Mare of Easttown
Official poster
GenreCrime drama
Created byBrad Ingelsby
Written byBrad Ingelsby
Directed byCraig Zobel
Starring
Music byLele Marchitelli
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes1
Production
Executive producers
ProducerKaren Wacker
CinematographyBen Richardson
EditorAmy E. Duddleston
Running time57–60 minutes
Production companies
  • Zobot Projects
  • Mayhem Pictures
  • Juggle Productions
  • Low Dweller Productions
  • wiip
Release
Original networkHBO
Picture formatHDTV 1080i
Original releaseApril 18, 2021 (2021-04-18) –
present (present)
External links
Website

Mare of Easttown is an American crime drama miniseries created by Brad Ingelsby that premiered on HBO on April 18, 2021.[1]

Premise

A detective in a small Pennsylvania town investigates a local murder while trying to keep her life from falling apart.

Cast

Production

Development

In January 2019, it was reported that Brad Ingelsby, creator of the limited series, would write all episodes, with Gavin O'Connor directing. Executive producers include Ingelsby, O'Connor, Kate Winslet, Paul Lee, Mark Roybal, and Gordon Gray.[2][3][4] In January 2020, it was announced that Craig Zobel would replace O'Connor as director due to scheduling issues and also serve as executive producer.[5]

Casting

It was announced in January 2019 that Kate Winslet had been cast to star in the HBO miniseries that would be filmed on-location in suburban Philadelphia.[6] In September 2019, the cast was rounded out with Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart, Angourie Rice, Evan Peters, Cailee Spaeny and David Denman.[7] John Douglas Thompson, Patrick Murney, Ben Miles, Katie Kreisler, James McArdle, Sosie Bacon, Joe Tippett, Neal Huff were cast in October 2019.[8] In February 2021, it was announced that Guy Pearce joined the cast, replacing Miles in his role. In the same month, Mackenzie Lansing, Kate Arrington, Ruby Cruz, James Easter Bradford, Elisa Davis, Enid Graham, Justin Hurtt-Dunkley, Izzy King, Jack Mulhern, Anthony Norman, Drew Scheid, and Madeline Weinstein were cast in the limited series.[9][10]

Filming

Filming of the show began in the fall of 2019 in and around Philadelphia and was reported to still be in progress as of March 2020, with plans to continue through April.[6][11] However, production was shut down early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] In early September 2020, a Philadelphia news station reported that filming was set to resume within the month.[13]

Because the story is set in a fictionalized version of Easttown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is where series creator Brad Ingelsby was born, there were discussions about whether to use the "Delco accent", which is a version of Philadelphia English common in neighboring Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It was Winslet who insisted that the accent be used, despite being a particularly difficult accent to learn, because she felt the community itself was an important character in the story, and the authentic accent would help emphasize that.[14] She has claimed that it was so difficult to learn the accent that it caused her to "throw things".[15]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected by [16]Written by [2]Original air date [17]U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Miss Lady Hawk Herself"Craig ZobelBrad IngelsbyApril 18, 2021 (2021-04-18)0.600[18]
In the small community of Easttown, Detective Mare Sheehan is called on to reopen the year-old investigation into a missing girl named Katie Bailey when the girl's mother, Dawn, speaks out on the news about the unsolved case. Mare does not believe Katie will be found. She is also called to investigate a prowler supposedly peeping in windows, and a break-in where she sprains her ankle chasing the suspect. Mare has some local fame for winning a basketball game with a difficult shot in high school, and attends the 25th anniversary commemorating the game. Afterward she meets Richard, an author who recently moved to town, and the two have sex. Richard pursues a relationship with Mare, but she insists it was a one-night stand. Meanwhile Erin McMenamin, a local teenage mother, struggles to find the funds for a surgery to treat her baby's ear infection. Her abusive father Kenny refuses to pay for it, as does her ex-boyfriend Dylan, who fathered the child and has split custody. Erin looks forward to meeting Brendan, a boy she has been texting. However, when she arrives at the park where they plan to meet that night, it turns out "Brendan" was a catfish set up by Dylan's violently territorial new girlfriend Brianna, who ambushes Erin with a group of friends and beats her. This is witnessed by Mare's daughter Siobhan, who comes to Erin's aid. Erin escapes into the wilderness, but the next morning her dead body is found naked in the river with a severe head wound.
2"Fathers"[19]Craig ZobelBrad IngelsbyApril 25, 2021 (2021-04-25)TBD
3"Enter Number Two"[20]Craig ZobelBrad IngelsbyMay 2, 2021 (2021-05-02)TBD
4"Poor Sisyphus"[21]Craig ZobelBrad IngelsbyMay 9, 2021 (2021-05-09)TBD
5"Illusions"[22]Craig ZobelBrad IngelsbyMay 16, 2021 (2021-05-16)TBD
6"Sore Must Be The Storm"[23]Craig ZobelBrad IngelsbyMay 23, 2021 (2021-05-23)TBD
7"Sacrament"[24]Craig ZobelBrad IngelsbyMay 30, 2021 (2021-05-30)TBD

Release

The limited series premiered on April 18, 2021.[1]

Reception

Critical response

Mare of Easttown received critical acclaim. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 91% based on 64 reviews, with an average rating of 7.81/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Grounded by a career-best Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown's ambitions at times exceed its reach, but its central mystery is supported by such strong sense of place and character it hardly matters."[25] On Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 81 out of 100 based on reviews from 37 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[26]

Inkoo Kang of The Hollywood Reporter gave it a mostly positive review, and called it "Uneven, but masterfully suspenseful".[27]

Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of Mare of Easttown
No. Title Air date Rating/share
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)		 DVR
(18–49)		 DVR viewers
(millions)		 Total
(18–49)		 Total viewers
(millions)
1 "Miss Lady Hawk Herself" April 18, 2021 0.08 0.600[18] TBD TBD TBD TBD

References

  1. ^ a b Romano, Nick (February 17, 2021). "Kate Winslet gets her prestige murder mystery drama in HBO's Mare of Easttown trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Otterson, Joe (January 23, 2019). "Kate Winslet to Star in HBO Limited Series 'Mare of Easttown'". Variety. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  3. ^ Keene, Allison (January 23, 2019). "Kate Winslet to Lead HBO Limited Series 'Mare of Easttown'". Collider. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "HBO News - Kate Winslet to Executive Produce 'Mare of Easttown'". HBO. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  5. ^ Fleming Jr., Mike (January 13, 2020). "HBO Makes 2-Year Overall Deal With Craig Zobel As He Steps In To Direct Kate Winslet Drama 'Mare Of Easttown'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Vadala, Nick (October 28, 2019). "New Kate Winslet HBO show starts filming in Pa. suburbs". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  7. ^ Petski, Denise (September 27, 2019). "'Mare Of Easttown': Julianne Nicholson & Jean Smart Among 6 Cast In HBO Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  8. ^ Pedersen, Erik (October 17, 2019). "'Mare Of Easttown': Kate Winslet's HBO Limited Series Adds Seven To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 9, 2021). "Guy Pearce Joins HBO Limited Series 'Mare Of Easttown', Reuniting With Kate Winslet". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  10. ^ Petski, Denise (February 16, 2021). "'Mare Of Easttown': Eleven Cast In HBO Limited Series Starring Kate Winslet". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  11. ^ Bennett, Max (March 4, 2020). "HBO Show 'Mare Of Easttown' Films In Philadelphia". Patch. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  12. ^ "Episode 48: The Negotiation with David Denman". Office Ladies Podcast. October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  13. ^ "Greater Philadelphia Film Office struggling as pandemic halts movie productions". 6 ABC. September 5, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  14. ^ Adams, Sam (April 16, 2021). "Why Most Actors Won't Even Attempt a Philadelphia Accent". Slate. Retrieved April 18, 2021. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  15. ^ Travers, Ben (February 10, 2021). "'Mare of Easttown': Kate Winslet's HBO Limited Series Sets Release Date, First Details". IndieWire. Retrieved April 18, 2021. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  16. ^ "HBO's Mare Of Easttown Debuts April 18". WarnerMedia. February 10, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  17. ^ "Mare of Easttown – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  18. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (April 20, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.18.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  19. ^ "Mare Of Easttown 02: Fathers". HBO. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  20. ^ "Mare Of Easttown 03: Enter Number Two". HBO. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  21. ^ "Mare Of Easttown 04: Poor Sisyphus". HBO. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  22. ^ "Mare Of Easttown 05: Illusions". HBO. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  23. ^ "Mare Of Easttown 06: Sore Must Be The Storm". HBO. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  24. ^ "Mare Of Easttown 07: Sacrament". HBO. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  25. ^ "Mare of Easttown: Limited Series (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  26. ^ "Mare of Easttown Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  27. ^ Kang, Inkoo (April 5, 2021). "'Mare of Easttown': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 6, 2021.

External links

HBO programming
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