Death and Other Details

It is quite obvious that this is meant to be a highbred of white lotus and only murders. And that is completely fine with me. Because in the two episodes I've seen it all seems to be paying off.

The visual style goes along way in helping this voyage be a pleasure cruise. Our story seems to take place in present day, Although the costume design and art direction say otherwise. The acting is top notch and the writing is so far good enough to keep the viewer engaged.

The story as it goes is about an unlikeable person being murdered. So we are never really meant to care about the victim. We are just here for the ride.

Today is February 6, 2024, and I just finally quit watching this series in the middle of the extremely boring 5th episode. I have to admit that I really enjoyed the series in the beginning. The first two episodes are quite exciting and stylish, but that's about it. The whole concept is stillborn, the characters are uninteresting and anonymous, the acting is unremarkable, the writing is boring for such a pre-designed genre as a huis-clos whodunit. The luxury yacht setting is embarrassingly déjà vu, and all the characters look like plastic models from a home-deco ad. There is no sense of class struggle, which ultimately seems to be the theme of the story, as everyone looks like they could be having mai-tais on Wall Street during lunch. What's interesting about shows like The White Lotus or movies like Triangle of Sadness and Saltburn is how the creators are aware that everyone looks good as a statement, and because it's either that or the highway in such deluxe hangouts. This murder mystery seems to be ambivalent about a recognizable way to present the characters and totally unaware of a better way to do it. In the end, the whole story development is substandard and very unambitious. Kudos to the lovely Violett Beane as Imogene, witty and perpetually well-coiffed.

This is series is about central character Imogene played by Violette Beane who as a child loses her mother to a car bomb and the murder was never solved.

Now as an adult she is currently a guest on a cruise being hosted by her rich best friend Lauren Patten. On this cruise there are an assortment of interesting characters each with their own personal agendas.

Mandy Patinkin shines in the role of Rufus who is a private investigator. He was never able to solve Imogene's mother's murder and now is trying to make up for it.

A series of deaths occur during the cruise which leaves everyone searching for the killer. This series takes inspiration from one of Agatha Christie novels.

I thought the series was interesting and keeps you entertained up until the big final reveal of the killer/ black mailer. Ending leaves several plot holes and doesn't make a lot of sense. Also they ended series in such a way so they can continue with season2. It would have been better if this was a mini-series with proper ending.

I feel like I've been watching for months.

I can't remember anyone's name.

The business deal is odd. People at this level should have a better ability to evaluate investment.

What episode am I on. Am I supposed to care about the death of that lady's mother. Why are there so many scenes going nowhere.

The photography is perfect. Composition and montage and lighting is all done away.

The characters are opaque. It's hard to care about them.

Rahul and Hugo make the most of their scenes.

Mandy's accent needed more work.

Violett's hair makes this feel like an SNL skit.

How am I still watching this.

Whose idiotic idea was it to have Mandy Patinkin put on the world's worst English accent for no reason? That's hard to get past, but otherwise so far this is a fun mystery with good pacing and good performances. Even Patinkin if you can get over the useless accent is good. I'm looking forward to the rest. I will say it has a very familiar vibe, so if your into Murder on the Orient express or Hercule Poirot or any of the other ensemble murder mysteries I have a feeling this will be satisfying. The modern time frame set on the vintage yacht provides a little twist on the ambience of the genre. I'm liking it. But get rid of the accent Mandy!