Kate Winslet returns to the small screen after a decade-long hiatus in “Mare of Easttown.” Her last major TV role, HBO period drama “Mildred Pierce,” won her an Emmy, and she gives another awards-caliber performance in this crime drama set in small-town Pennsylvania.
A former basketball star, Mare Sheehan (Winslet), AKA Lady Hawk, is a detective responsible for the proudest moment in Easttown sports history, but her glory days are far behind her. She’s been working to find the missing daughter of her former classmate for a year with no leads, and when another young woman is found murdered, her community begins to unravel. Mare’s home life is also in disarray. Her ex-husband (David Denman) just moved across the street, and though she lives with her mom (Jean Smart), the two can’t seem to stand one another. Haunted by the feeling that she’s not good enough to be the person others want her to be, Mare’s fears seem to be confirmed when her daughter (Angourie Rice), so used to being disappointed by her mom, urges Mare’s new co-worker to “lower [his] expectations.”
Relentlessly dark and dour, “Mare of Easttown” — and Mare herself — don’t make for easy company, but are worth the investment. Despite being a limited series with a seven-episode run, “Mare of Easttown” includes some subplots that feel like filler. Still, the show’s central mystery and Winslet’s captivating performance have me hooked. “Mare of Easttown” is the Oscar winner’s latest master class — and one of her finest yet.
“Mare of Easttown” debuts on HBO and HBO Max April 18.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miQqyfO66uw&feature=emb_title
