Death and Other Details

Today is February 6, 2024, and I just finally quit watching this series in the middle of the extremely boring 5th episode. I have to admit that I really enjoyed the series in the beginning. The first two episodes are quite exciting and stylish, but that's about it. The whole concept is stillborn, the characters are uninteresting and anonymous, the acting is unremarkable, the writing is boring for such a pre-designed genre as a huis-clos whodunit. The luxury yacht setting is embarrassingly déjà vu, and all the characters look like plastic models from a home-deco ad. There is no sense of class struggle, which ultimately seems to be the theme of the story, as everyone looks like they could be having mai-tais on Wall Street during lunch. What's interesting about shows like The White Lotus or movies like Triangle of Sadness and Saltburn is how the creators are aware that everyone looks good as a statement, and because it's either that or the highway in such deluxe hangouts. This murder mystery seems to be ambivalent about a recognizable way to present the characters and totally unaware of a better way to do it. In the end, the whole story development is substandard and very unambitious. Kudos to the lovely Violett Beane as Imogene, witty and perpetually well-coiffed.

I have seen a lot of mystery series lately from the big movies like glass onion and death on the nile to only murders in the building and the white lotus. The list goes on, but none of them felt like a good mystery. Death and other details on the other hand had me crying. Not due to sadness, but because the mystery is so good. At a certain point you start feeling like the show is about to wrap up, and then the mystery just kicks in so hard it left me in tears. This before the truth was even revealed. I dont get how people are saying this is bad compared to the long list of other mystery series. Clearly people are fangirling over Selena Gomez. I like her too, but Only murders is so boring to me. This show "Death and other details" was anything but.

If you are looking for a good mystery and a good time, then I personally recommend you give this one a go. I now need a second season. I did like The white lotus. Not so much for it's mystery but for it's commentary and silly characters/over the top comedy.

This show however had me hooked, and the ending is crazy! The characters are awesome, and who they all truly are unfolds beautifully. I'm trying really hard not to give shows a 10/10, but if I did, then this would get it! Dont let Only murders fans stop you from watching this, cuz to me this one is so much better.

I was planning on ending my review here, but I need to give credit to the cast (Picking out favourites is impossible as they all nail their roles), the writers, costume department, not to mention the special effects team (especially towards the ending) and pretty much everyone involved. I really hope people give this a go like I did, even tho the reviews had me a bit nervous. Wich is also why I decided to write my own. Something I dont do very often. This was finally a win for me when it comes to the mystery genre. This one truly felt well thought out.

Imogene Scott (Violett Beane) is a guest of her rich best friend Anna Collier (Lauren Patten) on an oceanliner. As a child, Imogene lost her mother in a car bombing and celebrated private investigator Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin) failed to solve the case. She was raised by the Collier family. While on the ocean cruise, Anna is in negotiations with the Chun family for a corporate takeover. Imogene is shocked that Chuns have hired Cotesworth. She is further annoyed by Anna's loser brother Tripp's entitled investor Keith. She plays a prank on him who later turns up murdered.

This is part Agatha Christie and part White Lotus. It is nowhere near as good as the best of either. It does have some fun with the mixture. It is pretty good for most of its run until the show gets to the season's big reveal. That reveal presents me with some problems. This really should be a limited series, but it seems to have left the closing open-ended. I hope that there is no second season.

I must admit I am a sucker for mystery TV shows and a whodunnit gets my juices flowing but this just mystery is dragging. Like who did it already? I'm at episode 8 and I'm fatigued. That is one of my pet peeves with whodunnit mysteries. This show could have easily been 8 solid episodes.

However, one thing I did like is how they placed Imogene in Coatsworth's clothes and set as they are recollecting past events. That was pretty inventive. Other than that, it has been an ok ride. The characters are too many. I would have liked more character development for the Collier family and the Mayor. The Priest character seems just as unnecessary as the social media influencer son.

Nevertheless, I have already invested 8 weeks...what's 2 more lol. Let's hope I don't regret it.

Whose idiotic idea was it to have Mandy Patinkin put on the world's worst English accent for no reason? That's hard to get past, but otherwise so far this is a fun mystery with good pacing and good performances. Even Patinkin if you can get over the useless accent is good. I'm looking forward to the rest. I will say it has a very familiar vibe, so if your into Murder on the Orient express or Hercule Poirot or any of the other ensemble murder mysteries I have a feeling this will be satisfying. The modern time frame set on the vintage yacht provides a little twist on the ambience of the genre. I'm liking it. But get rid of the accent Mandy!