The Undoing is an American Mystery Thriller miniseries directed by Susanne Bier. The story is based on the 2014 novel You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz. It stars Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Edgar RamÃrez, Noah Jupe, Lily Rabe, Donald Sutherland, and Matilda De Angeles in main roles. This series has a total of 6 episodes and was premiered on HBO on 25th October 2020 and the last episode on 29th November 2020 and is now available on HBO, HBO Max, and Disney+ Hotstar to stream.
The series starts with showing the Fraser family, where Grace Fraser (Nicole Kidman) who is a clinical psychologist, and her husband Jonathan Fraser (Hugh Grant) who works as an oncologist are living a beautiful life with their young son Henry (Noah Jupe). Grace helps other moms, which include Sylvia (Lily Rabe), whose children study in the same elite school as hers, for an auction event.
There the moms meet a new member, Elena Alves (Matilda De Angeles), a beautiful attractive woman, who soon becomes kind of intimate towards Grace, as she's so kind to her, and are constantly bombed into each other, firstly at the gym bathroom then at the auction event at the elevator where she kisses Grace. The life of Fraser's family turns upside down when Elena is found dead at her studio and Grace's husband Jonathan is considered as the prime suspect for the murder.
The screenplay of David E. Kelley is definitely engaging. The first episode opens with the Fraser family, showing their relationship dynamics, which gets very much stabilized at the first episode only, and hence whatever will happen with them, you would feel that too. The series doesn't spend extra time to get on the track of murder mystery. Elena is one I find that was ignored in terms of characterization and screen time. She is not that well developed that you will get connected to her, yes you will see she acts very strangely enough to get the attention and her death surely comes as a shock. But what she really does in her gallery is left untouched, for you to imagine, and shows only one portrait drawn by her of Grace as her achievement in her work, and the writer also didn't even care to showcase her relation with her son. But that's okay, as it doesn't hamper the whodunit drama that hard. As the drama unfolds, more and more secrets are revealed and the pasts of the characters are put forward and hence the show becomes very exciting to watch.
The mysterious and the slow burn tone of the show works in its favor. The show is very calm and slow and hence much is the impact. The bizarre relation of Grace and Elena, and presenting Elena's husband as the suspect too makes it even more interesting and full of suspense. Grace's character is very captivating, very detailed and her every single emotions and pain and assumptions about the murder are amazingly showcased, and a considerable amount of time gets to show her "walks" around New York City, as she thinks that's the way she grounds herself, add more depth and trust me none of the walking fragments from the show will bore you, as it's stunningly captured and Nicole Kidman with her extensive range of coats looks gorgeous.
Jonathan's character being the most complex and complicated one, will always make you think 'did he really killed her'. There are many shocking revelations about Jonathan, but that "no grief and guilt" could have been more explored just to heighten the mood of the drama, as it would have been dark and could have worked well. The show follows "saying rather than showing" policy despite all of that the series is very well made and is undeniably arresting from the very first frame.
Nicole Kidman as Grace Fraser is terrific and has portrayed the dilemma and suffering and struggles of her character very well. Hugh Grant has given a stellar performance as Jonathan Fraser and outshines everyone in some of the scenes, especially in the last one where he truly transforms into a "monster" as said by Grace's father. Noah Jupe as Henry Fraser is impressive and has looked innocent which has worked in the favor of his character.
Edgar RamÃrez as Detective Mendoza is good and confident in every scene. Lily Rabe as Sylvia is quite a delight to watch. She's so amazing that even in her limited screen time she's has a strong presence and I wish she would have given more scenes. Donald Sutherland as Franklin Reinhardt has given good support and has given many good scenes with Nicole Kidman. Matilda De Angeles as Elena Alves has given an impactful performance.
The series has been stunningly shot by the cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle who is known to shoot many spectacular films earlier like Slumdog Millionaire, Antichrist, 28 Days Later. The roads of New York City, the walk scenes of Graces, and almost everything are captured with perfection. The background music is very effective and suits the mood of the drama and mystery. The production design by Lester Cohen and art direction by Doug Huszti is simply mind-blowing and is of a top-notch level.
The Undoing is a very well-made series, whether you say visuals or the whodunit mystery drama or its characters, everything is spectacular. It offers many tensed showdowns faced by the characters, their dark pasts uncoverings which makes it even more gripping and thrilling. The shows at one place tend to divert into Defending Jacob mode, but hopefully, it didn't. It shows how the elites and high-class people think that they can get away from all their bad acts, as Hayley one of the characters says this. This is a perfect show for a murder mystery and whodunit lovers, with outstanding performances, excellent music, and beautiful camera work to a tight screenplay, its binge-worthy. The critics are not happy with the climax but I completed it in one go and I loved it. I'm not surprised to hear that server of HBO Max is crashing constantly because of this show, it's another blockbuster from Home Box Office.
Rating:- 4/5
Now streaming on HBO, HBO Max, and Disney+ Hotstar.
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