Bodkin is unique because of the balance between comedy and drama.
Jez Scharf developed the seven-episode series, which executive produced by the Obamas as Higher Ground's first scripted series following earlier production of highly regarded politically charged documentaries like American Factory. Although the studio has expanded to show movies like the historical drama Rustin, Bodkin is unexplored ground for the business and points toward more mainstream projects devoid of as strong of a political tinge. Bodkin signs good for this new path. Bodkin's mix of comedy and drama distinguishes her even if it falls short of Mystery Thrillers like Broadchurch or The Night Of.
Although Bodkin centers on a long-dormant mystery that begs to be solved, Gilbert and Dove's opposing ideas are the real engine of the show. Gilbert is a happy optimist whose podcasting approach is to join the community and, with friendship and trust, learn the secrets of the place. Dove, on the other hand, is a hardworking political reporter who struggles to create strong relationships and would much sooner extract the truth from a source than wait for them to provide.
Irish Charm by Bodkin Makes It Stand Out
Forte uses his comic ability and past experience on Saturday Night Live to create Gilbert a likeable, if often naive, protagonist while Cullen's character is often so sharp, negative, and impulsive as to be somewhat off-putting. Dove does improve over the show, but there are times when it's not clear how the viewers should feel about her since she rejects her coworkers and strikes out as fairly nasty and unlikable.
Bodkin's residents—who range from tech millionaire to covert nuns to psychotic fishermen—form the second central throughline. Part of the enjoyment of seeing Bodkin is examining each character and attempting to understand the meaning behind their statements and how their hidden behavior fits the enigmatic disappearance from so many years past. Even the cops seem to be hiding something. These locals produce some of the most entertaining scenes in the program since their particular gestures give Bodkin its own character.
Bodkin Returns to Mind a Real-Life West Cork Mystery
Talking about Bodkin is impossible without referencing a real-life Irish coastal mystery that had to have inspired the writer and producer. Bodkin shares many similarities with the case of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, who was killed outside her holiday house in West Cork years later and became the focus of a podcast series called West Cork. Although Bodkin's mystery differs greatly from this real-life scenario, much of the conversation about "blow-ins" and a little Irish village where everyone seems to have a secret is somewhat similar.
Bodkin is a great beginning for Higher Ground in the field of scripted series; if they maintain their high degree of production quality, they will most certainly continue to be among Netflix's most interesting partners. Strong performances by Forte, Cullen, and the other actors help Bodkin to feel as though he is living in a world with fascinating past. Though Bodkin is not among the very finest of its genre, its humorous appeal gives it a unique edge and the tonal discrepancies and occasionally complex mysteries imply are welcome additions to the realm of Mystery Thrillers.
The puzzle of Bodkin
In the dark comedic thriller Bodkin, a bunch of podcasters gather at a perfect Irish village searching for the truth behind a long-forgotten disappearance only to find a mystery more than they could have ever dreamed. This series, which is a joint production between Netflix and Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions, offers an absorbing mystery surrounded in Irish Culture and humor that periodically veers into caricatures. The peculiarities of Bodkin's people come to light as the truth behind the enigma of Bodkin gradually surfaces becomes clear—everyone has something to hide.
Starring Will Forte, Siobhán Cullen, and Robyn Cara, Bodkin is a Netflix original series The show centers podcasters searching for the truth behind three strangers vanished from a tiny community. But they find the community is hiding a darker secret as they probe.
Irish Culture as backdrop
Irish mythology, Guinness drinking, Sean-nós singing, and almost every other Irish cliché abound in references.
Bodkin's story centers on the Samhain ancient Irish celebration the village has not observed since the vanishings. Bodkin makes use of Irish Culture and legacy in more than one manner; throughout the show, there are several references to Irish mythology, Guinness drinking, Sean-nós singing, and almost every other Irish cliché available. Although the usage of Irish culture as the backdrop of Netflix films has failed in the past—as in the erroneous portrayal of Ireland in Linsday Lohan's Irish Wish—with Bodkin the writers seem to have done their study.
Now available on Netflix is Bodkin.
Bodkin takes place in a fictional West Cork town where three persons vanished 27 years prior; the truth about their vanishings was never found. The Bodkin people make it plain they would prefer let the past be the past when Gilbert (Will Forte), an American podcaster with Irish connections, Dove (Siobhán Cullen), an investigative journalist from Dublin, and Emmy (Robyn Cara), an aspirational researcher start asking questions. Although every answer the crew finds raises additional concerns, they find this is far from a cold case as they keep seeking more answers.
Bodkin's tone is the nicest thing about it since it treads the famously delicate line between comedy and drama, hence, if done poorly, it could have felt more like a parody than a convincing thriller. Though Bodkin performs better as a mystery than a comedy overall, the way the show employs humor to captivate us before keeping us captivated on a convoluted case deserves praise. Bodkin's writing and intrigue are really great, however not every joke hits as expected and sometimes these contradicting genres collide.
