A backdrop of blurred tail lights and wet, smudgy skyline frames her distinctive messy ponytail and fur lined coat, underneath which is a collared shirt peeking from an oversized cable knit sweater. In her eyes are dark rain clouds; soft gray light reflecting off cold skin and plastic in a chilling but artful way... This is the world of Marcella.
Directed by Hans Rosenfeldt and released in May, the show's content could be considered repulsive... But it is unquestionably alluring. Humans are irrevocably enticed by sex and death, are they not? (I finished the whole thing myself in maybe two or three days.)
The eight-part series presents a grim, bleak, and gritty yet stylish, sleek, and smooth world. While it, like many crime dramas, portrays detective work as seemingly glamorous, it still drops its protagonist in hot water many a time. But the crux of the show is that Marcella herself seems at times an unreliable narrator, maybe even leaning on the antagonistic side.
However, Marcella (played by Anna Friel) is a distinct and distinctly relatable character. Distraught as she may be, her emotional suffering is balanced out by severe wit and supreme intellect. Her nuclear family is shattered in a way that's rarely presented on television. The snapshot of her personal troubles is raw, painful, and uncomfortably real.
And Marcella's drama isn't exclusive to home. When a senior detective knocks on her door it is revealed that she, too, is a detective but has been on leave for some time. Once her help with an unsolved case of eleven years is requested, Marcella decides to return to work to distract herself from her crumbling marriage. This embroils her in the dirty dealings of the architectural firm employing her husband, internet chat rooms for sexual requests only, and more crudities.
But this potpourri of emotional trauma induces horrible blackouts. Marcella becomes physically violent and loses autonomy and consciousness for periods up to twenty-four hours in length. For a homicide cop, waking up covered in loose dirt and the blood of your husband's mistress is no mere misunderstanding.
In all, the series weaves a complicated, diverse, multifaceted narrative that masterfully encompasses many people that seem to have no connection, along with its respectful and realistic delivery of different races, sexualities, etc. Marcella and her contemporaries are beautifully fascinating yet normal characters with horrible issues and flawed relationships.
And yes, as always, the conclusion will blow you away.
