Rent Mare of Easttown (2021)

Not bad - Mare of Easttown review by JR

It's well acted, decent story, there's nothing wrong with it but I didn't love it.

I wasn't particularly keen on Kate Winslet's character, or indeed any of the characters really. It's a very dry drama with a compelling enough story so I watched it to the end, however if there was another series I don't think I would bother.

Disappointed - Mare of Easttown review by CC

Very disappointed. Very difficult to hear and even though it is meant to be realistic, far far too much swearing.

Forgettable, Overlong,, Very Slow & Soapy Romantic Family Saga with Detective & Murder Attached - Mare of Easttown review by PV

This is a 7 part series - almost 7 hours. It should have been a 3 parter, 4 maximum. Then it might not have been so slow and, frankly, boring. It goes on and on and on - so slow, because it is mainly a soapy family drama with a detective series hidden inside somewhere. Cut all the romantic family issues flab and it would be a decent watch like True Detective first series.

I watched the first DVD - 4 episodes - then the 2nd just 2 weeks later, and had really forgotten much of it. That says it all.

There are WAY too many characters - likes, score of them, Mostly extraneous and nothing to do with the main murder plot. Apeing the Sopranos maybe, but failing. So many boxes ticked too - I bet their had a pc checklist for that!

Maybe it would appeal more to female viewers, what with all the family drama, romantic interest etc.

but the plot relies on wild coincidence, which is the sign of a weak story to be honest - the story does not emerge from the characters, as it does in great drama.

SO slow - I was clock-watching a lot. And I did not really believe in the story or the main character - or many of the characters. I found her annoying and just did not believe she would do what she does. I gets tiresome when any 'strong' woman main character gets heaped with praise - it is just SO 1979 Alien really, Kate Winslet here has one expression - and a faraway worried look no doubt to encourage our sympathy. Sadly, only inspires yawning and eye-rolling in this viewer...

Anyway, OK if you like that sort of thing BUT I shall not be watching any second series.

A real disappointment, considering all the talent involved - Mare of Easttown review by TB

As much as there has been massive critical plaudits and awards for this show and the performances, it was never really anything more than a disappointment for me. There were lots of characters and plot strands, plus a last-minute rug pull. But it never added up to much for me. I simply didn’t care. Over 7 episodes, various stories unfold, and the sheer volume is something which again means you don’t care about them.

Winslet does her best and there are some interesting musings on grief and coping with it. But there are other people who aren’t so lucky. Guy Pearce is wasted, James McArdle as well.

Strangely, the most random thing about this HBO series which shocked me in one way, considering the high quality of pretty much everything they produce, is how unbelievably "soapy" it was, in terms of the storylines and the events. At times, if it didn't have Winslet in it, it wouldn't have been out of place in the afternoon slot on Channel 5.

Finally, a lot of the critical praise is focused on the level of representation of women, minorities and LGBTQIA+ characters. Whilst it is all well and good, and there have been outstanding drama series which have this level of representation, if the script and story isn’t good, it doesn’t matter who is cast, it still doesn’t make good TV