Locals want to bury the past in the television series Bodkin. A pod-caster and a hard-nosed journalist visit a small town in Cork, Ireland, to report how three strangers disappeared 20 years ago.
Billed as both a comedy and a mystery, you get some of each. In seven episodes, viewers are constantly tossed between the two modes. Sometimes, it’s dark, mysterious, and threatening, and then switches in seconds to comic one-liners. The music soundtrack flips between the two with regularity, so you’ll know how to feel in each scene.
If you enjoy true crime podcasts and are curious about their production process, you will get a glimpse of the countless hours spent walking and conducting interviews for a brief soundbite.
Bodkin’s Many Questions
![Bodkin: microphone representing podcast](https://totalapexentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/mic-scaled.jpeg)
Bodkin’s 7-part television series on Netflix is filled with questions. They start with the premise of reporting on the people who went missing 25 years ago on Samhain. Who were they? How did they disappear? Why did they disappear?
A hard-nosed newspaper journalist, Dove (Siobhán Cullen), must join Gilbert (Will Forte), an American podcaster, in a true crime investigation. They meet in a small Irish town in West Cork where people are friendly but secretive about the past.
Accompanied by their researcher Emmy (Robyn Cara), each sets out on their own investigation, following mysterious comments and vague references. Whenever one of them asks a question, they receive more mysterious hints that only serve to raise further questions.
Does the good guy have a violent past? What do the new-age nuns know about the long-ago Samhain night? Does the returning high-tech citizen have a clue about that night of disappearances? Is it possible for someone from another country to understand village life in Cork? When they discover missing bodies, why is one not who they thought it was?
An empathetic Seamus (David Wilmont) beguiles and befriends the podcasters, handing out one-liners and exhibiting unpredictable behavior that compounds the mystery.
All these questions add up to a mystery that builds on questions and the interplay of the podcasters.
The big question, as Rolling Stone asks,
Does ‘Bodkin’ Love True-Crime Podcasts or Want to Make Fun of Them?
It feels as though this question hangs in the air and depends on the viewer.
Is Bodkin Worth Viewing?
![Bodkin: mysterious Samhain objects](https://totalapexentertainment.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/samhainelena-mozhvilo-IW4IIBQa3zY-unsplash-scaled.jpeg)
Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash
Mystery fans will find a wealth of clues and red herrings as they follow the podcasters on their journey to the truth. Bodies pile up, adding new elements to the puzzle. And, yes, you’ll keep guessing until the end—all major plusses for mystery fans.
Comedy fans will need patience waiting for the great one-liners – which Bodkin has – to pop in and lighten the mysterious tone. You’ll have fun with the self-important Silicon Valley startup founder who wants to recreate the town.
Switching back and forth sometimes feels contrived and often jerky. The transitions are not smooth. The soundtrack suffers from the same wavering, switching from happy tinkling to dark, foreboding music in seconds.
Bodkin marks the first scripted series from Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions. Previously, their deal with Netflix had resulted in documentaries and the Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, and Ethan Hawke film Leave the World Behind.
Is Bodkin worth viewing? If you listen to true-crime podcasts, you’ll enjoy the shenanigans. If you like mystery puzzles, you’ll keep guessing. If you enjoy comedy, you’ll enjoy the “moments,” the one-liners, and Gilbert’s banal sound bites for the podcast.
Keep Bodkin on your to-be-watched list for a time when you want entertainment that’s not too deep and has light-hearted moments.
About The Author
Zara Altair is a writer and author of historical mysteries set in 6th Century Italy. She is passionate about books, film, film history, and sharing her knowledge with others. Engage with Zara, her educational insights, and her tips for fellow writers by following her on X(Twitter) and Threads. Zara is a seasoned journalist and accomplished writer with deep expertise spanning entertainment, literature, film writing, neuroscience, and health. Zara blends critical analysis with a profound passion for storytelling.