Television viewers know there are two types of TV shows: Those you put on as “background noise” and watch while doing other things, and those you watch. Hulu’s new series, Death and Other Details falls into the latter category. “Pay attention. Details matter.” It’s not just the first line of the series. It’s a warning. Pay attention to the screen. You’re not going to want to miss a thing.
The Premise
Hulu’s website describes the series as follows:
Set amidst the glamor of the global elite, Death and Other Details centers on the brilliant and restless Imogene Scott (Violett Beane), who finds herself in the wrong place/wrong time (okay, it was kinda her fault) and becomes the prime suspect in a locked room murder mystery. The setting? A lavishly restored Mediterranean ocean liner. Suspects? Every pampered guest and every exhausted crew member. The problem? To prove her innocence, she must partner with a man she despises—Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin), the world’s greatest detective.
Like the tone of the synopsis, the series itself feels a little bit like a good Agatha Christie novel, embraces more than a little irreverence, and is unquestionably intriguing. And, like any good murder mystery, it keeps the viewer guessing. If you can judge the quality of a murder mystery by how many times you say “What the f***?” at the television, then Death and Other Details is very good, indeed. At least by my calculation.
It’s also more complicated than the synopsis would have you believe. But that comes part and parcel with murder mysteries. And I do mean “mysteries.” In the case of this series, there’s more than one mystery in play.
The Cast
A murder mystery wouldn’t be very intriguing without a solid cast to carry it off. That’s one of the many things Death and Other Details has working in its favor. That Beane carries the show so effortlessly isn’t a surprise to anyone who saw her work in shows like The Flash and God Friended Me. And anyone who’s ever seen The Princess Bride needs no introduction to Patinkin. (He’s also known for such shows as Homeland, Criminal Minds, Dead Like Me, and Chicago Hope, but Inigo Montoya will always have a special place in my heart.)
However, Beane and Patinkin aren’t the only characters you can’t help but watch. In fact, I’d be hard-pressed to find a character who doesn’t draw your attention…and your suspicion. They all play their parts perfectly, whether it’s Lauren Patten as best-friend/pseudo-sister Anna who can definitely be trusted, surely (except…can she?). Rahul Kohli (Sunil) as yacht owner/seemingly nice guy…who can definitely be trusted, surely (can’t he?). Or Angela Zhou as…look, is there anyone we can trust on this ship???
No, probably not. The more you think you can trust a character, the more you probably shouldn’t. But the fact is, there’s something both likable – or at least compelling – about all of the characters. And there’s equally something untrustworthy about the same.
While we’re talking actors, though, I would be remiss if I didn’t give a special shout-out to Sophia Reid-Gantzert as young Imogene. One easily buys her as a young Beane. But, more importantly, it isn’t every actor – let along young actor – who could hold their own (or even steal a scene) against the formidable Patinkin. Reid-Gantzert does that seemingly effortlessly. It’s rare for child actors to be one of the strongest actors in the cast, but she is. Don’t believe me? Watch the first two episodes of the series. You won’t even need to get that far to see what I mean.
Final Thoughts
It’s hard to say more about Death and Other Details without giving too much away. Giving anything away feels a bit too much, and this is a show that you’ll want to go into without any spoilers or preconceptions. I doubt I made it ten minutes in before I had to pause the screen so I could call everyone I know to tell them, “Go to Hulu right now and set this series to record. Watch it immediately, as soon as the series drops. Don’t do anything else during the episodes. Trust me. Just watch. You’ll thank me later.”
I’ll tell everyone who reads this the same thing. If you like murder-mysteries, you’ll want to see Death and Other Details the second the episodes drop. But when you do, pay attention. Details matter.
You’ll thank me later.
Death and Other Details premieres January 16 on Hulu.
