Are you watching “Mare of Easttown,” the new HBO limited series on Sunday night? I was — until episode 4.
I’m a writer, and although my forte is nonfiction, I know when fiction writers are just pulling it out of their ass. And “Mare’s” writers already have hit the wall. The show has more red herrings than a delicatessen.
Around here, because the show is supposedly set in Delaware County, most of the buzz has been around the local accent — is it close to correct or not?
This is a clear case of seeing the trees and not the forest. The discussion of ahksent ignores the jaw-dropping portrayal of Delaware County denizens as imagined by Beverly Hills writers.
What you are seeing here, basically, is a show that could be titled “White Trash of Southeast Pennsylvania.”
If you haven’t been watching the show, the following synopsis won’t mean a thing to you. If you are a fan, it won’t mean a thing to you, but it’s my website and I’ve gotta get this off my chest.
The other buzz about the show is the star — Kate Winslet playing a foul-mouthed frump chic police detective in a town so small she either knows or is related to everyone she meets. And almost everyone she meets is damaged one way or another. (“Saturday Live Night” satirized “Mare” Saturday night.)
“Mare” checks a lot of boxes: Divorce. Brain cancer. Lesbians. Interracial sex. Pedophile(?) priest. Suicide. Homicide. Kidnapping. Police misconduct. Opioid addiction. I expect vampires next week.
Mare (short for Maryanne, or Mary, the credits don’t say) was a champion high school basketball player whose son committed suicide which maybe led to her marriage breaking up, and maybe to her daughter as a lesbian now dating an African-American DJ.
The writers introduced an unlikely romantic interest in the form of a guy who wrote one novel and now teaches and — zowie — Sunday night Mare’s partner wants to date her. I guess the possible pedophile priest is next.
Mare is currently on paid leave after she planted heroin from the police evidence room in the car of her dead son’s girl friend (an addict) to prevent her from getting custody of Mare’s grandson, who lives with her, along with Mare’s mother, who hides ice cream in frozen vegetable bags in the freezer.
Believe me, there’s more.
But they have so abused the rule of suspension of disbelief, I can believe no more.
Ketch yer lader, Mare.
Stu – thanks for this. We also have been watching Mare and there was a certain point in Episode 3 where I thought, you’ve got to be kidding me. A clear case of Hollywood getting ahold of the script. Thanks for the heads up. I think we’ll stop at #3. // Not sure if you’ve tried the Apple TV series, Ted Lasso. But this one I would HIGHLY recommend. Very well done. I think the first episode if for free, then you have to sign up. I think $5 per month. This series worth it. You’ll also get the Apple movie starring Tom Hanks, Greyhound, which was good. ‘morning! Bob
HAPPY MONDAY !!!
pallie,
I don’t watch much T.V., and for good reasons. We do watch Blue Bloods. After all of these years, the story lines still stay real. The show is followed by and assisted by the cops. We think that the Police Commissioner is a cross between Rizzo, and a few others that served here and elsewhere.
As for Mare. Maybe it’s a black comedy and not well written at that. Maybe it’s todays politics that really hit the toilet.
Tony
I second that Bluebood’s, Tony. Now in it’s eleventh season. Also Peter Faulk as Columbo on Saturdays. I think rated in top ten all time detective series. And the first and second season of Fargo. Billy Bob Thornton in first season is a great actor. I find no reason to pay when there’s so much free. Besides it just becomes more graphic outside of broadcast and regular cable. And then there’s sports..
Tom
HAPPY MONDAY !!!
Tommy,
After helping my better half in the gardens, I’m not interested in T.V.. I don’t even record jeopardy.
True, there were some good detective series. ( sic ) I’ll go out on a limb, being systemic racist, and mention Charlie Chan. And the number 1, 2, 3…. sons.
I’m looking for investors and I’ll give all of you Stu bloggers first shot. We’ll do a cable show of nothing but commercials ! For the owls in the group, we’ll run the European commercials.
waddayatink ?!?
Tony
Tony,
Ever since the remote I mute commercials.
Tom
Tony, I mute commercials.
Philadelphia, PA
Dear Stu, Clark and readers,
Surely you don’t believe that politics has just now “hit the toilet.” This has been going on for decades now. News long ago turned into “infotainment” and entertainment turned into (very profitable) top-down, leftward social propaganda.
Doesn’t Mare illustrate the point (on Stu’s account) that the ordinary people are (are supposed to be) incapable of ruling themselves? So much for “government by the consent of the governed” –even in suburban Philadelphia?
Isn’t the message that we really need a elite class of politicians to keep us in order and lead us around by the nose, that “government of the people, by the people and for the people” has failed?
H.G. Callaway
—you wrote—
As for Mare. Maybe it’s a black comedy and not well written at that. Maybe it’s todays politics that really hit the toilet.
callaway,
maybe you’re a lake comer, though I think that you “pick and choose”. Me for one, and many others are aware that since the ’60s, the dark side has been chipping away at our civil liberties. Our very Constitution.
Colleges and their teachers, philosophers and those that never set one foot outside of academia have been taking our youth for a one way ride. Surely, while on campus, you had to have long hair and a joint hanging from your unshaven face. Nothing much has changed with our college youth, except maybe not practicing hygienics. A coworker was one of these people. Fresh from school. Two degrees. Didn’t believe in taking a shower because “that was the ( their ) thing.
pick and choose
Tony
I commented about a show that I have not seen. Only heard comments here.
Philadelphia, PA
Dear Clark,
Thanks for your reply.
Unfortunately for your stereotype, I’m one of those few academics, who like, say, Robert Frost, started out more conservative and became more liberal –but as you may have noticed, no “woke” or counter-culture type.
You may find the following, from The Atlantic, of interest:
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/07/cancel-culture-and-problem-woke-capitalism/614086/
It seems that some folks quite admired great corporations –until they got “woke” to the profits to be lost?
H.G. Callaway
I stopped watching midway the first episode.
When I seek to see any show on Television I always check with my son for reference because he is very stable and can give me a great critique of the merits. My point is that you convincingly gave me the same overall synopsis of a show that is now on my avoidance list for which I thank you for saving my time to reach the same decision. From what you write it is a show that attempts to cover every issue currently in the news or far-left agenda so the audience that it appeals to is now looking for statues and professors that must be eliminated. Thanks for the critic’s corner review.
Philadelphia, PA
Dear Stu,
I haven’t watched any of the Easttown series, though I’ve run past the title –assuming that “Eastown” suggested something “down East” –i.e., in New England. But Delaware county is it?
I’m reminded of some of these guys making “travel” videos or rankings of places around the country: “!0 worst places in —-” & etc.
You will perhaps recall that Philadelphia used to get regularly run down in publications from NYC? (Not that there’s nothing to criticize hereabouts, mind you.) I’ve long thought that such things are a form of “sectional” economic propaganda –of the “begger your neighbor” sort.
In general terms, those chiefly benefitting from the decline of the cities in the Northeast and the Midwest (we are in that boat in my estimation, though not as hard hit as many another city and metropolitan area), are firms in the South (think Texas) and the far West (think California).
Only three of the 10 largest cities in the country are East of the Mississippi (NYC, Chicago and Philly–think how many have declined). But three are in Texas and another three in California. The seventh, West of the Mississippi is Phoenix –which just recently past Philadelphia in population.
Its hard for some people to imagine that sectional competitions within the country can turn so intense. You have to know the history, say, of the competitions between PA & NY. But did you notice that New York State also lost a seat in Congress according to the 2020 census?
H.G. Callaway
Brian and I completely agree with you. The characters are dysfunctional, slovenly and unlikeable. AND I read that the producers sent their staffs to the local WAWA’s to see how people dressed and looked. They produced the most insulting stereotypes. Kate Winslet always looks as though she just dragged herself out of bed after being on a bender the night before. Ugh.
Well, I’m no expert on Delaware County, but the writers/director were going for gritty, and they got that down. I’m watching it, and I actually am intrigued by not only the solving of the murder, but the dynamics involved when everyone knows everyone else. To me, the kinds of conflicts and ethics involved make for a more interesting story.
However, I will say Mare seems so unlikeable and difficult, it’s hard to believe anyone could stomach her constant rage and negativity, much less feel determined to date her.
THAT suspends my belief.
Stu,
How about the PBS show “Philly D.A.”? I haven’t seen “Mare of Easttown” but surely it cannot show the region as negatively as Krasner’s “reality tv” show about the operations of his office. Watch it with a roll of Rolaids.
Fully endorsed by the Inky to boot.
I have not yet seen the D.A. whitewash, but have posted about HBO’s nightMare.