Entertainment
Netflix’s Forgotten 7-Part Thriller Is One of the Best on Any Streaming Platform
Murder mysteries are everywhere, but they’re notably omnipresent in the podcast medium in the form of true crime. Between the widespread cultural foothold of investigative podcasts like Serial, the enduring legacy of network dramas like Criminal Minds, and inventive feature films like Knives Out, the genre became synonymous with obsession and endless consumer compulsion.
The phenomenon of murder mysteries, in both fictional and nonfictional formats, was enough to serve as the basis of one of the most popular streaming comedies in recent memory, Only Murders in the Building. The award-winning Hulu series starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez looms large over Bodkin, an overlooked Netflix black comedy that features Will Forte as an intrepid podcaster getting in on the police procedural himself, teaming up with experienced investigators. Despite similar premises, the seven-episode series probes into the psychological intrigue of our fascination with death with more weight than expected.
Will Forte’s Netflix Series ‘Bodkin’ Taps Into Our True Crime Obsession
Airing in 2024, Bodkin, produced by Higher Ground, the production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, only has one season to its name, and there are no signs of Netflix picking it up for a follow-up, which is ultimately a shame for a series that has even more potential beyond its clever setup. Created by British writer Jez Scharf, the series follows an American podcaster, Gilbert Power (Forte), an Irish investigative journalist, Dubheasa “Dove” Maloney (Siobhán Cullen), and Gilbert’s assistant and aspiring journalist, Emmy Sizergh (Robyn Cara). These strangers convene at the titular Irish coastal town to re-examine a cold case involving the disappearance of three people during a celebration decades prior. The portrayal of an idyllic, quaint town in Ireland amid the frenzy and luridness of murder and mystery will recall the films of Irish filmmaker Martin McDonagh, who has become a modern-day poet of the sacred and the profane in the nation. Bodkin captures this anarchic spirit with its distortion of murder mystery comedies, often appearing glib and wholly sincere within a scene.
Like many of the most gripping true crime stories, Bodkin begins slowly and methodically. For a series promising such a tight and engaging premise, the often stagnant process of events in the first episode will be disarming for many viewers. However, the midway point of the season highlights a sense of mundanity of the journalistic process, a feeling especially conveyed by the tried and true reporter, Dove. The constant longing for approval and admiration on Emmy’s part reflects the ignored nobility of the journalism field, as her boss, Gilbert, is more consumed with trying to obtain as many listeners as possible by finding the next hit podcast. This desperation leads to Emmy committing highly unethical journalistic practices. Unsurprisingly, the overriding beauty and folksy charm of the town reveals itself to be unseemly, a place harboring grave truths and decades of conspiracy surrounding the disappearance. By the time the later episodes tackle each character’s background and motivation, Bodkin finds its groove and distinct thematic language.
‘Bodkin’ Brilliantly Blends Intense Thrills and Eccentric Humor
There are stretches of Bodkin where comedy seems like the last thing on its mind, as the series is indebted to the cold case at hand and earnestly approaching it like a Pulitzer-winning podcast. Above all else, the series is a deeply humanist portrait of our true crime fascinations, and the trio of amateur reporters are avatars for our desire to uncover the truth in a world where reality is distorted. Their amateur status pits them up against the eclectic local community, and their most harrowing challenge proves to be certifying their worth as outsiders. No one knows more about the politics and cultural framework of Ireland than its people, who occasionally aid the team in their investigation — memorably the scene-stealer, Seamus (David Wilmont) — and they have come to live with the eerie mystery that haunts Bodkin.
Thanks to the presence of Saturday Night Live alum Will Forte, Bodkin never loses its innate comedic charm. Even at its most nerve-wracking, the series, anchored by Forte’s chemistry with Emmy and Seamus, who hilariously characterize the absurdity of everyday people trying to solve inscrutable mysteries, taps into the macabre sense of humor artists have had towards murder, going all the way back to Alfred Hitchcock. A precise blend of eccentric and gritty, Bodkin is destined for a cult following years down the line, where we all ask ourselves how we allowed this gem to slip through the cracks. In an age where true crime and murder mysteries have become meta, Bodkin tapped into this lifestyle in a smart and effortless way.
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