As Episode 1 "The Girl From Plainville" (2022 release; 8 episodes of about 45 min each) opens, the local cops are following up on a missing person report about a young guy named Conrad. His black Ford pickup is eventually located, with Conrad having committed suicide. When the news of Conrad's death reaches Michelle, his (supposed) girlfriend, she bursts out in tears. Her parents don't understand it, as they've never heard her mention Conrad, let alone meet him. At this point we are 10 min into Episode 1.
Couple of comments: this tv mini-series is the brainchild of Patrick MacManus and Liz Hannah, yes, the same woman who created that other current mu-see TV mini-series "The Dropout". Episodes 1 and 2 are directed by none other than Lisa Cholodenko ("The Kids Are All Right"). Not to mention that the series stars Ellie Fanning (as Michelle) and Chloe Sevigny (as Conrad's mom). In other words, there is a bunch of top talent involved with this, and it shows. Even though I remembered the starting premise from when these events took place in 2014 (that Michelle had "coached" Conrad to take his life), I was till taken aback by it all. The mini-series in essence plays out in two parallel story lines: the fall-out from Conrad's suicide in 2014, and how Conrad and Michelle met in 2012 and thereafter.
I've seen the initial 3 episodes which started streaming on Hulu. Additional episodes will be released on Wednesdays going forward. Even though this min-series is a chilling if not depressing look at the human behavior with an immense underlying sadness to it all, I nevertheless find this to be must-see TV, period. Can't wait to check out the remaining episodes. If you have any interest in mental health or why teenagers do what they do, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
*UPDATE* I've seen all episodes now, and I can only confirm what I wrote earlier. Transfixing viewing yet just sad all around. I've upgraded my rating to 8 stars as this was a terrific series, even with the sad undercurrent.
Couple of comments: this tv mini-series is the brainchild of Patrick MacManus and Liz Hannah, yes, the same woman who created that other current mu-see TV mini-series "The Dropout". Episodes 1 and 2 are directed by none other than Lisa Cholodenko ("The Kids Are All Right"). Not to mention that the series stars Ellie Fanning (as Michelle) and Chloe Sevigny (as Conrad's mom). In other words, there is a bunch of top talent involved with this, and it shows. Even though I remembered the starting premise from when these events took place in 2014 (that Michelle had "coached" Conrad to take his life), I was till taken aback by it all. The mini-series in essence plays out in two parallel story lines: the fall-out from Conrad's suicide in 2014, and how Conrad and Michelle met in 2012 and thereafter.
I've seen the initial 3 episodes which started streaming on Hulu. Additional episodes will be released on Wednesdays going forward. Even though this min-series is a chilling if not depressing look at the human behavior with an immense underlying sadness to it all, I nevertheless find this to be must-see TV, period. Can't wait to check out the remaining episodes. If you have any interest in mental health or why teenagers do what they do, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
*UPDATE* I've seen all episodes now, and I can only confirm what I wrote earlier. Transfixing viewing yet just sad all around. I've upgraded my rating to 8 stars as this was a terrific series, even with the sad undercurrent.