What touches the series "Meir of Easttown" with Kate Winslet as a detective

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The emotional part of the story will appeal to even those who find the investigation not very convincing.

On April 19, the American HBO channel (in Russia - on Amediateka) starts the detective mini-series "Meir from Easttown". The main role in the project is played by Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA, Emmy and Grammy award-winning Kate Winslet. The very participation of an actress of this level in a television project can be considered an indicator of its quality. Winslet previously starred on the show 10 years ago in Mildred Pierce.

But this is not the only advantage of the project. "Meir from Easttown" gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the life of a small American town, introduces many interesting characters. And at the same time, it allows you to watch the investigation in the spirit of a classic detective thriller. This component sometimes does not seem to be the strongest. But the general atmosphere of the series is still captivating, making you worry about the characters.

History of the American town

The divorced Meir (Kate Winslet) is a detective for the Easttown Police Department. For the most part, it is a quiet town. There are petty criminals, people with addictions. But more often you have to go to the calls of old people who saw another suspicious passer-by.

However, a year ago a girl disappeared in the city. The police did not find her, and the mother of the disappeared, who had known Meir since her youth, never forgave her friend, who allegedly did not put enough effort into the investigation.

But now another misfortune befalls Easttown - a young single mother is being brutally murdered. Suspicion falls on the child's father, and then on his girlfriend. And while Meir and Detective Colin (Evan Peters) sent to her aid are trying to find the villain, another crime occurs.

From the first episode it is easy to understand that "Meir from Easttown" is not quite a detective story. The entire hour-long episode is devoted to the exposition, the viewer is told about the inhabitants of the city and their relationships. But this is not an artificial delay in timing. The atmosphere is even more important here than all the plot twists. This story is about people.

Moreover, the authors of the series know very well what they are talking about. The creator and screenwriter of the project, Brad Ingelsby, himself grew up in the same town in Pennsylvania. And the director Craig Zobel long ago got his hands on the filming of stories about such places: in his portfolio episodes of "Left Behind", "American Gods", the series "One Dollar". Therefore, Easttown and its inhabitants turned out not to be grotesque, but as alive and believable as possible.

Suffice it to mention one detail: in her youth, Meir received the nickname Lady Hawk for the winning shot in the decisive basketball match for the state championship. And now she is regularly honored for this achievement, although the heroine herself has long been tired of such attention. But in Easttown, nothing more striking has happened in 25 years.

The slow life of the town is reflected in both the pace of the story and the visuals. Long sticky shots, pale colors and an abundance of dialogue create a melancholic mood. And so each burst of action seems even more abrupt: the destruction of the quiet life of Easttown can not only be seen, but felt.

Life drama

With a completely typical American setting, it may seem strange that the authors decided to invite the British woman Kate Winslet to the main role. Even the actress herself admitted that the accent necessary for believability was given to her with great difficulty.

But looking at the image of Winslet, you understand that there is no better candidate. That is why the fate of the main character becomes no less important part of the story than the detective component.

As if on the character "I know it's true" of the same HBO channel, on Meir (the name, by the way, literally translates as "mare") literally all the troubles fall. The daughter is going through typical teenage problems. For the grandson - a child abandoned by his son Meir - you have to fight with his mother, who is undergoing treatment.

And here it is even difficult to say which side the truth is on. The husband, who went to another woman, settled in the neighborhood. Moreover, the authors do not turn him into a typical "evil ex." Relationships between divorced spouses are normal, but this only adds to the complexity.

Even if you remove the detective part from the series altogether, it will remain a very interesting story. Mother Meir (Gene Smart) adds humor to what is happening with her witty comments. The visiting writer Richard (Guy Pearce) is the heroine's love interest. Ironically, the actors have already played a couple on Mildred Pierce, and the chemistry between them feels great again.

Crimes and investigation only add even more complexity to Meir's ordinary life. And here again the theme of a small town is revealed. The disappearance of the girl is not just an unsolved case if you have to see her mother in the store every day. Arresting a suspect becomes much more difficult if her father knows the detective personally and can come to her house. The hero of Evan Peters who has arrived has only to wonder how Meir copes with the need to choose between duty and friendship.

But the story doesn't just focus on the main character's problems. Like Murder on the Beach (Broadchurch) or Twin Peaks, the investigation uncovers the secrets of many of the city's residents. Literally each of the heroes is going through his own difficulties and is waging an internal war, which others may not even know about.

The mother of the missing girl clings to any, even the most dubious information about her. An angry father rushes to avenge his deceased daughter, without even trying to figure out the truth. It turns out that problems and anger have accumulated for a very long time. The tragic events became just an incentive to throw everything out.

Standard detective

It may be unusual to only talk about the investigation at the very end of the review. But in this case there are reasons for this: the detective component of "Meir of Easttown" looks a little weaker than the dramatic.

This, of course, is not a failure. Moreover, the journalists have not yet shown the last two episodes, which can turn the action in the most unexpected way. But against the backdrop of the magnificent disclosure of the city and the heroes, the investigation seems too patchy, and sometimes banal.

Meir of Easttown certainly can't compete with Broadchurch for its mysteries and plot twists. Some lines are closed in just a few minutes. This, of course, brings the story closer to realism: to exclude the suspect, it is enough to clarify a couple of details. But this approach deprives the action of entertainment.

By the middle of the season, the pace of the investigation will accelerate, the authors will throw in new details and events, and then they will show a very tough turn. But still, the series for the most part will remain a leisurely thriller that conquers with a disturbing atmosphere rather than mystery.

Meir of Easttown is another good example of a dark story about the life of a small town. The elaboration of the characters and the presentation of the plot make the too standard detective line forgiven.

And Kate Winslet once again proves that she can handle any role. For the sake of one gorgeous actress, it's worth watching this series. The rest of its advantages will only be pleasant bonuses.