Entertainment
Apple TV’s Divisive 10-Episode Psychological Thriller Miniseries Is Better Than Its Brutal RT Score
Trying to create a psychological thriller with a huge mystery and then basing it on a popular true-crime story is a questionable choice at best. But in Apple TV’s The Crowded Room, it actually works, despite what the majority of critics say. Unfortunately, it received a 33% on Rotten Tomatoes, mainly criticized for its shallow and anticlimactic reveal, and while this is somewhat true, The Crowded Room‘s premise makes way for Tom Holland‘s most versatile performance on screen, which is particularly exciting after his Marvel grind. It doesn’t work as a mystery, but thrives as a character-driven show, one you’ll want to binge for their precarious fate.
Danny Sullivan (Holland) is an awkward, bullied teen with two best friends who convince him to deal drugs, a high school crush who plays with his heart, a step-father who severely mistreats him and a mother who doesn’t protect him. One day, after a particularly awful bullying incident, he finds refuge with new neighbor Yitzak (Lior Raz) and party girl Ariana (Sasha Lane) and decides to call it home. When he and Ariana decide to take vengeance on a childhood abuser, Danny is arrested and interviewed by Doctor Rya Goodwin (Amanda Seyfried). As the series progresses, Rya tries to dig for the truth about where Danny’s friends are, why he would commit these crimes, and if there are more heinous crimes yet to uncover.
Apple TV’s ‘The Crowded Room’ Is Driven by Its Multi-Faceted Characters
The biggest mistake the show commits is revealing its source material too openly, as it is based on a non-fiction book about a figure that even the most casual true-crime fans will recognize. Luckily for The Crowded Room, its appeal lies in the character-driven story, one that will make you invested in their growth and outcomes, nary of whether you’ve guessed the “grand reveal.” There is a wealth of multi-faceted, flawed, and fascinating characters to explore, including Danny’s two new roommates who straddle the line between being his saviors and pushing his boundaries relentlessly. Jason Isaacs also enters the show as Jack Lamb, a mysterious, charming figure who offers to introduce Danny to his biological dad.
Around the halfway point of the limited series, the framing narrative of Danny talking to Doctor Rya shifts and the show explores her personal life and motivations. She is an overworked mother in the middle of a grueling divorce process, simply trying to make ends meet while also pursuing her academic ambitions. Upon discovering that her thesis is about Danny, on one hand, the mystery around his situation increases, but also fleshes out Rya’s stakes and determination. At first, Seyfried’s performance is restricted to her expressive eyes from across the table to Holland, but in the second half, she wavers between distress and tenacity, which is a compelling mix. As we invest in her, we in turn care more about the case’s outcome for her research, and thus the psychological tension demands our attention until the very end.
Tom Holland Delivers a Gritty, Devastating Performance in ‘The Crowded Room’
At the center of all these vibrant characters is Danny, almost forlorn and pitiful by comparison, but who grows in nuance as the series delves into his mental health. Holland is nothing like the happy-go-lucky superhero he is famous for in the MCU, and is more akin to the angsty teenager in The Devil All the Time. But Danny is imbued with an ache to be loved and cared for, finding it in perhaps all the wrong places, while also discovering troubling things about himself and his past. It’s a harrowing performance that doesn’t really get any substantial reprieve, so much so that Holland claimed he would need to take a year off acting after production.
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Holland showed off his range in this role, but it is his performance next to Emmy Rossum as Danny’s mother, Candy, that really shines in The Crowded Room. Their turbulent relationship captures many of the misconceptions around mental health and the misunderstandings that can arise when you don’t have a stable support system. As Danny struggles to navigate his mental landscape, he also confronts how his mother failed to protect him, while Candy deals with her own demons and fears. The finale, in particular, has a moving moment between the two, one that will tug at the heartstrings of any parent as the question of forgiveness is dissected. Apart from Danny’s relationship with himself, this mother-son dynamic is one of the most evocative in the series, providing enough substance to mull over throughout the show.
The Crowded Room may have failed in the eyes of critics, but it has a wealth of character studies that make for a satisfying and thoughtful watch. Holland is at the forefront of them all, and if you’ve only watched him in the MCU, then this miniseries will change the way you see the actor as he showcases his versatility. With only ten episodes, the slow-burning thriller makes for a chilling binge — even if you immediately recognize the real case it is based on.