“Fool Me Once,” the latest addition to Netflix’s extensive repertoire of thrillers, promises an enthralling narrative woven with mystery and suspense. Helmed by acclaimed author Harlan Coben, known for his gripping novels, the series follows the tumultuous life of Maya Burkett as she grapples with a shocking revelation after the death of her husband. In this review, we delve into the strengths and shortcomings of “Fool Me Once” to determine if it lives up to the expectations set by its source material.
After the tragic shooting death of her husband, Joe (Richard Armitage), Michelle Keegan’s character, Maya, faces the challenge of rebuilding her life. This involves juggling the exclusive custody of their daughter while working as a helicopter pilot trainer and dealing with Joe’s bothersome affluent family. The family includes Judith (Joanna Lumley), Joe’s mother, along with Neil (James Northcote) and Caroline (Hattie Morahan), Joe’s brother and sister. As the family matriarch, Judith never fully embraced her son’s romantic relationship.
Maya asks, “Did someone question whether she was worthy? Referring to this challenging situation here?” However, when the supposedly deceased Joe unexpectedly appears on nanny cam footage, embracing their child, Maya’s urgency to uncover the truth and protect herself becomes paramount.
The intricacy and incredibility of “Fool Me Once” make it challenging to emphasize its value enough. The plot centers around a police officer (Adeel Akhtar) dealing with peculiar seizures, a military whistleblower, and a cold-case suicide. However, given that this is the latest addition to Netflix’s continued collaboration with American mystery writer Harlan Coben, one could have anticipated its outlandish nature. Coben, who attended Amherst College with Dan Brown, the author of “The Da Vinci Code,” manages to make Brown’s work appear comparatively restrained in literary extravagance.
On the television screen, Keegan proves to be a reliable performer, although her dramatic abilities are seldom challenged by the scripts she encounters. In this instance, she is compelled to embody both the grieving widow and the resilient army veteran.
Conversely, Lumley (Maya’s Mother-in-law) plays a relatively understated role. While Lumley’s character can be irritating on occasion (she condescendingly remarks to Maya about how Maya isn’t used to being a full-time mother, her portrayal of a psychiatrist mother-in-law is a departure from some of Lumley’s more memorable monstrous characters.
“Fool Me Once” is a series that offers moments of suspense and intrigue but has flaws. While the gripping plot and stellar performances manage to capture the audience’s attention, the visual aesthetics and occasional narrative missteps prevent it from reaching its full potential. Whether it’s a worthy addition to your Netflix watchlist may depend on your appetite for Harlan Coben’s signature storytelling style and your tolerance for some of the series’ more predictable elements.
