BY ROMEY NORTON MAY 9, 2024
Bodkin, Ireland is a small town with some big secrets. Quaint, filled with seemingly inoffensive locals, makes it the perfect place for a true-crime podcast. From reading the premise, I expected a darker version of the American hit series Only Murders In the Building, the clever idea of normal people investigating a murder and getting into dramatic antics along the way, and that is exactly what I got.
Will Forte (Nebraska), Siobhán Cullen (The Dry), Robyn Cara (Trying), David Wilmot (Station Eleven), and Chris Walley (The Last Voyage of the Demeter) star in the seven-episode thriller, and it’s some of the best acting in a dark comedy I’ve seen in a while. From the first episode, I was hooked.
SYNOPSIS
In this dark comedy thriller Bodkin, a crew of podcasters set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three strangers in an idyllic Irish town. Curiosity killed the cat? The unlikely team gets more than they bargained for and ends up in some serious danger.
REVIEW
Each actor has excellent chemistry on screen, especially when they clash. The main podcaster Gilbert and the journalist Dove are two opposites; a happy, respectful American and an impatient, determined Irish woman. Working together with the sweet and helpful, but by no means innocent, researcher. The character development is strong, there is depth to all three and their subplot backstories make them easy to engage and invest in.
There are no small parts… and it’s very true with a series like this. The smaller characters are what make this series pop. Whilst the main three are well-written and well-acted, it’s the quirky townspeople such as yoga practicing nuns that will make you laugh.
The Irish are fun people, with dark senses of humour, and at times, scary with their hard-to-distinguish accents and no-nonsense attitude. They’re also known for being a little ridiculous with their stories, swearing, and sense. I don’t think any other location or people would work with this story. The fact the small town is so suspicious and hates the podcasters creates a believable conflict. They use stereotypes like serious swearing and sheep, but it works and at times is hilarious. I once had an angry Irishman call me, a female, a “fucking wanker” so to see this happen to a female character in this series made me laugh.
The cinematography is dark and muggy, with some wet and wonderful shots of the countryside, small towns, traditional pubs, (grubby and filled with common men), and Irish landscapes.
Each episode is roughly forty-five minutes, with a gentle but consistent pace. The suspense and investigation will keep you invested throughout. Through the constantly evolving story, the series cleverly challenges our perception of truth and exposes the stories we tell ourselves to justify our beliefs or validate our fears. How far we’ll go for love, how far we’ll go for our careers, and how far we’ll create stories to do so. It’ll provoke you, play with you, and keep you guessing until the end. After all, what are we if not our stories?
The final episode is the best of the series. Filled with drama, and suspense - it’s explosive. Without giving too many spoilers, it’s a satisfying ending, filled with revelations, exposing secrets, cunning plans, eels, and an ending to the podcast.
Offbeat and eccentric, Bodkin is a first-class dark-comedy story and must-watch series for any dark comedy fans.
STAR RATING
Bodkin is streaming now on Netflix
Commentaires