Having devoured the book and been captivated by its excellent pacing and compelling presentation of evidence, the series adaptation unfortunately fails to live up to the lofty expectations it created. Let’s delve into why.
The source material has compelling characters, so this should be a strength of the series. The book itself doesn’t delve very deep into the relationships and the development of the people involved. However the series is even more uninterested in highlighting the emotional depth and challenges of the characters. Even main ones like Ravi’s and Pip’s, their emotional moments feel forced and not very analyzed. The supporting cast, friends, family, and suspects, all feel like fillers for the episodes to reach the time limit, not actual people like in the books.
The acting is not terrible, but it’s also not particularly outstanding. At times, it veers into Disney Channel territory, which aligns with the YA vibe of the book, but ultimately fails to connect with viewers during high-impact moments.
Visually, the series is interesting at times, convincingly portraying a small-town setting, but the coloring seems slightly off. The saturation often feels excessive, more akin to watching Descendants on Disney+ than a teenage murder mystery. While we don’t need another Riverdale or Winx Saga, this stylistic choice detracts from the broodiness and darkness of the story.
Regarding the plot, as a reader of the book, it’s frustrating to see how much important information, crucial hints about the ending, were withheld until the very end. Six episodes felt insufficient to convey that amount of information, and the pacing felt uneven, with about two episodes feeling stagnant.
Characters were effectively short-changed for the sake of episode length, resulting in patchy and awkward pauses in the narrative.
Overall, much more was expected from the adaptation of the story. A significant amount was lost due to the writing, directorial choices were questionable. A voice-over or even segments that visually presented the evidence, similar to the book, would have greatly enhanced understanding of Pip’s progress in the mystery and would help engage with the viewers.
It’s disappointing because this had the potential to be a great adaptation. Perhaps, next time, consider consulting the readers and adhering more closely to the source material.
