Should I Watch It? Kate Winslet's new slow-burning murder mystery, Mare of Easttown.

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There's a scene in the first episode of Mare of Easttown, where Kate Winslet's character jumps over a fence in the pursuit of a suspect. 

She twists her ankle, yells out 'f*ck' or something similar, and then continues to slowly limp after the suspect. 

It is both one of the most realistic and subtly funny scenes ever included in a crime drama. And it perfectly sums up the vibe of Mare of Easttown. It's a darkly subdued crime thriller, with surprisingly funny dialogue, which will make you fall in love with the characters before it brutally kills one off.

Watch the trailer for Mare of Easttown. Post continues below. 

It's like if Fargo met Sharp Objects and then they shared a beer with the cast of Shameless at the local dive bar. 

Below, we unpack what the series is about and deliver our verdict on whether you should watch it.

What is Mare of Easttown about?

The series is set in the 'down on their luck' hamlet of Easttown, Pennsylvania, where local detective Mare (Winslet) is investigating the murder of teen mum Erin McMenamin (Cailee Spaeny), which may be connected to the unsolved disappearances of two other local women. 

Soft-spoken county detective Colin Zabel (Evan Peters) is called in to help with the case, and while the two initially clash, Mare eventually warms to him. 

While Mare is investigating the murder, her own life is falling apart around her. Her ex has bought the house behind hers and is engaged to his new girlfriend. And while her parents, her friends, and their daughter head to his house to celebrate, she heads to the local bar to hook up with the dishevelled 'once wrote a bestseller' newcomer in town, Richard Ryan (Guy Pearce). 

Come for the...

Kate Winslet playing a very un-Kate Winslet role. 

Stay for the...

The slow burning murder mystery, surprisingly funny dialogue, and the colourful locals. 

What shows will it remind you of?

Fargo for the accents, Sharp Objects for the slow-burning murder mystery, and Shameless for the loveable, scrappy, dysfunctional local community. 

How many episodes are there and how long are they?

There are seven episodes of Mare of Easttown and they're around 50 minutes each. The first episode is streaming on Binge now and new episodes will drop each Monday. 

Will there be a second season of Mare of Easttown?

Mare of Easttown has been billed as a miniseries and there's no word whether there will be a second season yet, but fingers crossed. 

LISTEN: The final season of Younger will answer your biggest questions. Post continues below. 

So, should you watch it?

Absolutely. 

Mare of Easttown is a slow burner, the murder doesn't even happen until the end of the first episode, but the story is so brilliantly told and the characters are so intriguing with their accents and their intertwined backstories, that'll hook you in from the opening scene.

Kate Winslet is brilliant in this gritty, funny role and Guy Pearce plays the perfect mysterious, silver fox to her harden local cop persona. 

It's the perfect show for fans of crime dramas like Fargo, Sharp Objects and The Sinner, and fans of gritty comedy dramas like Shameless. 

The first episode of Mare of Easttown is streaming on Binge from Monday, April 19, with new episodes dropping weekly. 

Keryn Donnelly is Mamamia's Pop Culture Editor. For more of her TV, film and book recommendations and to see photos of her dog, follow her on Instagram. 

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