Fool Me Once: A Dark Whodunit Crime Tale?
Fool Me Once mini-series is a dark whodunit set in the fictional town of Winherst, England. This murder thriller is about the mystery surrounding the death of a family member under mysterious circumstances.
Series Review [Spoiler-Free]: Fool Me Once (Season 1/2024) English
In FOCUS: A Whodunit Crime Tale, Set In A Fictional Town Of England
Introduction
The eight-part “Fool Me Once” (2024) series is the adaptation of Harlan Coben’s 2016 novel of the same name by show creator Danny Brocklehurst. It was shot in 2023 in and around Manchester, UK. Most likely, the series takes its name from the proverb: “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” This proverb implies that if someone deceives or tricks you once, they bear the blame. However, if you let the same person deceive you again, it is your own responsibility for allowing it to happen a second time.
Notably, the “Fool Me Once” series, in contrast to the original novel, adds depth to DS Sami Kierce (Adeel Akhtar) by weaving a compelling backstory around his character.
Some of our friends persuaded us to look at this UK series based on Harlan Coben’s mystery novel, which we have heard so much about. So after much dilly-dallying, we sat down to check it out, finally.
After watching this series with its unbelievable story (shared below), we were not overly impressed. As we found a big hole (spoilers at the end) in its plotline.
Synopsis
When ex-soldier Maya (Michelle Keegan) sees her murdered husband on a secret nanny cam, she uncovers a deadly conspiracy that stretches deep into the past.
Poster
Storyline
Maya Stern (Michelle Keegan) is the central character in the series. In the series, she grapples with the tragic loss of her husband, Joe Burkett (Richard Armitage). Joe was brutally attacked and fatally shot by two unidentified individuals. Following the funeral, Maya decides to install a nanny cam to ensure the safety of her 2-year-old daughter, Lily (Thea Taylor-Morgan). However, she is taken aback when she discovers footage of her deceased husband inside their home. The video showed her dead husband engaging in playful interactions with Lily. This unsettling image deeply disturbs Maya, a widowed mother trying to navigate through her grief.
Leading the investigation into Joe’s death, Detective Sergeant Sami Kierce (Adeel Akhtar) finds himself entangled in his web of secrets. Maya’s quest for answers leads to clashes with her formidable mother-in-law, Judith Burkett (Joanna Lumley). While her niece Abby Walker (Danya Griver) and nephew Daniel Walker (Daniel Burt) embark on their mission to uncover the truth about their mother and Maya’s sister, Claire (Natalie Anderson) Walker.
What’s Good?
Keeping aside our complaint about its flawed plotline, we were impressed with Adeel Akhtar. He played Detective Sergeant (DS) Sami Kierce’s character. Even Michelle Keegan (Maya Stern) puts a lot of effort and energy into keeping us interested in this murder mystery. She manages to hold our attention for the majority of the show. Interestingly, the tough matriarch of Judith Burkett is played by the veteran actress Joanna Lumley. Also, the two kids, Danya Griver (Abby Walker) and nephew Daniel Burt (Daniel Walker), performed well, but their characters (and subplots) were distractions from the main story.
Rating
| FM Rating | 3.25/5 |
| FM Short Comments | Thankfully, we waited a couple of months, before watching it. Major plot holes in the story of this whodunit mystery mini-series did not let us enjoy it completely. The acting was also not top-class by its ensemble cast except for Adeel Akhtar (DS Sami Kierce), whose character was an interesting one. This time-pass crime drama is only meant for die-hard fans of Harlan Coben. |
Conclusion
We noticed many people were asking about the chances of a second season for the Fool Me Once series. Well, its chances are slim, as this show already encompasses the entirety of Harlan Coben’s original novel, which does not have a follow-up. The book itself is a standalone piece. But for its tame explanation of Joe’s murder, the rest of the series is worth watching. So, we reiterate that it is a time-pass dark whodunit.
Key Details
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller |
| Original language | English (UK) |
| Season | First (1st) Season |
| Episodes | Eight (8) Episodes |
| Writers | Harlan Coben (original novel), Charlotte Coben, Daniel Brocklehurst, Tom Farrelly, Nina Metivier, & Yemi Oyefuwa |
| Directors | David Moore & Nimer Rashed |
| Cast | Michelle Keegan (Maya Stern), Adeel Akhtar (Sami Kierce), Richard Armitage (Joe Burkett), Emmett J Scanlan (Shane Tessier), Thea Taylor-Morgan (Lily Burkett), Marcus Garvey (Eddie Walker), Dino Fetscher (Marty McGreggor), Joanna Lumley (Judith Burkett), Danya Griver (Abby Walker), etc. |
| Network | Netflix |
Spoilers Alerts (#1)
What are the twists and turns in this series?
In her relentless pursuit of justice, Maya Stern (Michelle Keegan), an ex-military pilot and a single mother, is resolute in her determination to unravel the mysteries surrounding the murders of her husband and sister. With the formidable Burkett family notorious for suppressing dissenting voices, Maya is acutely aware of the limited time she has to uncover the truth.
So, what about finding the true identity of the killer(s)? Is it possible that Maya’s army companion, Shane (Emmett J. Scanlan), is the culprit? Or could whistleblower Corey (Laurie Kynaston) be involved? Besides, the presence of a mysterious individual named Rambo (Connor Porter) at the time of Joe’s demise adds another layer of intrigue.
Why and how did Joe (a dead person) end up on the nanny cam (seeming alive)?
In an attempt to uncover the truth about Joe’s murder, Judith Burkett (Joanna Lumley), Joe’s mother, directed her household staff members, Izabella (Natalia Kostrzewa) and Luka (Frederick Szkoda), to create a deepfake video featuring Joe. By overlaying Joe’s image onto footage from his wedding with Maya, they meticulously crafted the deep-fake video. Judith’s motive behind this was her suspicion that Maya was concealing the reality of Joe’s death. She intended to provoke Maya’s unease, hoping that she would inadvertently reveal the truth.
How could we overlook one major flaw in its plot?
Right at the beginning of the series, the wife (not shown), Maya, takes revenge and shoots her husband Joe dead. But then, after the nanny-cam incident, for the majority of this murder mystery series (of eight episodes), she desperately searches for her husband Joe’s killer. The basic assumption that Maya somehow believes that her husband is alive is bizarre and preposterous, to say the least.
In addition, the all-powerful Burkett family (matriarch) do not seem that powerful. As they failed to uncover the truth about the murders, quite a few times in the series.
Trailer
[Check out the YouTube Video - The Most SHOCKING Twists In Fool Me Once | Netflix.]
Arley Hall & Gardens, located in Northwich, Cheshire, UK, serves as both the Burkett family estate and the iconic residence of Tommy Shelby in the renowned Peaky Blinders (2013) series.
Spoilers Alerts (#2)
Who and why (Maya Stern’s sister) Claire was murdered?
Claire (Natalie Anderson), an employee at Burkett Pharmaceuticals, discovered the company’s fraudulent activities. The company were manipulating drug trials and distributing harmful medications that caused illness and other severe consequences. Realising the seriousness of the situation, she sought help from Corey the Whistleblower, who had previously exposed Maya’s war crimes.
During her military service days, Maya had taken innocent lives to protect her comrades from enemy soldiers in an overseas mission. Claire successfully convinced Corey not to release the incriminating audio from the incident. And in the process, they uncovered the secrets of the Burketts – including Joe’s previous murders of Theo and Andrew. Joe, who also worked with Claire, became aware of their investigation and proceeded to kill her, disguising it as a robbery. So, Joe was responsible for the death of Claire, the sister of Maya.
Then, who killed (Maya Stern’s husband) Joe?
In the final episode, Sami uncovers that Rambo, a thief present in the park during Joe’s death, witnessed Maya shooting him. Maya killed Joe upon learning the truth about Claire’s death. She lured her husband to their park meeting spot, interrogated him, and then fatally shot him with Joe’s gun. Maya falsely accused Rambo and PJ, the soccer coach’s son, of Joe’s murder, claiming it was a mugging. Notably, the matching bullets and Rambo’s testimony were crucial in Maya’s arrest.
Also, how and why did Maya Stern die?
Following Sami’s discovery that Maya is Joe’s killer, Maya discloses her desperate efforts to seek justice against Joe and his family. Sami, who recently learned that his blackouts and brain damage were due to drugs from Burkett Pharmaceuticals, decides to collaborate with Maya, the confessed murderer, to expose Judith Burkett and the rest of the family.
Together with Corey, they installed a nanny cam and set up a livestream, with Maya stationed in the Burkett family home. When Judith, Neil, and Caroline walk in, Maya confronts them about their involvement in silencing people regarding the pharma scandal and Joe’s murder of his brother Andrew. Despite Judith’s proposal to cover up Joe’s crime, Maya refuses, leading to Neil fatally shooting her, all captured on the live stream.
Ending explained – what happened at the end?
As the series progresses, a significant time jump of 18 years occurs in the end scene. Sami and Eddie find themselves at the hospital, gathering to see Lily, the daughter of Maya.
Lily has matured into an adult and has recently given birth to her child, whom she lovingly names Maya.
Poster and Featured Image of the Fool Me Once (2024) Mini-Series courtesy of Netflix.
