Driven by a powerhouse performance from Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown makes for extremely compelling TV. Written by Brad Ingelsby and directed by Craig Zobel, this is undoubtedly the best work that either has come up with thus far. Spanning 7 episodes (of roughly an hour each), the duo creates a tightly-knit community of people and an interesting murder mystery to solve. Winslet is a treat to watch as Detective Mare - someone who's already got plenty of issues in her personal life but is also an extraordinary investigator - an incredibly nuanced portrayal. Almost every episode ends on a cliffhanger, some of which turn out to be red herrings. However, none of the red herrings appears out of place. Alongside Mare, writer Ingelsby gives almost every pivotal character room to breathe and naturally make progress.

While the core theme stays dark, the humour in the writing hits you out of the blue. Evan Peters (who plays Detective Zabel) and Jean Smart (who plays Mare's mum Helen) are both exceptional at what they're up to. Guy Pearce's character Richard helps us understand the vulnerable side of Mare a lot better. Julianne Nicholson also does a great job. In fact, the entire ensemble warrants praise because they all carry their respective roles well. The twist in the final episode also lands well; something most murder mysteries fail at. Here, almost every emotional arc gets closure in ways you wouldn't foresee.

Mare of Easttown benefits from razor-sharp writing and attention to detail. The script builds intricate connections between characters through its initial plot setup and slowly-yet-willingly, we hop aboard their journey. The attraction here is certainly the murder mystery element, but it's the characters that'll stick with you long after you're done watching the whole thing. I'd love to see what happens to every single character in Mare of Easttown. Oh, and from what I hear, Winslet and the ensemble even get the Delaware dialect right. That's commendable!