Photo: Netflix
I just finished Netflix’s latest series, The Stranger: an 8 episode anxiety-inducing mystery thriller adapted from Harlan Coben’s novel (also titled 'The Stranger'). You might know his other work—“Safe” is another series on Netflix adapted by one of his novels, starring Michael C. Hall (Dexter). To jog your memory—it was a great drama series as soon as you were able to get past the fact that Dexter has a British accent in it.
With this series, I’ve heard that those that read the book were really satisfied with how it turned out. The series was very true to how the book was written, and any changes or differences were miniscule.
This is a UK series that reminds me of other fantastic UK shows like ‘Luther' and 'The Fall' (you must check those out if you like crime, mystery, drama)!
The last few minutes of each episode reveal some crazy truths which make it so bingeable because obviously you have to see where it takes you after major events take place. I finished the whole thing in about a day and a half, but you could really watch this in a day. To be honest, there are a couple dark parts that are particularly violent, but nothing I couldn’t handle. However, if you are sensitive to violence at all but still really want to keep watching, I’d recommend after those moments try an enjoyable palate cleanse by watching an episode of Sex Education before continuing.
The cast of ’The Stranger’ is incredible—Hannibal’s Richard Armitage plays strong lead and family man Adam Price, while Adam John Karmen (Black Mirror) does an excellent job playing the stranger (and she’s gorgeous). Expect to be freaked out by her, annoyed as hell at her, and finally—well you’ll have to see for yourself. You’ll have to decide if you think what she’s doing (unveiling peoples shameful secrets and forcing them to confront truths they don’t want to) is noble or not. (I personally think she needs to stay out of peoples business but hey, she has her reasons I guess). The main premise is that this stranger digs up dirt on peoples lives, tells them things that turn their life upside-down, and sometimes asks for money to keep these secrets (ironic really).
Photo: Netflix
It takes more than a few episodes to figure out how all of these separate story lines are related, and just when you start to feel like you can’t keep up with all of them, they start to reveal the connections and drop little bread crumbs here and there. I’ve never been good at figuring out mysteries, but this series in particular had me guessing until the very end. In the last half of the final episode, I stayed in denial about one clear theory almost as a way of protecting myself as a viewer. There’s a part of you that is confused until the show gives away more hints, and another part of you that deep down has this unsettling feeling that you know the fate of these characters and the ending.
All in all, this series shows you two main things: people never know what they’re capable of doing to protect themselves and their families until they actually go through with it. And two, everyone has secrets that can ultimately tear people apart even though they think keeping the secrets is keeping their loved ones safe. I’ll leave it up to you as the viewer to decide what’s right and what’s wrong in this, or maybe it isn’t so absolute and is a case by case basis?
Ultimately, the series leaves you satisfied, like the loose ends have been tied up…or have they?