The new crime series Bodkin, which premiered on May 9, sets the stage for itself with a very dark sequence of scenes. In the opening we see an investigative journalist named Dove (Siobhan Cullen), who, while visiting her informant, is confronted with the fact that a person has hanged himself. Yes, the Guardian journalist is such a troubled woman who has just gotten into the morass with her latest article that it's no wonder her editor suggests she take a “vacation” and instead travel to her native Ireland and help an American podcaster of decades with what's unfolding. In an ongoing case ever since.
So the location is Bodkin, Ireland. The much-seen Dove arrives here to investigate a series with Gilbert Bauer, played by Will Forte, who has had his first successes in the true crime genre, and their newbie assistant Amy (Robyn Cara). The trio couldn't be more different: Siobhan Cullen is very good in the balloon jacket of the sarcastic and bored journalist who calls everyone out, along with Will Forte as a fast-paced, upbeat podcaster who brings his signature comedic streak to the series, and last but not least, Amy who plays… Ruben Kara, his zeal and diligence brings trouble on his head, in the person of two angry villagers.
The seven-part Netflix series is interesting to watch, if only from the standpoint that Bodkin has relentlessly dark moments that tend to be absurd and almost evoke the madness of Twin Peaks. At the same time, there are at least several humorous comments, for example, about the frivolity and destructive influence of podcasts, which make it impossible not to laugh out loud. It's clearly a crime story, so the creator, Jez Scharf, doesn't forget that this genre definitely needs surprising twists and turns. In fact, it rains down on us in 40- to 50-minute segments, as it usually rains on an average day in Ireland.
The starting point of the story is almost a typical true crime mystery, namely the disappearance of three young men about 20 years ago, which happened during a celebration that also fits into a kind of Irish Halloween, same dayThis upset the morale of the locals so much that the festival has not been organized since. Each of them tries to investigate with their own methods, Gilbert will be friends with the residents of Bodkin, but runs into walls due to his American ancestry, while Dove would rather flirt with the local undertaker before digging his nails into the case. However, he is the one who realizes that not everyone at Bodkin is who they say they are. There are smugglers hiding here, secret nuns, farmers of Alamos. It is no wonder that the entire settlement is closed to newcomers, and that the interviewees hide their noses when the heroes ask them questions.
Bodkin has a lot to hide.
This Netflix series is almost impossible to pin down at first, starting out as a series of sorts, especially since Will Forte stands out of the public eye for so long with his Scrooge-like rage. Sometimes you lament how out of focus the former Saturday Night Live comedian is. Although the adventures of tired journalist Dove among the Irish villagers would be more exciting, the character appears to have been tailor-made for Siobhan Cullen.
Then, as the series progresses, the film becomes closer and closer to a person's heart. Don't get me wrong, the case is fundamentally riveting despite its absurdity, and the action presentation is top notch, but as we delve deeper and deeper into Bodkin's fascination with the main characters, the end result becomes truly fascinating. -biting. Of course, it's also very important that the locations make a real impact, as the crew actually went to Dublin and the surrounding areas. Thanks to this, we don't get the cheesy Netflix scene falling off the screen, just a few notches better.
For the third part, Bodkin finds his voice too bland, the plot really starts to get messy, and from the moment we can recognize the crazy locals by name, a very complex little skirmish unfolds before us.
Because obviously a cold state is not very cold. Showrunner Jez Scharf is very good at playing with proportions, jokes, irony and drama, distilling some dark horror and investigative thrills, and although Bodkin has been compared to similar competitors, like the second season of The Tourist, Maybe The Woman in the Wall doesn't invent Spanish wax, but It presents a mysterious Irish story worth sitting through.
Finally, a really good crime drama from Netflix that provides us with an enjoyable 6-7 hours in front of the TV. With some shocks and some shivers. Sometimes that's enough to remember something as one of the most enjoyable disappointments of the year. Bodkin is exactly the “sleeper hit” category.
7.5/10
The first season of Bodkin can be watched with Hungarian dubbing and subtitles on Netflix.
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