113 reviews
The pluses? The cast, including the dozens of extras that add layers of believability to the odd little Irish town.
The story, a cold case about a long ago trio of missing persons, combines with a creaky Pod-cast Scooby Do adventure, and it meanders a lot. This makes the early episodes a bit slow. The action picks up in the later episodes starting with #5. However, the narrative begins to jump around a lot, flashbacks from other characters perspectives, and hops from one character to another too often.
The eventual resolution of the multiple threads is both a bit of a letdown, and a whirlpool of wrong assumptions getting vetted one by one.
The comedy isn't as non-stop as some reviews and the trailer suggests. It's dark and filled with the personal demons of the heroes complicating their efforts. The personal renaissance each person goes through is satisfying, if a little too neatly accomplished. There are some sly funny moments though, filled with irony and a lack of self awareness.
The three protagonists are conflicted individuals, performed very well by a surprising cast. Siobhan Cullen's Dove is an unrepentant b!+@# who has big problems brewing back home in London. Robyn Cara, who has made a career of playing ditzy characters, at first seems to be playing true to form, but her character Emmy reveals more depth and complexity as each episode unspools. Will Forte is an acquired taste, and his character, Gilbert, is a doofus who's made big mistakes that are nipping at his heels. He continually gets in his own way trying to be nice. Fortunately he becomes less of a tool as the season nears its conclusion.
David Wilmot turns in a great performance as Seamus Gallagher, the mysterious townsman with a scary past, who is trying to embrace a "normal" life.
I recommend it, it isn't high art but there are some laughs and good performances..
The story, a cold case about a long ago trio of missing persons, combines with a creaky Pod-cast Scooby Do adventure, and it meanders a lot. This makes the early episodes a bit slow. The action picks up in the later episodes starting with #5. However, the narrative begins to jump around a lot, flashbacks from other characters perspectives, and hops from one character to another too often.
The eventual resolution of the multiple threads is both a bit of a letdown, and a whirlpool of wrong assumptions getting vetted one by one.
The comedy isn't as non-stop as some reviews and the trailer suggests. It's dark and filled with the personal demons of the heroes complicating their efforts. The personal renaissance each person goes through is satisfying, if a little too neatly accomplished. There are some sly funny moments though, filled with irony and a lack of self awareness.
The three protagonists are conflicted individuals, performed very well by a surprising cast. Siobhan Cullen's Dove is an unrepentant b!+@# who has big problems brewing back home in London. Robyn Cara, who has made a career of playing ditzy characters, at first seems to be playing true to form, but her character Emmy reveals more depth and complexity as each episode unspools. Will Forte is an acquired taste, and his character, Gilbert, is a doofus who's made big mistakes that are nipping at his heels. He continually gets in his own way trying to be nice. Fortunately he becomes less of a tool as the season nears its conclusion.
David Wilmot turns in a great performance as Seamus Gallagher, the mysterious townsman with a scary past, who is trying to embrace a "normal" life.
I recommend it, it isn't high art but there are some laughs and good performances..
- TMAuthor23
- May 12, 2024
- Permalink
The beginning of the show was very promising, the first 4 to 5 episodes were very dark and moody with a touch of humour and good acting. The start of what seemed to be a solid story. Maybe a tad too much storylines but overall enjoyable to watch.
Some of the many characters were irrelevant to the core of the story and disappeared into thin air, a lot of loose ends. Others weren't looked into enough.
Then came episodes 6 and 7... honestly, I haven't seen such a bad ending of a show since Game of Thrones. It was a bit laughable really. Like many reviewers here I was really disappointed.
Such a shame.
Some of the many characters were irrelevant to the core of the story and disappeared into thin air, a lot of loose ends. Others weren't looked into enough.
Then came episodes 6 and 7... honestly, I haven't seen such a bad ending of a show since Game of Thrones. It was a bit laughable really. Like many reviewers here I was really disappointed.
Such a shame.
- sabrinadecuypere
- May 20, 2024
- Permalink
The dark-comedy-Irish setting works pretty well in this series. 'Ah, must be an Irish thing'-moments are mixed with comedic WTF-moments but not to the point where you lose focus.
I especially liked the performance of David Wilmot as a grunty Irish old man and Siobhán Cullen as the annoyed journalist. I hope she has the chance to star in bigger productions after this. The acting of Will Forte was a bit unfitting in the beginning but it gets better soon.
They story itself is pretty good but not masterclass. Classical thriller story where more and more is revealed during the series. Some minor plot holes in the end and unclarified things but I guess they have left them in for a possible second season.
Solid fun watch for a free weekend.
PS: Have absolutely no clue where people come from when they mention violence to animals. Not a single animal in distress is shown.
I especially liked the performance of David Wilmot as a grunty Irish old man and Siobhán Cullen as the annoyed journalist. I hope she has the chance to star in bigger productions after this. The acting of Will Forte was a bit unfitting in the beginning but it gets better soon.
They story itself is pretty good but not masterclass. Classical thriller story where more and more is revealed during the series. Some minor plot holes in the end and unclarified things but I guess they have left them in for a possible second season.
Solid fun watch for a free weekend.
PS: Have absolutely no clue where people come from when they mention violence to animals. Not a single animal in distress is shown.
First of all: I really love the absurd and hilarious scenes in this series.
For example, when a farmer offers the protagonists a lift. Next scene: the women are sitting on a tractor chugging through the countryside at 10 kilometres per hour. Cut. The whole tractor is shown from the side, lit up like a party mobile in colourful neon lights and continues to chug through the countryside at 10km/h.
The story itself is rather semi-interesting. It feels endlessly drawn out and uninteresting in places. Yes, it's supposed to represent the usual dead ends in this genre, but it's just not 'catchy' enough.
A very ambivalent series for me. Sometimes really absurdly funny, sometimes incredibly boring. But always beautifully filmed.
For example, when a farmer offers the protagonists a lift. Next scene: the women are sitting on a tractor chugging through the countryside at 10 kilometres per hour. Cut. The whole tractor is shown from the side, lit up like a party mobile in colourful neon lights and continues to chug through the countryside at 10km/h.
The story itself is rather semi-interesting. It feels endlessly drawn out and uninteresting in places. Yes, it's supposed to represent the usual dead ends in this genre, but it's just not 'catchy' enough.
A very ambivalent series for me. Sometimes really absurdly funny, sometimes incredibly boring. But always beautifully filmed.
Bodkin focuses on a trio of clashing personalities who are investigating disappearances in rural Ireland for a podcast. The early episodes are engrossing and dryly funny, particularly in the contrast between reality and the stereotypical American perception of Ireland as an idyllic ancestral utopia. As the series progresses the tone becomes darker and the narrative fragments. It gets progressively less funny but it remains engrossing. And then there's the seventh and final episode, an unsatisfying disappointment that wraps everything up with a goofy setpiece, fails to provide closure on the fate of the most interesting character, and steals its denoument directly from B. J. Novak's Vengeance.
- johnspringer-95440
- May 16, 2024
- Permalink
Bodkin starts off wonderfully -- great acting, great scenery, great direction. And Will Forte turns in a terrific performance as an overly cheery Midwestern loser trying so, so hard to redeem his life -- his acting is superb. Actually, so is everyone else's: there's not a weak link in the cast.
There is a weak link in the script, however. That superb start ends up getting drowned in red herrings and weird turns and an overly complicated plot that disintegrates by the last episode. A shame, because for at least half if not more of the show, it knowingly mixes comedy, crime and even a bit of surrealism perfectly. They just didn't know how to end it.
One other note: someone in this show really, really doesn't like dogs. If you do, you might want to skip it. Seriously? Gratuitous canine violence??
There is a weak link in the script, however. That superb start ends up getting drowned in red herrings and weird turns and an overly complicated plot that disintegrates by the last episode. A shame, because for at least half if not more of the show, it knowingly mixes comedy, crime and even a bit of surrealism perfectly. They just didn't know how to end it.
One other note: someone in this show really, really doesn't like dogs. If you do, you might want to skip it. Seriously? Gratuitous canine violence??
This was a solid show: funny, smart, and binge worthy. I read the criticisms and I don't get it. We couldn't stop watching; Siobhan Cullen is great in this, I already watched Obituary and liked her in that as well. Each character fed the story line and did their job well. The way the show poked fun at podcast series, and in turn, at itself, while comparing it to real journalism was appreciated; and it did a good job of exemplifying the relevance of both. This was not a slow series at all, every scene propels the story; it would help if more reviewers watched all episodes before criticizing. I hope there are more shows like this coming soon.
- waddupwoman
- May 11, 2024
- Permalink
But in the end, I could barely finish this thing.
The overall vibe reminded me of Hot Fuzz with Only Murders in the Building.
I've been a fan of Only Murders since s1 and was hoping this show to be pretty good. It is said to be a dark comedy but it didn't feel like it most of the time.
I also sense some Hot Fuzz vibe out of it but maybe it is because of the setting. I would honestly love it more if it was like Hot Fuzz too.
I think it was just too slow and not that interesting. I got lost in the overall plot and was too lazy to backtrack to catch up with it in the end.
So yeah... it was just another meh series for me.
The overall vibe reminded me of Hot Fuzz with Only Murders in the Building.
I've been a fan of Only Murders since s1 and was hoping this show to be pretty good. It is said to be a dark comedy but it didn't feel like it most of the time.
I also sense some Hot Fuzz vibe out of it but maybe it is because of the setting. I would honestly love it more if it was like Hot Fuzz too.
I think it was just too slow and not that interesting. I got lost in the overall plot and was too lazy to backtrack to catch up with it in the end.
So yeah... it was just another meh series for me.
- ladyliliroche
- May 10, 2024
- Permalink
An American podcaster, a research assistant, and a reluctant crime reporter are on a visit to rural West Cork in Ireland to investigate the mystery of three people who went missing 25 years ago during the Samhain festival (Halloween).
The first episode starts with Dove , the crime reporter, who is told by her deputy editor to get out of London for awhile, because the story she was working on had become too dangerous for her to remain there.
Dove is assigned to work with podcaster Gilbert (Power), researcher Emmy, and local fixer/driver, Séan. Dove's hard-nosed attitude to life and life in Ireland is a perfect contrast to the laidback American on a workingman's holiday.
The writing on this show is absolutely 'brillo'. It is a comedy mystery thriller. For me personally, this first episode has been perfect. The dialogue and story captures one of the true essences of Ireland. Expect some surprises and twists.
The casting, acting and characters bring a perfect balance to this story. This show, really entertains.
Best line so far (and there are many) - 'Sure it always rains in Ireland. Even when it isn't raining, it's raining'.
The first episode starts with Dove , the crime reporter, who is told by her deputy editor to get out of London for awhile, because the story she was working on had become too dangerous for her to remain there.
Dove is assigned to work with podcaster Gilbert (Power), researcher Emmy, and local fixer/driver, Séan. Dove's hard-nosed attitude to life and life in Ireland is a perfect contrast to the laidback American on a workingman's holiday.
The writing on this show is absolutely 'brillo'. It is a comedy mystery thriller. For me personally, this first episode has been perfect. The dialogue and story captures one of the true essences of Ireland. Expect some surprises and twists.
The casting, acting and characters bring a perfect balance to this story. This show, really entertains.
Best line so far (and there are many) - 'Sure it always rains in Ireland. Even when it isn't raining, it's raining'.
- emscontact
- May 10, 2024
- Permalink
I thoroughly enjoyed Bodkin and highly recommend it to mystery fans who like small town mysteries with quirky characters.
This was so much fun...it starts with an American podcaster named Gilbert Power, who is played endearingly by the funny Will Forte. He had success in his first podcast season solving a cold case. The key to his success was really the fact that he opened up emotionally and shared what he and his dying wife were going through. Since the first season his podcast has struggled, but he is on a trip sponsored by a British newspaper to look into a missing person's case in the small Irish town of Bodkin. To accompany him on this trip is a Pollyanna-like young assistant named Emmy (Robyn Cara) and a dour investigative journalist named Dove Maloney (Siobhán Cullen). Dove wants to be anywhere but playing sidekick to a fake journalist like the podcaster Gilbert.
The beauty of this small town mystery is all the quirky characters...like their driver Seán, who thinks he is an Albanian orphan adopted by his single mom and as such listens to Albanian rap music, Seamus who may or may not be a smuggler, Teddy who sings like an angel and is an amazing blacksmith...but has suffered a brain trauma, Maeve and Frank who live like hippies...or their own version of it "Peace, Love, and Pay your xxx debts.", a nun named Mother Bernadette who is running a nunnery that is more like a spa/yoga retreat, then there is the local boy Fintan who made big with his server farm etc and now is back home wanting to reinstate the town's Samhain...then there is the thespian undertaker...the list just goes on and on.
The town hasn't celebrated Samhain since three locals went missing twenty years prior on that night. This is the mystery that our gang of three is looking into. The podcasting element was entertaining, especially since they poke fun of it and it's popularity. The mystery was actually decent and I loved the twists and turns. The one character I found difficult to watch was Dove, her ends justifies the mean's attitude was really tiring and frankly watching her be downright cruel to people was not entertaining. The reverse was true about Seamus and his kind treatment of Gilbert especially over his troubles with his wife...which was surprisingly tender and heartfelt.
The comedy was great and we found ourselves laughing out loud...the mystery however is what really kept us involved till the very end. I loved seeing everything come together. I was able to solve parts of the mystery before they were revealed, but it didn't hamper my enjoyment.
This was so much fun...it starts with an American podcaster named Gilbert Power, who is played endearingly by the funny Will Forte. He had success in his first podcast season solving a cold case. The key to his success was really the fact that he opened up emotionally and shared what he and his dying wife were going through. Since the first season his podcast has struggled, but he is on a trip sponsored by a British newspaper to look into a missing person's case in the small Irish town of Bodkin. To accompany him on this trip is a Pollyanna-like young assistant named Emmy (Robyn Cara) and a dour investigative journalist named Dove Maloney (Siobhán Cullen). Dove wants to be anywhere but playing sidekick to a fake journalist like the podcaster Gilbert.
The beauty of this small town mystery is all the quirky characters...like their driver Seán, who thinks he is an Albanian orphan adopted by his single mom and as such listens to Albanian rap music, Seamus who may or may not be a smuggler, Teddy who sings like an angel and is an amazing blacksmith...but has suffered a brain trauma, Maeve and Frank who live like hippies...or their own version of it "Peace, Love, and Pay your xxx debts.", a nun named Mother Bernadette who is running a nunnery that is more like a spa/yoga retreat, then there is the local boy Fintan who made big with his server farm etc and now is back home wanting to reinstate the town's Samhain...then there is the thespian undertaker...the list just goes on and on.
The town hasn't celebrated Samhain since three locals went missing twenty years prior on that night. This is the mystery that our gang of three is looking into. The podcasting element was entertaining, especially since they poke fun of it and it's popularity. The mystery was actually decent and I loved the twists and turns. The one character I found difficult to watch was Dove, her ends justifies the mean's attitude was really tiring and frankly watching her be downright cruel to people was not entertaining. The reverse was true about Seamus and his kind treatment of Gilbert especially over his troubles with his wife...which was surprisingly tender and heartfelt.
The comedy was great and we found ourselves laughing out loud...the mystery however is what really kept us involved till the very end. I loved seeing everything come together. I was able to solve parts of the mystery before they were revealed, but it didn't hamper my enjoyment.
Well, I'm in just for one episode so maybe my experience is not totally accurate in relation to all I haven't seen yet but so far it is BRILLIANT!
Honestly, I started it without any expectations and was properly rewarded for it, series debut is dark, eerie, hilarious, smart and convincing all at the same time.
Written well, acted great, cast is spot on, I can't say when I was so thrilled to see next episode as I was today. Although it is not strictly comedy or thriller but a masterful mix of both, I guess it checks all meaningful boxes of both genres.
So, people give it a try, it won't disappoint!
P. S. To the person who gave it 1 star: did you even watch it? ...
Honestly, I started it without any expectations and was properly rewarded for it, series debut is dark, eerie, hilarious, smart and convincing all at the same time.
Written well, acted great, cast is spot on, I can't say when I was so thrilled to see next episode as I was today. Although it is not strictly comedy or thriller but a masterful mix of both, I guess it checks all meaningful boxes of both genres.
So, people give it a try, it won't disappoint!
P. S. To the person who gave it 1 star: did you even watch it? ...
- semen-02666
- May 9, 2024
- Permalink
Bodkin had a great begining, amazing build up and character building throughout the first few episodes, I was hooked. I was eager to know more about the different characters and how their past in this small community connected. But they somehow managed to ruin the entire momentum in the last episodes with mediocre decisons. What a waste off a great series. It really had an amazing potential to be my favorite show this year.
I would have given this show an 8-9 in rating if they would have given this show the ending it deserved. Its like they stopped taking this show seriously after 5-6 episodes.
The only reason I'm not giving it a 5/10, is because off the wonderful job the actors did portraying their roles.
I would have given this show an 8-9 in rating if they would have given this show the ending it deserved. Its like they stopped taking this show seriously after 5-6 episodes.
The only reason I'm not giving it a 5/10, is because off the wonderful job the actors did portraying their roles.
- larsbrekke
- May 15, 2024
- Permalink
I feel compelled to review some of the reviewers of this quirky, well written and acted caper in order to set the record straight.
Anyone who attempts to compare it to 'Broadchurch, 'Unforgotten' or 'CSI' has truly missed the point. It's more in the genre of 'Dead Like Me' and 'Hot Fuzz' or even 'Only Murders in the Building' only darker and with less deadpan and slapstick humor.
One who gave it a 1 rating because a dog was shot begs belief. Plus they argued it was seen writhing in blood and was purely gratuitous without contributing anything to the story. This couldn't be further from the truth. It was basically killed 'off camera' and exposed exactly what that violent family was all about. It also confirmed that they would have killed Seamus' brother and Fiona had they found them years earlier. It was a shocking and senseless act on their part which proved they meant business in their hunt for Seamus. I, for one, totally expected it. It also gave us another opportunity to witness the softer side of Seamus.
This, plus all the other low scores, don't affect it's well-deserved 7 as a show worthy of at least checking out. It's compact so it's a great binge-watch. It's either your cup of tea or it isn't.
This original series takes the viewer through many plot twists and turns with lots of red herrings and cliff hangers at the end of each episode that leave the viewer wanting more. Towards the end of episode 5, which revealed a lot of answers, I was hoping there would be more and was very happy to see the Netflix info that there were two more episodes to go.
The basic premise has been well documented by other reviewers. A positive, upbeat one-hit-wonder American podcaster (David Wilmot) who, in spite of a flagging career and financial and marital problems comes to the ficticuous west coast Irish town of Bodkin to document a 25yr old missing persons mystery.
Three people went missing during their annual pagan festival and he hopes a closer investigation of the facts for his podcast will renew his fame. He never anticipates solving the mystery but with the aid of his young, wide-eyed novice researcher (Robyn Cara) and the addition of a disgraced investigative journalist from the 'Guardian' (Siobhan Cullen), they begin to dig deeper into the mystery. She smells a real story and although her boss just wanted her to lay low with these guys to avoid censure for her part in the suicide of a whistleblower she was working with, she can't help herself getting them deeply involved and taking the podcast to a whole new level.
There are as many real life elements as stereo-typical and ludicrous ones which keep this show darting between mysterious drama and dark humor. I, personally, would have liked it to have been a bit more obviously humorous but the mystery unfolds in such surprising ways I was still hooked.
I disagree with others who felt the reveals were anti-climatic ... I think they worked well with the pacing and tone...but I have to admit I was disappointed with the ending. I wanted different outcomes for the three musketeers but that's colored by my set of values and by the fact I may have begun to take it all a bit too seriously.
It's been difficult to try to describe this inventive series without giving away any spoilers.
The acting was great from the whole ensemble, the writing clever and inventive, the pacing was a bit chaotic and the scenes a bit choppy at times but not nearly as much as in 'Hot Fuzz' which I really loved but felt it was often like different movies cobbled together in the way they switched from slick 'The Borne Identity' scenes to 'Midsomer Murders' at it's best. This was not the case here but the introduction of the incompetent and OTT Interpol agents certainly are a case in point. The show would slow down and speed up awkwardly at times and often the humor following a serious or personally revealing scene just didn't quite work for me. I wonder if the lack of fluidity was somewhat related to the switch in directors during the series. This is normal in episode fiction but perhaps a few of these directors were not as capable of keeping the delicate balance and continuity of this specific style of show as well as others. I think you have to be aware this is not going to be your typical true crime mystery series and stick with it past episodes one and two. You're in for a treat... or at least a very different viewing experience.
Anyone who attempts to compare it to 'Broadchurch, 'Unforgotten' or 'CSI' has truly missed the point. It's more in the genre of 'Dead Like Me' and 'Hot Fuzz' or even 'Only Murders in the Building' only darker and with less deadpan and slapstick humor.
One who gave it a 1 rating because a dog was shot begs belief. Plus they argued it was seen writhing in blood and was purely gratuitous without contributing anything to the story. This couldn't be further from the truth. It was basically killed 'off camera' and exposed exactly what that violent family was all about. It also confirmed that they would have killed Seamus' brother and Fiona had they found them years earlier. It was a shocking and senseless act on their part which proved they meant business in their hunt for Seamus. I, for one, totally expected it. It also gave us another opportunity to witness the softer side of Seamus.
This, plus all the other low scores, don't affect it's well-deserved 7 as a show worthy of at least checking out. It's compact so it's a great binge-watch. It's either your cup of tea or it isn't.
This original series takes the viewer through many plot twists and turns with lots of red herrings and cliff hangers at the end of each episode that leave the viewer wanting more. Towards the end of episode 5, which revealed a lot of answers, I was hoping there would be more and was very happy to see the Netflix info that there were two more episodes to go.
The basic premise has been well documented by other reviewers. A positive, upbeat one-hit-wonder American podcaster (David Wilmot) who, in spite of a flagging career and financial and marital problems comes to the ficticuous west coast Irish town of Bodkin to document a 25yr old missing persons mystery.
Three people went missing during their annual pagan festival and he hopes a closer investigation of the facts for his podcast will renew his fame. He never anticipates solving the mystery but with the aid of his young, wide-eyed novice researcher (Robyn Cara) and the addition of a disgraced investigative journalist from the 'Guardian' (Siobhan Cullen), they begin to dig deeper into the mystery. She smells a real story and although her boss just wanted her to lay low with these guys to avoid censure for her part in the suicide of a whistleblower she was working with, she can't help herself getting them deeply involved and taking the podcast to a whole new level.
There are as many real life elements as stereo-typical and ludicrous ones which keep this show darting between mysterious drama and dark humor. I, personally, would have liked it to have been a bit more obviously humorous but the mystery unfolds in such surprising ways I was still hooked.
I disagree with others who felt the reveals were anti-climatic ... I think they worked well with the pacing and tone...but I have to admit I was disappointed with the ending. I wanted different outcomes for the three musketeers but that's colored by my set of values and by the fact I may have begun to take it all a bit too seriously.
It's been difficult to try to describe this inventive series without giving away any spoilers.
The acting was great from the whole ensemble, the writing clever and inventive, the pacing was a bit chaotic and the scenes a bit choppy at times but not nearly as much as in 'Hot Fuzz' which I really loved but felt it was often like different movies cobbled together in the way they switched from slick 'The Borne Identity' scenes to 'Midsomer Murders' at it's best. This was not the case here but the introduction of the incompetent and OTT Interpol agents certainly are a case in point. The show would slow down and speed up awkwardly at times and often the humor following a serious or personally revealing scene just didn't quite work for me. I wonder if the lack of fluidity was somewhat related to the switch in directors during the series. This is normal in episode fiction but perhaps a few of these directors were not as capable of keeping the delicate balance and continuity of this specific style of show as well as others. I think you have to be aware this is not going to be your typical true crime mystery series and stick with it past episodes one and two. You're in for a treat... or at least a very different viewing experience.
- ronalamont-91472
- May 27, 2024
- Permalink
Fascinating premise and generally well acted. It was pretty easy to stay interested and want to finish the series. The setting is a bit different, which is great. The only real problem I have is the female lead playing the "journalist"- she is incredibly unlikable, abrasive, and irritating. She is supposed to be some high level journalist, but has no idea how to interview someone and acts like she is military police or something. She also violates the law to do research and this is made to seem like it is just "tough journalism". She almost ruins the entire show. Hopefully if there are future seasons, she is not a part of it.
- Balnyetnikoff
- May 31, 2024
- Permalink
American true-crimes podcaster Gilbert Power (Will Forte) is doing the cold case of three missing persons some twenty years ago in a small Irish town. Emmy Sizergh (Robyn Cara) is his accompanying researcher. Hard-nosed investigative journalist Dove Maloney (Siobhán Cullen) finds her government whistleblower source having apparently committed suicide. Her boss forces her off the case and join Gilbert despite her objections. Gilbert gleefully does his interviews while she digs deep into local mysteries.
I like a lot of this, but there are some minor issues. I really like Will Forte and his off-center comedic style. Siobhán Cullen is a great straight woman partner. I'm fine with the mystery initially until there is just one twist too many. By the time of the nuns, I throw my hands up and stop trying. While one can follow the mystery, I don't think that I want to. I would have wanted the show to do more comedy and simplify the story.
I like a lot of this, but there are some minor issues. I really like Will Forte and his off-center comedic style. Siobhán Cullen is a great straight woman partner. I'm fine with the mystery initially until there is just one twist too many. By the time of the nuns, I throw my hands up and stop trying. While one can follow the mystery, I don't think that I want to. I would have wanted the show to do more comedy and simplify the story.
- SnoopyStyle
- May 14, 2024
- Permalink
I'm digging this show! It's a fun one with a bunch of twists and turns. Will Forte is funny as usual with a great cast around him. The film quality, storyline, and acting are solid making for an entertaining show worth watching. I'm only mid season at this point so no spoilers for you but I have faith it's going to continue to be good. We just finished traveling through Ireland so it was cool to see the same scenery, slang, and why Guinness is so popular in Ireland. I'm not sure why the review needs to be six hundred characters but this is as much as I've got so I'll keep typing until about now.
- brandonwadley
- May 8, 2024
- Permalink
The show had potential, but its pacing was too slow, with numerous scenes where nothing really happened. All the content could have been condensed into half the number of episodes.
I thought they were going to do something interesting with the True Crime Podcast theme, but that wasn't done well either; the podcast thing seemed to be an afterthought. It was tagged as a mystery, dark comedy, and drama, but by trying to do too many things, the overall quality suffered. Apart from the lighting, I don't think it's that 'dark'. I also lost interest in the "mystery" due to repetitive scenes of characters saying things ominously that seemed to lead nowhere.
I thought they were going to do something interesting with the True Crime Podcast theme, but that wasn't done well either; the podcast thing seemed to be an afterthought. It was tagged as a mystery, dark comedy, and drama, but by trying to do too many things, the overall quality suffered. Apart from the lighting, I don't think it's that 'dark'. I also lost interest in the "mystery" due to repetitive scenes of characters saying things ominously that seemed to lead nowhere.
- FinleyKolapo
- May 10, 2024
- Permalink
Starts off a bit clunky but then just gets better and better and starts to draw you in.
A brilliantly flawed and complicated story full of lies, deceit, betrayal and secrets. You will have to watch until the end to see the unravelling of this convoluted tale.
And then there's the love, loyalty and commitment to the truth or lies - who knows. Some characters are not who you think they are / or maybe they're exactly as they seem??
The odd knife, gun or Semtex scenario, lots of hangovers and a bit of good Irish craic thrown in for good measure.
You might get lost in the who's who but you will work it out in the end. The past comes back to haunt them all.
A brilliantly flawed and complicated story full of lies, deceit, betrayal and secrets. You will have to watch until the end to see the unravelling of this convoluted tale.
And then there's the love, loyalty and commitment to the truth or lies - who knows. Some characters are not who you think they are / or maybe they're exactly as they seem??
The odd knife, gun or Semtex scenario, lots of hangovers and a bit of good Irish craic thrown in for good measure.
You might get lost in the who's who but you will work it out in the end. The past comes back to haunt them all.
- sharroncarson
- May 10, 2024
- Permalink
- bignuts-06245
- Jun 3, 2024
- Permalink
I hit on this by chance, and got slowly drawn in, then by episode three was hooked, and by episode five could hardly wait to finish. Perfect for a binge watch. Despite it having all sorts of unrealistic and improbable story lines, it still worked well. Perhaps sliding into caricature too frequently, the characters were intrinsically interesting even when hopelessly naive or stereotyped. Set on the beautiful Irish west coast helped of course with stunning scenery as a backdrop. The story moves along quickly with all sorts of unexpected twists and turns, and just as you the viewer thinks it can't get any more outrageous, it does. A chaotic mix of journalistic enquiry, amateur crime detection, and very, very dark comedy was quite addictive.
- mmillington554
- May 14, 2024
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The first half of the show was very captivating, and I really wanted to keep watching. The characters, especially the residents of Bodkin, were all an enjoyable addition to the series. The story appeared well-thought-out and to be going in an interesting direction. These first episodes were a fun mix of seriousness and comedy, and I liked getting closer to understanding Bodkin and its mystery.
The last two or three episodes, though, the three leads almost became insufferable to me. I was rolling my eyes at the flaws that first just made them fun, human characters but were now just getting in the way of my enjoyment of the series. Additionally, their personal growth happened quite suddenly, which added to the chaos and oddness of these last episodes. It's like I was watching a different kind of show. I am left feeling both relieved that it's over and annoyed that it's ended like this. The ending felt rushed and muddled, and it left some questions that honestly seemed unintentionally unsolved.
I would recommend this series if you like mysteries; it's mostly a fun watch. You should, however, not expect a conclusion as layered as the first episodes seem to imply.
The last two or three episodes, though, the three leads almost became insufferable to me. I was rolling my eyes at the flaws that first just made them fun, human characters but were now just getting in the way of my enjoyment of the series. Additionally, their personal growth happened quite suddenly, which added to the chaos and oddness of these last episodes. It's like I was watching a different kind of show. I am left feeling both relieved that it's over and annoyed that it's ended like this. The ending felt rushed and muddled, and it left some questions that honestly seemed unintentionally unsolved.
I would recommend this series if you like mysteries; it's mostly a fun watch. You should, however, not expect a conclusion as layered as the first episodes seem to imply.
- suzan-koenen
- Jun 29, 2024
- Permalink
This series started out a 10 and then it literally lost me.
It repeats the points of view over and over again from different angles - but not well. They lost me in Episode 5.
I am not a Will Forte fan, but have seen him in some parts where he is good and this could have been one of them, but given that the series is so convoluted, no one could shine - except for Ger Kelly and his singing!
There are some very funny parts and this could have been a terrifically funny and smart series if the power-that-be hadn't gotten in their own way. They had the cast and the location (Ireland is a character on its own!) for a hit and they missed.
Made me sad. I couldn't finish it. Too bad it got lost going around and around and around chasing its own trail.
It repeats the points of view over and over again from different angles - but not well. They lost me in Episode 5.
I am not a Will Forte fan, but have seen him in some parts where he is good and this could have been one of them, but given that the series is so convoluted, no one could shine - except for Ger Kelly and his singing!
There are some very funny parts and this could have been a terrifically funny and smart series if the power-that-be hadn't gotten in their own way. They had the cast and the location (Ireland is a character on its own!) for a hit and they missed.
Made me sad. I couldn't finish it. Too bad it got lost going around and around and around chasing its own trail.
'' Bodkin '' is a crime solving series that resebles other hit dramas like '' Only Murders in the Building '', but only because one of the main characters is trying to make a podcast out of a mystery taking place in Ireland.
The rest, is a dark comedy, intense mystery about a small town well kept secret. The so called mystery is well presented, but the ending episodes were less enjoyable comapred to the rest of the series. Also, it was nice that the series included the stories of the main leads. The ending, finally, was rushed.
In addition, the performances were all great by everyone in the cast.
The rest, is a dark comedy, intense mystery about a small town well kept secret. The so called mystery is well presented, but the ending episodes were less enjoyable comapred to the rest of the series. Also, it was nice that the series included the stories of the main leads. The ending, finally, was rushed.
In addition, the performances were all great by everyone in the cast.
- PennyReviews
- May 26, 2024
- Permalink
- cryhwks-04616
- Jun 6, 2024
- Permalink