Even if you’re not from the Philadelphia area, I recommend the HBO series Mare of Easttown.
Filmed in the Philly area, there was no way I could ignore this series. The production staff went local in a hardcore way, with everything from shirts and caps representing the local sports teams, schools, and favorite spots “down-a-shore,” as we refer to the beach towns of south Jersey. Characters dropped food culture references right and left. https://www.vulture.com/article/mare-of-easttown-food-delco-philidelphia-props.html?fbclid=IwAR122AGGBGQjDe4wvF8CTnBVJf5BgvLdv1n0KrH-l_iz9oJBKWnBlytFY8M And many of the actors went out of their way to try to capture regional speech patterns and pronunciations. https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/delco-accent-mare-of-easttown-hoagiemouth-20210531.html
All of that effort created a legitimacy and believability of place. Verisimilitude, Gertrude!
Then there’s Kate Winslet. She crushed her performance as Mare, the first role in which she’s held a firearm. For viewers not obsessed with Philly Local culture, her performance alone is enough to make this must-see TV for anyone who loves crime mysteries and/or character-driven drama.
Writer and creator Brad Ingelsby’s gripping script includes speaking parts for an incredible number of actors—several of them experience significant character arcs—and is peppered with some hilarious stress-relieving moments. Winslet’s co-actors are excellent and the photography is compelling, adding to the show’s tone and atmosphere.
Casting star Winslet is probably what got the show produced in the first place, but the writing by Philadelphia native Ingelsby (son of Villanova basketball player Tom) is what makes this show special. In addition to creating a riveting story about a densely connected community, Ingelsby handles issues such as mental illness, psychotherapy, special needs children, and substance use disorder with accuracy, grace, and wisdom—no mean feat.
In interviews, Ingelsby tipped his cap to productions such as Broadchurch, The Killing, and Happy Valley. Mare of Easttown fully deserves to be mentioned in the same breath with this trio of outstanding series. In my humble opinion, I think it sets a new standard.
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
Ned Bachus is the author of Open Admissions (Wild River Books, 2017) and of the TURNING POINTS blog on nedbachus.com and on his OPEN ADMISSIONS Facebook Page. City of Brotherly Love (Fleur-de-Lis Books), his book of stories, was awarded the 2013 IPPY Gold Medal for Literary Fiction.
Ned Bachus 