User reviews

Natalie Portman investigates several mysterious murders in Lady In The Lake, an ambitious, gorgeously staged, often magnificent yet sometimes frustratingly cluttered miniseries based on a novel by Laura Lippman. In 1960's Baltimore the murder of an aight year old girl prompts Maddie Schwartz (Portman) to gravitate away from her marriage to a persnickety Jewish businessman (Brett Gelman) and take it upon herself to not only solve that one but the apparent suspicious drowning of one Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram), an African American woman dredged up from the bottom of a lake. From there it launches into a horde of subplots that get so complicated and fill the narrative so full to the brim that at times it feels like each and every episode has enough content to be its own series. That's the issue here is that by the time all is said and done it's tough to discern or remember exactly what *was* said and was done, and there are several plot points that still feel muddy to me. Nevertheless, the performances are all excellent, Portman is fiercely committed as ever, Ingram is a revelation as Cleo as they're supported by all sorts of recognizable faces including the always terrific Pruitt Taylor Vince, Noah Jupe, Mikey Madison, Dylan Arnold, Byron Powers, Josiah Cross and The Wire's resident despicable crime kingpin Wood Harris here playing, you guessed it, another despicable crime kingpin. The attention to 60's period detail in terms of both production design and sociopolitical issues is admirable and it all feels very well mounted. But yeah.. the story is like accidentally opening a shaken up beer can and having everything inside erupt all at once over the course of seven very hectic, often disorienting episodes that should have been more measured, more paced... and far more succinctly explained at the end of the day.

It falls apart fast especially with all the dream sequences. Almost nonsensical by the end. The basic story would have worked fine as a straight mystery without all the additional fantastical elements and the weak social commentary. I know I'm supposed to admire both of those things and the crazy production design but it just does not work. I battled my way to the end of each episode and went on to the next just because I'm a completist and I do like Portman in most of her films. I cant recommend this series and I'm surprised at the range of reviews and ratings for the series here. To each his own.

Beautifully shot, well acted but ultimately dull. Far too long to get to the point. I've given up after episode two.

This should have been an hour and a half long made for television film not a short series. I really dislike when programme makers drag a story out just to make it so many episodes long. They turn a good story well acted into something that turns viewers off because of the length of time it takes to tell that original good story.

Please programme makers just make a good film! Is it because they have to pay Natalie Portman a fortune to have a name on the cast and need to get their moneys worth? I don't know but I'm bored so 5 stars and I won't be watching any more.

A drama about two women fighting two different battles to achieve a common goal. A drama about freedom told with magnificent visuals supported with great music. Dynamic set of characters that enables a wide exploration into the western society that's undergoing rapid change. Sincere performances by the cast full of expression. There are no heroines even the central characters are criticized for their selfish desperations. It's different not the typical thriller most of us come looking for yet succeeds in keeping any viewer engaged till the very end. Absence of a one central theme makes this watch even more worthwhile.

It's 1966 Thanksgiving in Baltimore. A little Jewish girl gets taken by Santa Claus. Maddie Schwartz (Natalie Portman) has a connection to the girl and has a passing encounter with Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram). Both women are mothers and struggling with the men in their lives. Both are downtrodden in different ways. Maddie leaves her husband and goes searching for the little girl. Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram) is the narrator trying to survive her corrupt boss who runs the numbers and a savvy politician looking to clean up the corruption.

This limited series starts with a problem. I don't always like narrations and this one promises something. It's Cleo Johnson talking. She claims that Maddie comes in to write about her but doesn't actually know her life while she's alive. With that opening, I expect Cleo to be dead by the first episode. Instead, it's another character and let's not talk about the twist. Basically, it promises one thing and does a switch or two switches. I actually like the style and the story until the ending. This show has some good elements like Natalie Portman, but it keeps on dropping the ball.

Started well in episode 1 but has got gradually worse.

Far too many arty / dream sequences and often lose the storyline and the point that it just feels like filler and doesn't add anything to the show at all. Just a bit pretentious.

As others have mentioned, quite a lot of messing about with the timeline which confuses things more.

Characters not likeable either.

I don't normally like giving up on a show but this is really pushing my buttons!

Saw something recently saying it is a good replacement for not getting any more Mindhunter. Absolute rubbish. It doesn't compare in the slightest!!

Drama and story-telling for grown-ups.

I can see why some people don't like this. It's not conventional and simple story-telling. The two main characters, Cleo Johnson and Maddie Schwartz are deeply flawed people. Schwartz especially so, as she is quite unsympathetic and unlikeable. Johnson's story is that of a smart person who can't stop making bad choices. I find all this refreshing and relatable. It's so much more like real life. If you're bored with it, good for you - go back to your Marvel movies or 'Emily in Paris'.

I also get to play one of my favorite TV and movie games - spot the twist in advance. I know there's one or two big ones here, but by episode three they aren't revealed, so it's fun to try and guess. Maddie Schwartz was suspiciously quick in finding a murder victim in a very remote location; something tells me that will have a bearing on things.

Kudos also to Jennifer Mogbock in episode 1. Her character is forced to sing on stage while severely intoxicated and manages to turn it into something strange and beautiful. Actually 'strange and beautiful' sums up the best about this show when it's hitting its high notes.

I just finished episode 6 and I'm annoyed more than anything. Annoyed that I've already invested 6 hours. Annoyed that I will probably watch episode 7 just because I'm a completist. Annoyed that the entire 6th episode was nothing more than a fever induced nightmarish waste of time that did nothing to move the story forward.

I'm a huge Natalie Portman fan, but her character in this series is so unlikable, it's hard to care about what happens. If you're on the fence about starting this series, save your time.

I haven't read the book, so I can't speak to how well the storyline was followed, or whether the book would be aa annoying to read as this is to watch.

The characters are strong, deep and the acting is superb. The story is good, as is the adaptation to the format. The main characters are not necessarily to be liked, but rather understood.

I'm only through the fourth episode and would binge the rest if they were available, but now I'll wait for the rest each week. The parallel storylines melt together and double the intrigue. I truly do not understand why anyone could hate on this series. I'm really enjoying it.

Too early to say for sure, but I suspect a couple of additional episodes might have helped. Some of the backstories could have used more development and depth. Overall, I'm glad that we gave it a watch and recommend it.

The series first episodes are captivating but gradually, once well within the story, starts to take you through long dream sequences which is a lazy way of bringing a little insight into certain aspects of the caracter. By the third one I was climbing up the walls and resisting the fast forward button. Great cinematography, costumes, settings but some caracteres such as the journalists are depicted in a very obvious cartoony way. Some acting is very good, some scenes not so much. This series could have been at least two episodes shorter and would've strengthened the plot. It took a little effort to plow through the last episodes.

On episode four and this viewer still has no idea what is happening, who the characters are and what motivates them. I have to agree with other viewers who found this show super confusing.

The timeline shifting around adds to the confusion. I have taken to reading episodes summaries online I understand what's happening.

Natalie Portman's put upon breathy accent is frustrating and comes across as contrived.

As for the positives: the acting is well done, as is the costuming and visuals.

It may require a second watch to understand the storyline and be able to enjoy the good.

I've decided I'll watch the remainder since I've come this far!

Review posted after watching episode 4.

Hard to understand the low reviews some people are posting - ignore them. I'm finding this to be an engaging and interesting story. I've been a fan of Natalie Portman since Leon: The Professional. Her performance here is one of her most nuanced and complete characters. The entire cast is really good, especially Moses Ingram and Y'lan Noel, who I haven't seen before, and Wood Harris who seems to be everywhere recently.

Still a long way to go in the series, but I'm enjoying Lady in The Lake and think it's worth a watch. Give it a couple of episodes, however, before forming an opinion. It started coming together for me during episode 2. I certainly feel that even after 4 episodes one cannot honestly make a final assessment of the show. However, I really want to see more of this story.

As with other Apple TV shows the production values are top notch. I am old enough to remember the 1960's and the depiction of the era jibes with my memories.s

I have not read the book the series is based on, so I cannot comment about how it follows the book.

Natalie Portman could have used the coustumes from "Mrs. Mazel" just as easily followed by the old Baltimore sets from "The Wire"--and it would have looked just as good.

I've added an extra star for Slappy, the comedian, due to his Richard Pryor/ Redd Foxx stand-up routines. The rest of the club entertainment was below par.

The whole show was heavy with cliché-after-cliché; the cops on the take, the Jewish jeweler and slumlord, the drugged-up star performer, the evilclub owner...

Maybe this all looked good on paper and sounded like a solid series until somebody added in a committee with final input, thenthe story deviated into a bad dream.

I've watched like everything, and I mean everything, available streaming lately. This is so well done! I don't understand why people have an issue with it or can't see how well done it is. It's situations like this where I don't ever know whether I can actually believe reviews. Perhaps the intelligent writing a nuance are too much for simpler minds. Definitely add this to your watch list. Natalie Portman is amazing as are Moses Ingram and Mikey Madison (haven't seen her since the AMAZING "Better Things as Pamela Adelon's eldest daughter - her acting is so well done I had no idea for the first couple of episodes it was even her).

The whole cast is amazing and this is seriously one of the best shows I've seen recently. I can't believe that people are saying it's a "snoozer" or not well done. The only thing I'm mad about is that I stumbled upon it before all the episodes were out because I can't deal with not being able to see all of it at once!

Maybe I'm finding it boring because I'm on episode six and I still have no idea what it's about. I have been determined to get through it and figure it out, but it is extremely boring to watch when I don't understand the plot or anything about it. This is normally not something that happens to me. I might give up a series because it's too violent, or I don't find it interesting but never before have I watched a series where I remain clueless as to the plot. It is a terrible story in my opinion. Out of principle, I'm trying to watch it through to the end, but being this board makes it very difficult.

It's really too bad that review bombing is a thing. I can't imagine that any of the 2 or 3 star reviewers even watched... and people without the capacity to understand the story? Why would they review at all?

The story and acting in this steamy set piece is absolutely top notch and although you know from the beginning where it's going, the ride is a blast. It shows Baltimore of the 60's without seeming trite or dated; good and evil without getting preachy and race relations of the time (and now) without flinching.

If you like to think about what you're watching while you're watching it, I highly recommend that you give it a try.

Another festival of retro art direction, and minority/feminist social history, cf Mad Men, Mrs Maisel etc etc. Which is a worthy thing, but does not autmatically make a drama any better than if it was competently written and directed. Lady In The Lake is just about ok as historical docudrama (+1 star), but as a thriller, it simply doesn't cut it.

Multiple lead characters - not subplotting (and no hero/ine), no clear conflict (everybody's in conflict for its own sake), obtrusive incidental music, oh and a warm welcome back to wobbly camera. And what are we supposed to be in suspense about, again? Tessie Durst is missing. And Wally's brisket gets thrown away. If we're supposed to care because, 'wow, it's Natalie Portman', i have news.

I just finished this series and I was completely blown away at how incredibly creative and solid the storytelling was.

Excellent script, acting and direction. Powerful use of music and beautifully photographed. I highly recommend people watch this and not look at the undeserved average rating that it's getting.

It's a seven episode series and although it was completely satisfying and a great story I didn't want it to end. Natalie Portman gave a solid performance as did Wood Harrison. But the brightest light for me was the actress Moses Ingram. (Who also starred in The Queen's Gambit) Every scene she was in had me glued.

Great job to the whole cast and crew. Bravo to the director.

Portman's character is awful. Just unlikeable and awful. Of course I feel the only one close to being a protagonist is Cleo (Moses Ingram) but then she just does something so stupid and dangerous which is obviously completely against her character. Maybe the position she was in justifies it, demands it but still..she was the only bright spot in my very humble opinion. I'm no expert on anything to do with making shows/movies etc, but there is just something off with the execution of this. And I'm annoyed every second Natalie Portman's Maddie is on screen. She's just so annoying and unlikable. I'm repeating myself lol.