A young immigrant woman stands accused of two gruesome murders in Colonial Canada. Her psychiatrist believes she's innocent, but will she fight for her freedom?
AT a glance:
Platform: Netflix
Episodes: 6
Episode Length: approx 60 minutes
Published: 2017
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
True story? Sort of - Click here to read the Wiki
Show/Movie comparisons:
True Detective
Mindhunter
Handmaid's Tail
The Night Of
Squid Game
Review
First of all, the fact that most people I know have never heard of this show is an abomination and proof that algorithms run our lives. A Netflix original, Alias Grace should be highly recommended to all you out there who liked Queen's Gambit, Squid Game, and Mindhunter.
Alias Grace has a low-key 99% certified fresh on Rotton Tomatoes and is hailed by critics. When it came to hardware season it was utterly snubbed by mainstream awards.
This show is a sweat-pants, late-night, deep, dark, binge. So let's get into it.
The Show
Alias Grace tells the story of an Irish Immigrant as she tries to put down roots in the new world (Canada counts).
It's a dark, well-made, murder-mystery period piece told over just six episodes. The miniseries is based on a Margret M'fn Atwood novel. You might know Atwood from her previous mega-hit novel and Hulu original show, A Handmaid's Tail.
The book, like all good crime stories, is based on some facts, some rumors, and some myths. The story, like all good true crime stories, has central themes like privilege, a possible wrongful accusation, and who the f--- did it.
The show was the first big project for Canadian director, Mary Harron whose vision was clearly one of suspense and fear.
The tone and cinematography of the show resemble darker series like True Detective, The Night Of, Mindhunter, and, obviously, A Handmaid's Tail.
The show requires complete attention like those other shows and, while bingeable, usually requires a few sittings due to the heavy nature of the content. That doesn't mean it isn't possible; I stayed up to 0300 to finish it.
The Story
We see Grace's journey from Europe to the New World with her clinical visits adding context. We know she's in trouble. We know she is accused of something awful. We don't know if she did it, why she did it, or what her involvement was at all. We really don't even know what exactly happened other than someone was murdered.
As the episodes progress, we the audience know more and more facts, but we see Grace withholding information as she appears to be giving up. This adds tremendous panic, sadness, and even anger at her for not fighting for herself.
The interview flash-forwards sprinkle context, suspense, and anticipation on the story. True Detective made this style workable for mainstream serial dramas.
In this show, the interviews are with her psychiatrist who is trying to help her figure out what she remembers and save her from being put to death.
The style mostly keeps us in the past with the main characters, but we occasionally flashforward for an in-story interview. In the end, we experience wild holy-shit moments because the past is revealed just moments before the present plays out. It's overwhelming and incredible.
And in this show, the ending is absolutely bananas.
The Main Character - Grace Marks
I started this blog series to highlight awesome stories with female protagonists and wanted to start with my favorite one.
Grace Marks is played by Sarah Gadon who has some pretty sweet credits to her name.
Despite the rollercoaster shit show that was the "most popular" Quibi series called The Most Dangerous Game, she's also appeared in the Canadian version of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a show called Letterkenny. But, you'd probably recognize her as the documentary filmmaker, Elisa Montgomery, in the third and most recent season of True Detective.
In the story, you find yourself rooting for Grace to find good work, make friends, get married, and become a good Canadian woman who makes her way in the Western Hemisphere. Her experience echos what I can only imagine was the experience for many European immigrants at the time -- one of hardship, suffering, loss, and sacrifice.
It was a hard time to be alive in the western world. Grace's experience makes one point subtly, but heavily: It was even harder to be a woman.
But, I suppose that's always been true. Even so, this show isn't a feminist lecture. You can't ascertain any sort of thesis or preachy point. It's just a story told right in your face.
Gadon's performance is jaw-dropping. She finds a way to convey a calm exterior that's hiding an utter implosion of hope as if to say "What am I supposed to do? Nothing. There's nothing to do, I'm just fucked."
Beyond her subtleties, Gadon gives Grace a voice, a soul, and more importantly, a dark side. Indeed, toward the middle episodes, Gadon starts using movement to loosely show how Grace is beginning to choose a proactive role in her own life, rather than a reactive role, which isn't always a move of triumph. In this case, the move is one of cunning.
Our Journey
By the end, you have no idea what you're hoping for. Are you hoping that she did it and could get away with it? Are you hoping that she isn't the murderer, but she orchestrated it? Or are you hoping she's a complete bystander who experiences yet another bout of bad luck?
Gadon's performance both in the psych's office and in the flashback scenes twist and lock into play like squares in a Rubik's cube. Is it getting solved? Or is it getting worse?
The theme of the show is a bit simpler. For me, the show could be boiled down to something far more basic and essential: Grace needs love and she needs her parents. She needs a basic unit of people who care about her.
Throughout the story, there are glimmers of love from friends and confidants who for one reason or another do not mature into healthy relationships leaving Grace in a toxic place.
Those essential needs, love, stability, and companionship, create within us a deep want to be with Grace to help her, defend her, enable her, and just vibe with her in what should be an exciting time.
The Ending Explained- No Spoilers
In this show, the ending is a bit confusing and can feel like it comes out of nowhere. Before I follow this post up with one about the end, my only reminder to you is that the story takes place in the 1800s and that science was still very new. That being said, the ending is not paranormal.
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