The tragi-comedy of Netflix is ​​the best frenzy of 2019

Spoiler Alert: This story contains details of the plot of Netflix's "Dead to Me". You may want to watch the first episode before continuing reading.

Forget the spoilers for "Avengers: Endgame" or "Game of Thrones". Netflix's new half-hour culture, "Dead to Me" (streamed, ★★★★ out of four), a tragicomedy about two women (Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini) who meet in a group grief support.

Of course, there are no frozen zombies or aliens who kill the universe, but the devastating turn of the black comedy nevertheless makes it a magnificent and poignant experience, at the same time. like the rest of the series impeccably played and written.

In order to discuss in detail about "Dead", it is necessary to explain the turn of the first episode that defines his story particularly disturbing and captivating. So be warned before continuing.

The series, created by Liz Feldman ("2 Broke Girls"), begins with Jen (Applegate), a California mother of type A with deep anger issues, is moved by the recent death to death of her husband, Ted. In a bereavement support group, she meets Judy (Cardellini), a free spirited bohemian who says her fiance Steve (James Marsden) has just died.

The two women bond during long phone calls on insomniac nights and quickly develop a deep friendship that is challenged when Jen discovers that Steve is alive and well. Judy's explanation for her lie is that Steve dropped her after five miscarriages. She needed bereavement counseling to mourn her unborn children and her relationship. Jen ends up forgiving her friend and even lets Judy move into her guest house.

At this point, the audience may be persuaded that Judy's facade was the big turning they were waiting for, but "Dead" goes even further: in the last moments of the first, we learn that Judy is the woman who drove the car. who killed Jen's husband.

Jen lives with her husband's murderer for most of her 10-episode season, while she's desperately looking for a clue to solve the mystery of her death. Meanwhile, she and Judy become closer and more dependent on each episode as Judy tries to be forgiven by supporting Jen emotionally and helping out at home. Steve, a rich and narcissistic idiot who was in the car when Judy hit Ted, tries to prevent his ex-fiancé from revealing their secret, pouring money to help the real estate company. Jen and persuading Judy to keep her quiet.

"Dead" is a rare series of Netflix that is well paced for a frenzied watch. It unfolds slowly but surely; Jen does not learn the big secret of his new best friend before the right time. The awful tension of lies hangs over Judy's head and is in direct conflict with the cold, SoCal mood, in which the two friends retire, trying to date and handle the misadventures of Jen's sons. These contradictory tones could have confused the series, but on the contrary, they blend perfectly. Every little development in the investigation of Ted's death is fraught with meaning, as is all that Jen learns about Judy's life.

The strengths are the performance of Cardellini and, in particular, Applegate. The actress, who debuted as a lost girl in Fox's brutal sitcom, "Married … with Children", offers an unparalleled performance in Jen's role, in a totally singular interpretation of grief. Jen manages her pain with anger and intensity, often hitting her friends, family and clients when she can not contain her emotions. The more she learns about the secret life of her late husband, the more she will become helpless, setting an explosive climax after all the truth is revealed.

More: Arrival at Netflix in May 2019: comedy Amy Poehler, movie Spike Lee, series Renee Zellweger

Cardellini (from "Freaks and Geeks", which we can also see very briefly in "Endgame"), manages to make a killer friendly. Judy's motivations for essentially Jen's harassment are surprisingly easy to understand and the chemistry between the two leaders is strong. Marsden gets rid of his good font and savor all the pretentious lines.

With so many TV shows, one of them, like "Dead", could slip under the radar. But one of the true joys of a world where television is so widespread is that a series as strange and as beautiful as "Dead" is realized.

"Dead" may be there in the title, but the show seems more alive than almost anything else on the air.

Automatic reading

Thumbnails poster

Show captions

Last slide next

Read or share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2019/05/03/dead-to-me-review-netflix-best-binge-binge-2019-christina-apple- gate-linda-cardelleni-james-marsden / 3625246002 /