In an age when buzzy Hollywood stars are no longer seen as slumming it when they appear on television, modern audiences have become accustomed to seeing huge names popping up for limited series runs on premium networks. HBO has especially excelled in this arena with shows like True Detective, Big Little Lies and Sharp Objects commanding the cultural conversation when their Oscar-friendly stars delve into the world of mystery and murder. When you hear Kate Winselt has taken the same route with her newest project Mare of Easttown from Brad Ingelsby and director Craig Zobel (The Hunt), you might set it aside as just another in a long line of “murder shows” you will get around to eventually. This would be a huge mistake; Mare of Easttown is not simply a deeply thrilling murder investigation narrative that leaves you riveted from episode to episode (it does do this), but it is also a fascinating character drama about a family and community grappling with grief and how it permeates everyone in different ways. No matter which aspect appeals to you, Mare of Easttown will leave you with the conclusion that it is one of the very best shows of the year.
Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet) was born and raised in Easttown, Pennsylvania and it shows. While the heroics from her high school basketball days have all but faded, she has made her mark in a different way as a detective. Being a small town, everyone knows everyone else’s business, and the Mare we meet in the first episode is one who has plenty of dirty laundry to keep people busy. This divorced Irish woman lives in a house directly behind that of her ex-husband (David Denman, The Office) and his new fiancee. It is here where she raises her grandson Andrew with her teenage daughter Siobhan (Angourie Rice, Spider-Man: Far From Home) and her rabble-rousing mother Helen (Jean Smart, Watchmen). It has not been long since Mare’s son and Andrew’s father died, and Andrew’s mother is too drug-addicted to currently care for him. Mare keeps the trauma of her son’s death buried to the detriment of herself and her family, but she is a powder keg just waiting to be set off. While she is stubborn and guarded, Mare has enough charm to be an endearing figure, but for reasons beyond her control she is on her way to becoming an outcast amongst her people.
The town of Easttown was already on edge due to an unsolved missing person’s case which many saw as a failing of Mare specifically, and by the end of the first episode another young girl turns up dead which sends the town into a frenzy. Throughout the seven episodes in this story, you will find yourself in a heated internal debate as you get to know the various suspects and what dark secrets they are hiding. There is an added layer of tension provided by the fact that Mare has basically grown up with everyone in this tight-knit community. Accompanying Mare through the investigation is Detective Colin Zabel (Evan Peters, WandaVision), a hot-shot county detective who brings an air of inexperience with him but commendations to his name. The dynamic between gruff Mare and the energetic, young Colin is one of the highlights of the series. The mystery itself takes some very dark but thematically satisfying turns. Perhaps more surprising is the amount of humor this series injects from its deep bench of characters. This is a show that does not leave you in a pit of unyielding darkness.
Kate Winslet is a performer who is known for being among the very best of her generation, and she is doing some of her all-time best work in this role. You can look at the obvious emotional highs and lows she has to navigate as she simultaneously suppresses the grief for her son while becoming fixated on solving the town crimes at any cost. Yet, there are the subtle aspects of her performance that may prove to be the most intriguing; the Philadelphia accent she adopts may sound humorous, but it is scarily accurate. She disappears within Mare on both a physical and emotional level. There is not a weak link amongst any of the cast members, and the expertly crafted script keeps everyone churning out memorable scenes every episode. While many run-of-the-mill crime shows lose their mystique as soon as you know all of the answers, Mare of Easttown is among the rare breed that you can enjoy returning to again and again without the quality dipping. This is a series that exemplifies the best of what television has to offer.
Video Quality
Mare Of Easttown comes to Blu-Ray in a stunning 1080p transfer. With this being a modern series, it stands to reason that the presentation should be without flaws, but you can still marvel at what a nice job Warner Archive did with this release. The cinematography is truly top notch as you would expect from an HBO original. The color palette is a bit muted, but there are some brilliant moments of color that pop off the screen. Fine detail is present in the production design and clothing. The vegetation in some of the locations also gives the disc a chance to shine in the detail department. Skin tones look natural throughout the season, and there are no major digital anomalies to speak of. The series looked great when I streamed it on HBO Max, but the Blu-Ray presentation has more consistent black levels and less compression by a mile. Warner Archive has done an A+ job with this presentation.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that is quite striking. The series is primarily dialogue driven, but there are also frequent thrilling sequences such as minor physical altercations that kick this track into overdrive. There is some nice ambient activity in the rear channels, especially during sequences in the police station or from nature while out in the woods. The dialogue primarily stays in front center channels and is reproduced clearly. The track does a good job of making sure neither sound effects nor the score ever overpowers dialogue. The score brings a richness to the series that fills up the room on this track. When the action kicks in, there is some heft to the low end that is appreciated in a series such as this one. This track has a substantial dynamic range that should please fans of the series.
Special Features
- Invitation To The Set: A two-minute piece in which the cast and crew set up the story, characters, and intention for the series.
- Welcome To Easttown: A three-minute piece which explores the town of Easttown, the unique sensibilities and residents that reside within it, the shooting location, the details in the production design and costumes and more.
- Mare Of Easttown – A Closer Look: A three-minute featurette which takes a closer look at the character of Mare and her journey through the investigation and personal tragedies. There are some decent insights into the elements that were most important to helping Winslet bring this character to life.
- Making Mare Of Easttown: A nine-minute featurette which details some of the various aspects that make this series so special, the character nuances that were introduced by Winslet, the dialect, the role of trauma and laughter within the story, arriving at the conclusion and more. There are spoilers about the entire series included here.
Final Thoughts
Mare Of Easttown is a masterclass in storytelling. Whether you come to the show for a murder mystery or a deeply-affecting character drama, you will be met with one of the most satisfying viewing experiences of the year. Kate Winslet is outstanding as she stands alongside a flawless ensemble who bring every character big or small to life perfectly. Warner Archive has given this series a Blu-Ray featuring a stunning A/V presentation and a couple of brief special features. There are not enough good words to describe how good this series truly is at the end of the day. It should not be missed. Highly Recommended
Mare Of Easttown: An HBO Original Limited Series can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers. It will be available beginning September 14, 2021.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.