I’ve only recently been able to enjoy what HBO Max has to offer, but so far it has not been disappointing! Yes, I missed the initial run of this superstar miniseries, The Undoing, when it first premiered on HBO, but I’m really not that far off the rest of the world so kudos to me. The six episodes had me guessing, and that made for a very entertaining ride.
The show centers on a well-to-do couple consisting of clinical psychologist, Grace Fraser, and her oncologist husband, Johnathan Fraser, and the peril that haunts them almost as soon as the show starts. But first, we are introduced into their lives, which includes a lot of face time with other well-to-do parents from her son, Henry’s school. It is at one of these committees that Grace is introduced to the slightly odd Elena.
They meet again at a fundraising event, but that’s the last time Elena will be seen alive. Yes, she had her head savagely beaten in with a sculpting hammer. Even scarier, Johnathan has seemingly disappeared and he’s the police’s number one suspect. From this moment forward, Grace’s life seems to unravel before her. It is learned quickly that Jonathan was having an affair with Elena, but equally as shocking was learning that he’d been fired from the hospital for several months. Talk about living a double life!
The cops keep grilling Grace because they think she is covering for Jonathan, but it’s very clear that she isn’t when he shows back up at the pair’s beach house. Grace looks and sounds absolutely terrified as she calls 911. From here it is clear that Grace will never trust Johnathan again even if he comes out of all of this “innocent.” Instead of casting him out of her life forever, she uses whatever resources her father can help with to get Johnathan’s bail money and the best lawyer money can buy.
As the trial looms near, the initial investigators of the case start planting seeds of doubt against Grace, but then there are also moments of doubt even cast against Henry! I loved all the twists and turns the story took to destroy any loyalties I might have had about certain characters. Smartly, peripheral characters were not put under the microscope, and instead the spotlight was planted solely on the nuclear family.
I will say though, that despite all of the meandering around the truth that happened really only led back to a sort of boring conclusion. Yes, it’s technically more realistic, but it wasn’t very climactic. I would have loved a big bomb dropped at the end, because really anyone could have done it. Regardless, it was a very engaging story. Aside from the story being told I was also a big fan of Lily Rabe and Edgar Ramirez as supporting characters. Donald Sutherland (and his eyebrows) also can’t be ignored! For six episodes of your time, I recommend giving The Undoing a chance.