A Murder at the End of the World encompasses various elements. Similar to the ambitious yet prematurely canceled series The OA by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, it spans across genres such as mystery, drama, science fiction, horror, and thriller. Drawing parallels with Mr. Robot, the narrative revolves around a hacker grappling with personal challenges while endeavoring to wield her abilities for positive ends. The series offers a critical perspective on ultrawealth and capitalism at large, delving into themes like artificial intelligence. Moreover, at its core, it weaves a compelling love story.
The opening chapter, titled "Homme Fatale," introduces Darby Hart (played by Emma Corrin). Darby, a young and aspiring detective, has recently authored a true-crime memoir titled "The Silver Doe." In a quaint bookstore, she shares a snippet from the book's conclusion, a clever method employed by the show to provide exposition. Instantly, we are immersed in Darby's narrative, gaining insights into her background. Raised in Lost Nation, Iowa, she acquired knowledge of crime scenes from her father, who served as the county coroner. Her fascination with unsolved murders of women nationwide led her to focus on cases in the Midwest, creating a captivating starting point for the series.
In the current timeline, Darby receives a message from Ray (played by Edoardo Ballerini), the AI assistant of the "king of tech," billionaire Andy Ronson (portrayed by Clive Owen). Ronson extends an invitation for Darby to attend an all-expenses-paid tech retreat at a confidential location, focusing on discussions about technology's role in addressing the climate crisis. However, the primary motive behind Darby's decision to accept the invitation lies in Ronson's wife, Lee Andersen (played by Marling). Lee, a brilliant coder and hacker, had vanished from public view after being doxed, only resurfacing when she married Ronson.
With "Chapter 2" placing more emphasis on the retreat and a somewhat gradual development of the upcoming story, it stands as a less compelling episode compared to the first. The characters haven't collectively recognized the gravity of the situation, leading them to unanimously decide to continue with the rest of the retreat, unaware that one among them is a murderer. Despite the assumption of an accidental overdose, Darby, particularly after gaining entry to Bill's room, intuits the actual truth.
Flashbacks will play a significant role in "A Murder at the End of the World," weaving together the narrative of "The Silver Doe" with the current murder mystery. These flashbacks serve to enrich the backstory and offer insights into Darby's investigative inspirations. While the pilot delved into the book's conclusion, this episode takes us back to the beginning, depicting Darby's formative years when she developed an interest in crime scenes, largely unnoticed by her peers. Following an encounter with an unidentified female corpse at the town's outskirts, marked only by a pair of silver earrings, Darby shared her discovery online, leading to her fateful meeting with Bill.
Another excellent start to a series from Marling & Batmanglij. As a huge fan of The OA, my hopes were high for this show and so far it's exceeding expectations.
