Dead To Me premieres May 3rd on Netflix.
[Ed. Note: Being that TV and City is on a bit of a hiatus, this article has not been edited.]
By Ariba Bhuvad
You heard it here first, Dead To Me needs to be on your list of new Netflix shows. Starring Christina Applegate, Linda Cardellini, and James Marsden, this intriguing dramedy follows a rather curious, unique story. Without giving too much away, the plot follows Applegate’s character, a widow, who is learning to navigate through life after the death of her husband. But the journey really begins when she befriends a woman and goes down a very intense rabbit hole of revelations and dilemmas.
What makes Dead To Me stand out are the individual performances, namely Applegate’s. Her every emotion, feeling, and difficulty is felt by the viewer, and she has a very particular way of pulling you in. Can we say Emmy-winning performance? Yes, yes we can. Alongside her, Cardellini shines as the bewildered woman that shakes things up in the story. She too does such a spectacular job playing the role she was given. Who knew this duo would work so well? Apparently, Adam McKay and Will Ferrell did.
Dead To Me has its weak points and over-the-top moments but they don’t take away from the experience of watching the show. In fact, this series has a little bit of everything–romance, suspense, mystery, comedy. There are unexpected reveals that you may or may not see coming, but it’s not what the show focuses on. Rather, the reveal propagates the narrative and carries it all the way to the end, with a cliffhanger leaving us wanting more.
While Dead To Me may not go on to be the best show of the year, it’s an enjoyable, bingeable watch. The emphasis on its dark comedy vibe resonates well with the overall plot and leaves the viewer feeling conflicted over how to feel. I feel like its the type of show that forces you to place yourself in a “what if it was me” situation and motivates you to ponder more than the average show does.
Kudos to Applegate and Cardellini for giving life to their extremely conflicted characters. Their performances are award-winning, commendable, and made Dead To Me worth the watch. If you’re looking for a different type of comedy, this series is right up your alley.
I give Dead To Me a B+.
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