338. Web-series Reviews – 161

More web-series reviews…

 

Death and Other Details – Came in 2024.  How do you solve a murder in a post-fact world? Especially when sailing the Mediterranean on an ocean liner filled with the wealthy and powerful. Everyone on board is hiding something. but is one of them a killer? That's what the world's once greatest detective, Rufus Cotesworth, and his protégée aim to discover. The truth at all costs.

A review from IMDB...

Whodunits have become common since Knives Out, the latest being Death and Other Details, a light comedy-mystery dealing with murder among select rich folk on a fancy boat.

The problems with the series show up early with a scene where the head of a ship's housekeeping gives the staff detailed, caustic comments about the passengers. In real life she would be fired, and they could have easily had her say it in private to her sister, or she could have given anodyne descriptions while we saw the reality revealed in snippets, but instead, it's just writing as a blunt instrument to establish the characters as quickly and lazily as possible. It's like the opposite of the scene in the first episode of White Lotus that set up a lot in a very subtle way.

At the same time, that scene actually displayed one of the series' strengths - it really wants the viewer to know what's going on. The series is constantly reminding you of who everyone is and how they connect with each other. You rarely find yourself saying, "what, who was that again?" Although at times a character does something that really doesn't make sense for that character.

So in some ways the writing is lazy, and many scenes, like crosscut suspect interrogations, you've seen a million times. Yet the dialogue can be witty and the characters are distinct and well defined. And sometimes it's genuinely clever, as in an episode where the protagonist revisits her mother's murder (it's a little wonky but genuinely fun).

The series is also lushly filmed and has some very good performances - particularly notable is Linda Emond as a starchy investigator. Mandy Patinkin is pretty fun in spite of an egregious floating accent (don't judge Mandy - it's a story-driven choice), and Violett Beane makes an engaging protagonist. She also fits the series desire for gratuitous nudity of its attractive ladies, which may please or bother the viewer.

The series is generally solid, and in spite of its issues, I watch each new episode the moment it came out. But towards the end, this went from a clever puzzle box to something bigger and fairly nonsensical, although even when the reveals were dumb and overdone, they were still genuinely entertaining.

The series ended with an inexplicable event that, while clearly meant as a tee-off for a second season, created more confusion and annoyance than intrigue. From end to end, the series is a mixed bag, but overall I really did enjoy it and would recommend it - with some reservations - to whodunit fans.

My Take – Worth a watch!

 

The Indrani Mukherjea Story – Buried Truth – Came in 2024.  With new revelations and access, this docuseries investigates the disappearance of 25-year-old Sheena Bora. It reveals the shocking aftermath.

A reiew from IMDB...

While this docuseries is underpinned by a brutal murder this seems to be the secondary focus, the real spotlight lands in the characters that make up this saga with Indrani Mukerjea taking the central position - just as she demands it. This is no shrinking violet or humble introspective woman but rather a driven, status-seeking manipulator who thinks nothing of rewriting the past to suit her current objective - claiming her dead actual walks & that she is the true victim in this case. People are clearly pawns for Indrani & she loves nothing more than being at the centre moving them all around - or in & out of - her life as she sees fit. The question posed by the series, the various journalists, the Indian media is did she, with the help of her co-accused, murder her eldest child to ensure that the secrets Sheena held about her Mother's ignominious past never reached the light of day? She seemed to be the only one of her children who Indrani had lost her power over, the others could be kept onside with either money or guilt over Motherly allegiance, whereas Sheena didn't need or depend on her Mother being in her life.

The series starts at the end - with her being jailed for the alleged murder of her first born - but then we get to see just how she ended up in this position, the early years, the people she stepped on & manipulated to claw her way to the highest strata of Indian society. The cast of characters is astounding, the many husbands - each a strategic means to an end by the titular accused - the children - who for the most part don't give a glowing recollection of their mother's past actions or character - & the people she has passed on her way up - who all use the same terms to describe her "manipulative" &/or "ambitious". It's clear that the consensus is that this is a woman who utilised the men she married to move up the classes & therefore the power structure underpinning Indian society.

What does come into focus as a salient question is the robustness & integrity of the Indian judicial system. It seems clear that anyone with enough money or power is able to buy the Police to the extent of hiding the discovery of a burnt body & then burying it. Coming from a country with one of the lowest levels of corruption worldwide this was astounding to me & left me wondering if this was able to happen with a victim's body how can the any part of Indian jurisprudence be believed? If there was one person who came across as a truthful victim of this saga - aside from the deceased of course - it would have to be Rahul, the fiancé of the murdered Sheena. Although he did not appear in the docuseries in person his love & life with Sheena prior to her disappearance was represented, as were his recorded conversations with his Father as he desperately tried to find out where Sheena was & why had just suddenly vanished one night. This is perhaps why he was positioned as the star witness in the prosecution's case against Indrani Mukerjea as he was the sole person in Sheena Bora's tragic life who persisted in asking, over the three years she had been missing, where she was & what had actually happened to her.

As the case is ongoing no conclusion was reached in terms of the verdict at the conclusion of the series but the assumption, given the 'evidence' to date & the public opinion, was that at the very least Indrani Mukerjea did indeed conspire or participate to end her daughter's life. Given what she likes to call simply 'coincidences' & the DNA verifying that the body discovered was indeed Sheena (despite Indrani STILL arguing that Sheena is alive in Kashmir) I cannot see how any other conclusion can be reached. Although given this woman's determination, self confidence & pathological narcissism I wouldn't be surprised if she is acquitted & walks as a free woman.

My Take – Worth a watch😊

 

The Brothers Sun – Came in 2024.  Just when Taipei gangster Charles Sun has finally settled into his life as a ruthless killer, his father is shot by a mysterious assassin and he must prepare to journey back to L.A. to protect his mother and utterly-unaware younger brother Bruce.

A review from IMDB...

I went into this show for Michelle Yeoh. I stayed for the Sun family. I had read some reviews in between so I was prepared to dislike Bruce but surprisingly I could understand him. He's basically the odd man out and he's barely surviving but one thing to note here is the central theme of "Protecting your family". He is real with how he reacts because who wouldn't? Honestly I would've been more annoying especially if my family is just determined to shelter me so what else can you do but focus on your life? He's dopey but makes it up with his determination to protect his family. As Michelle said about her son. He's not weak he's just a good person.

We get one pov from Charles the older brother, the experienced one vs the sheltered younger brother and they both clash. I like that dynamic of like big guy with the small guy trope. Where in the big guy isn't only a badass but also a big softie and the small guy isn't there to be protected but can kick ass too. Add to that family bonding. I loved the development between them made me wish to also have an older brother. I honestly feel so bad for Charles. His character is by far my favorite and hopefully if this gets renewed we get to see more development of his "real" personality.

The show is a mix of action comedy. It doesn't really take itself that seriously. I do wish the action has little bit more... bite? It also got slow early on but picks up again come episode 5. Overall a good binge, nothing too heavy. Just some light family action drama.

My Take – Worth a watch😊

Cheers till next time😊!