Her daughter Siobhan (Angourie Rice, on her way to a long, successful career) once says, ‘This town needs you and is better with you in it’. However, you soon discover that Mare has problems of her own, starting from having a grandson she is left in charge of as she lives with her mother and daughter. Her ex-husband lives next door with his fiance where somehow people seem to have a happier time than at Mare’s. The show takes its time to explain the family dynamics and the reasons behind them.

Given the failure of her last case, Mare is forced to partner up with a young and rising county Detective, Colin Zabel (Evan Peters). Zabel is intimidated, yet smitten by Mare. But in vying for Mare’s affections, he’s second in line after Richard Ryan (a charming Guy Pearce), a writer and professor who recently moved to Easttown. Mare barely has time for romance though, with the chaos at home and Erin’s murder case. 

The show is quite bingeable. Kate Winslet in a refreshing role as a rough cop with the weight of the world on her shoulders is pretty amazing. She doesn’t sound like herself but her star quality shines throughout and it’s hard to keep your eyes off of her. In Mare, Winslet epitomises the strength women hold. Peters, in the role of the romantic interest, brings more than the script asks for, creating a sweet, empathetic character. Jean Smart as the granny with wisdom to spare is excellent as always and Julianne Nicholson as Lori Ross, Mare’s neighbour and confidante, is quietly brilliant. 

The show has plenty of suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat moments. Mare of Easttown is a combination of a Russian classic novel and an Agatha Christie suspense. It is poignant while it more than satisfies your craving for a puzzling murder mystery thanks to Brad Ingelsby’s exceptional writing.