Winslet is the show. Her performance is fascinating - powerful, but she never overpowers it. It's a difficult task to make someone want to watch you suffer.
Elements of "Mare" do feel overly familiar, particularly the hard-charging-woman- detective-who's-dedicated-to-the-job-at-the-expense-of-her-family trope. But it's easy to forgive thanks to Winslet's performance and the show's strong supporting cast.
Gone are the days when HBO would produce only outright classics targeted at discerning audiences - in the streaming age, a wider clientele must be catered to.
Thus is the power of a great cast (courtesy of casting director Avy Kaufman) given a meticulous world to play in; credit to Ingelsby, who grew up in the area, and Zobel, for knowing what details to hone in on without overindulging.
Winslet never falters, making "Easttown" seem like the place she was born, raised and disappointed. Peters and Smart are great sparring partners but Mare is the deserving main attraction. Winslet is the reason.
Every performance here works, which is a great credit to Zobel for tying these characters together in a way that makes the supporting players seem like actual locals with full lives.
Winslet elevates everything, but "Mare of Easttown" needs some serious elevating out of its dreariness and familiarity. It's certainly watchable but also predictable. Look elsewhere for light.
Kate Winslet bares herself of all the glamour and movie star glitz to portray this woman. When she accepted this role, she checked her vanity at the door.
The acting -- by Winslet and the strong ensemble around her -- is compelling enough to make it all feel more tragic than soapy, more complex than overcooked.
