The Sinner (Series 1 and 2)
The Sinner (Series 1 and 2)
Bill Pullman
Bill Pullman in Ruthless People (1986)
Bill Pullman’s biography lists countless credits for his acting on stage, and in film and television, over more than four decades. For most of us, Bill Pullman is the actor we fondly remember from comedies like ‘Ruthless People’ (1986), in which he played alongside Bette Midler and Dani DeVito. The character he played (see photo on left) still features in lists of the most stupid would-be criminals.
During the 1990s he appeared in several classic romantic comedies, including ‘Sleepless in Seattle’ and ‘While You Were Sleeping.’ In 1996, he also played a leading straight role, as the US President in ‘Independence Day.’
Publicity photo for The Sinner
We, no doubt, remember the unique, and seemingly permanent, quirky facial expression that Pullman used to great effect in his earlier movies to convey shyness or ‘dumbness’. He also uses his older, bearded, but still instantly recognisable face to great effect in The Sinner, a two-series mystery and at times mystical crime drama.
The Sinner in General
The Sinner stands out from the crowd of other television crime drama series. It does so by staying away from predictable plots, and cliched characters, while intelligently tackling some of the most complex personal and societal issues. It seems that I’m not alone in appreciating this distinction. Rotten Tomatoes critics summed up Series 1 (Cora’s Story) as being, ‘Unlike anything we’ve seen.’
Netflix appropriately labels the two series as the story of Cody and the story of Julian.
Cora’s Story (Series 1)
Official Poster for Series 1
The first series (Cora’s story) opens with Cora Tanner, a beautiful young woman (played by Jessica Biel), her husband, and their young son on the beach of a local lake.
Cory is peeling fruit for her son when she suddenly jumps up, runs over to a group of young people sitting nearby, and repeatedly stabs a young man to death. She is charged with his murder but refuses to say why she committed the crime.
Bill Pullman plays Detective Harry Ambrose who investigates the crime, but unlike other investigators comes to believe that it is whatever she cannot remember that explains her actions. Ambrose gains Cora’s trust and works with her, endeavouring to unearth her full story.
As Cora’s troubling past is unearthed, we discover that Det Ambrose is also a damaged human being. A central theme of this series is summed up by Ambrose in a final episode conversation with Cora. He observes how blame assumed or imposed on a child can determine patterns of self-destructive behaviour, and may erupt when triggered. In doing so, Ambrose focuses the viewers’ attention on the personal and potentially troubling aspects of our lives, highlighted in both this and in the second series. This is tackled subtly but effectively, encouraging viewers to question common assumptions and stereotypes about crime, upbringing, drug use, sexual promiscuity and other related issues. In particular, this series underlines the lasting impact of parental predictions of children’s failure or attribution of blame for the misfortunes of others.
Sex and drugs are a key thread of the story, but are presented and handled in a manner that I had not previously seen in a film or television series.
Bill Pullman is impressive in his unglamorous and self-effacing role as tired, world-weary, compassionate, dishevelled, and deeply flawed Det. Ambrose. His unorthodox expression and slow mannerisms are perfect for this role. The interactions between Pullman’s character Ambrose, and Biel’s excellent portrayal of the vulnerable and deeply troubled Cora, are simply outstanding.
Julian’s Story (Series 2)
Official Poster Series 2
In episode one of series 2 (Julian’s story), we join a car whose occupants appear to be a couple and Julian, who appears to be their young son, played by Elisha Henig. They are discussing Niagara, their apparent destination.
Because of car trouble, they stop overnight at a motel. The following morning Julian seems to be upset by what he overhears his parents arguing over. He brings them two mugs of tea, which they drink. The tea is poisoned and they die painful convulsive deaths.
Bill Pullman once again playing the role of Det Ambrose, takes on this case. He insists that when a 13-year-old kills, there has to be more to the story. Incidentally, Bill Pullman is the only actor, and his character, Det Ambrose, is the only character who also appeared in the first series.
In seeking to discover why Julian would kill, Ambrose must overcome the secrecy surrounding Julian’s upbringing. This includes gaining Julian’s confidence, denied to outsiders through his conditioning in the commune, and kept hidden behind a very troubled and inscrutable expression. Ambrose must also connect various mysterious links between the commune, the crime, and the town’s inhabitants. The investigation’s focus on the lingering effect of Julian’s and others’ childhood or youthful experiences, cause Ambrose to reflect on similar issues of his own.
In this series, we are introduced to a number of interesting characters, with two perhaps most worthy of mention.
Heather (played by Natalie Paul) is a young African American woman. She is a Trainee Detective working with Ambrose. Her background links her to other key characters, and her life provides another personal thread to the overall story.
Vera played by Carrie Coon, has a pivotal role in this series. We discover that she brought up Julian and that she runs a commune. Vera’s character annoys, charms, seduces and frightens. Her relationship with Ambrose is fascinating for its clashes and for its sexual tension.
Summing up The Sinner
I struggle to describe the mood and pace of this show. At times, it is very slow and ominous. At other times it is all action and danger. Series two was perhaps overly ambitious with its numerous sub-plots, making the storyline difficult to follow. At times, and particularly in the second series, the mood bordered on Twin Peaks’ sinister otherworldliness
The storylines and the issues addressed in the two stories were notably original and poignant. This resulted in a show that offers much more than mere entertainment.
It seems that a third series has been approved. True to form, it will see Bill Pullman return with a new cast. If it is anywhere as good as the first two series it is worth anticipating.