Bodkin is not Shakespeare by any stretch of the imagination, but is it bare? A silly play on words here, but can anyone who played a role by the Baird not? And is series creator Jez Scharf actually having a laugh with the setting? Hamlet this isn’t but the dramedy/thriller may be sharper than you think.
synopsis
American true crime podcaster Gilbert (Will Forte) and his researcher Emmy (Robyn Cara) head to the small Irish village of Bodkin. They want to solve an old vanishing act that occured 25 years ago. Investigative journalist Dove (Siobhán Cullen) is forced to tag along after her informant kills himself.
Dove is annoyed that she must be part of the true crime podcast world. Podcasts about crimes unsolved is a fairly recent phenomena that Dove says is not real journalism.
The trio arrive in the quaint village of Bodkin and quirkiness ensues.
thoughts
Bodkin is not an in your face comedy/thriller. There are no broad brushstrokes here. This is not The Quiet Man, John Ford’s personal love letter to Erin go bragh. No, this has a touch of the quirky without relying too heavily on Irish stereotypes.
It does rely, however, on a certain level of the “average” American figure. The podcaster is overly enthusiastic and just this side of gormless. Dove tells her boss that Gilbert “thinks he’s in Disneyland.” You can be forgiven for thinking that one character’s cliched appearance does drag the tone of the show down.
But there are some things that Scharf gets right.
Do you know them?
When the Bed and breakfast owner; Mrs O’Shea, played admirably by Pom Boyd, learns that Gilbert is from Chicago, she relates that a couple from the windy city stayed with her before. Struggling with the memory she trots out their names. She then asks:
“Do you know them?”
As anyone knows, travelling in another country as emissary of your birthplace, this question will be asked. A lot. Americans are just as guilty. Folks from Europe or any other country that is not the USA, do ask this as do we.
Anger Management
Dove, as the only real journo in the bunch, is beyond vexed. She is a combination of rudeness and heavy sighs. A young girl compliments Dove’s sunglasses and is summarily told to “F*** off.”Her exasperation at this unfair tasking is both slightly comic and fairly hostile.
Gilbert is so enthusiastic that he comes across as slightly unbalanced. No anger issues here. He is almost as cringeworthy as any character in The Office, both the UK and the US versions. His dealings with the local folk in Bodkin does feel like he fails to see them as real people.
Emmy is just happy to be a part of this dysfunctional team. She has, so far, sort of blended into the background.
When a patron at the second pub the trio visits starts to sing, Gilbert is blown away. Dove is quick to point out that “We’re not all singin’ and doing f***in’ Riverdance all the time, yeah?”
Fairies
Social problems aside, Gilbert and Emmy are excited that the missing Bodkin lads disappeared in a circle of fairy stones. Dove could care less about fairies. She seems far more concerned about the dog.
verdict
Bodkin is, so far, entertaining to a degree. The filming locations are beautiful enough that you could tune in just for the gorgeous vistas. Forte is always good value for the money. Cullen and he have not yet started striking sparks off one another but this is just the first episode.
A wavering 3.5 stars out of 5 for this one. Check out the trailer and then head over to Netflix and see if you like the look of it.
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