The Girl from Plainville

I have always been a bigger fan of documentaries rather than reenactments. For those of you who agree with that statement, just watch the HBO documentary "I Love You, Now Die." I started this and then realized how pointless it is to watch people re-enacting a story and there being "events that are dramatized" (as per the statement in the opening first episode) when you can just watch the real deal. Similar to The Dropout, where you can just watch The Inventor documentary about Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes.

The whole point of this review is: if you're more into that way of filmmaking, I want to make sure you know that exists as well. This isn't the only way to get this story.

I was unfamiliar with the story on which this limited series is based, and have never seen the documentary that was referenced in some of the other reviews.

Chloe Sevigney gives an excellent performance as the bereaved mother. The actors playing the lead teen characters are doing a solid job portraying how teens with serious mental health issues actually behave.

Recommend.

The flashbacks and the cuts to them "live" and together when they are just texting is very confusing. They jump around so much with little indication of where we are in the sequence of events. Acting is okay, I think Elle Fanning portrays Michelle pretty well. Could have been done in less episodes, I'm gonna power through to finish, but it drags a bit.

I couldn't believe the mediocre star rating here! Gobsmacked.

Fanning, Sevingy and Ryan are superb.

The writing, interpretation and editing are subtle, intriguing, and genuinely thought provoking.

There is room allowed to have an individual opinion, with shades of grey to how Carter and other key characters and relationships are portrayed.

I didn't know much about the case, so with no preconceptions I could appreciate it as an original creation. Perhaps my opinion would change of the reality if I read court transcripts etc. But as a fictionalised television series there is much to appreciate.

I would honestly say it's only boring if you are someone who doesn't like deep thought or a more sustained and literary style of storytelling. Or indeed, anyone who hasn't grappled with mental heath issues or complicated psychological relationships.

The show seems to jump from the past to present with no real indication. It can be jarring and annoying. This had potential to being an incredibly addictive series but it's just too dragged out and occasionally confusing. Elle Fanning is sensational though. Let's be honest - she is the reason I'll finish this series.