A modern twist to a classical “whodunnit” tale, when the life of a wealthy New York therapist turns upside down after she and her family get involved with a murder case.
“The Undoing,” an HBO limited series starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant as Grace and Jonathan Fraser, presents a happily married couple well ensconced in New York society. As a wealthy therapist, Grace patiently listens to the issues of her well-heeled, neurotic clients – always dispensing sage advice to assuage their troubles. No slouch himself, Jonathan is a well-regarded cancer specialist who possesses a wonderfully endearing and easy bedside manner.
After framing this charming backdrop, the pace of affairs picks up briskly when a fourth-grade mother is found dead in her studio, bloody and battered. The woman’s son attends the Reardon School, tucked comfortably between lavish high-rises and upscale apartment buildings. Grace and Johnathan’s son Henry (Noah Lupe) also happens to attend the same preparatory academy, thus setting the stage for a bit of intrigue.
Donald Sutherland weighs in as Franklin Reinhart, Grace’s father, and a wealthy philanthropist. Although he puts on a polite façade, it becomes clear that he is not particularly fond of Jonathan. Later he further demonstrates his ability to morph into the nicest asshole you ever met.
Matilda De Angelis as Elena Alves turns in a compelling performance as a working-class mother interacting with New York City’s upper crust – a highly judgmental coterie of vicious women who probably should get out more. In the meantime, her jealous husband, Fernando (Ismael Cruz Cordova) puts Elena’s feet to sleep, thus establishing the basis for her infidelity.
As things progress, Grace’s nosey friend Ethel (Lily Rabe) incessantly inserts her opinion about the events at hand, regardless of whether or not they are welcome. Since she is both an attorney and an exceedingly annoying helicopter mom, this hardly comes as a surprise.
Edgar Ramirez as Detective Joe Mendoza turns in another fine supporting performance, here as the skeptical investigator probing into the lives of Grace and Jonathan. His partner, Detective O’Rourke (Michael Devine) provides able enough assistance while along for the ride.
The music alternates seamlessly between modern pop titles and an urgent score from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, with the juxtaposition supporting the narrative very well – speaking of which, brings up an interesting point. In a tale rife with spoilers such as this, any attempt to summarize must necessarily be vague. Otherwise, the feints and misdirection intended to keep viewers guessing would fall flat long before the closing credits roll.
Created and written by David E. Kelley and based on the bestseller entitled ‘You Should Have Known,’ by Jean Hanff Korelitz, this sumptuous production enthralls from beginning to end. As an aside, because the advent of streaming services readily avails audiences to longer runtimes than movie theaters allow, the six to eight-episode format for adapting lengthy novels to the screen should continue to resonate broadly. Much of what otherwise might get left on the cutting room floor or out of the screenplay drafts altogether now receives the detailed attention and treatment it deserves.
A fine production all around, “The Undoing” turns in a superb adaptation of Korelitz’s 2014 novel. Though the solution to the riddle may not at first feel as satisfying as more conventional whodunits, further reflection confirms that the author makes the right choice for the resolution of this psychological thriller. Suffice it to say that in all key aspects – character development, set design, music, direction, and intricate plotting – the series rarely misses the mark.
Now available on Blu-ray and DVD
