Netflix's new series No Good Deed had everything working for it, but there's one big problem.

No Good Deed is the latest Netflix murder mystery series set to have audiences scratching their heads.

Not to be confused with the 2014 psychological thriller of the same name starring Idris Elba, the eight-episode dark comedy series revolves around three families competing to purchase a 1920s Spanish-style villa in Los Angeles' Los Feliz neighbourhood.

At the centre are Lydia and Paul Morgan, played by Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano, an empty-nester couple struggling to contain the dark secrets in their home.

The star-studded cast includes Linda Cardellini, Luke Wilson, Teyonah Parris, Abbi Jacobson, Poppy Liu, Denis Leary, O-T Fagbenle, Matt Rogers, Anna Maria Horsford, Kate Moennig, Linda Lavin, and newcomer Wyatt Aubrey. So yep, it's a loaded ensemble!

Watch the trailer for No Good Deed. Post continues after video.

The series, created by Liz Feldman, explores how the battle for a dream home can act as a catalyst for multiple families' personal problems to be exposed.

Okay, I really wanted to love this series. Coming from Feldman, the creator of the pitch-perfect series Dead To Me, it had everything on its side. The series does have a similar vibe to Dead To Me, with its black comedy material and exploration of grief and regret.

But sadly, that's where the similarities end. This series just didn't quite land.

I'll start with the good stuff. For the most part, the storyline around grief and the murder mystery element was enough to keep the viewer engaged.

Lisa Kudrow and Linda Cardellini are the glue that holds this show together. As Lydia, Lisa brings a layered vulnerability to this role as the grieving mother who is coming to grips with the sudden death of her son while processing the idea of moving and losing cherished memories. At the same time, her deadpanned delivery of some of the show's funnier lines (there are not many) was perfection.

Meanwhile, as Margo, Linda is pure chaos, as the trophy wife of a famous actor who leaves a path of destruction. In less capable hands, Margo could have been a rather unlikeable person, but Linda can't help but bring her charming presence to this role, and she lit up the screen every time she was on (which wasn't enough).

No Good Deed's potential was showcased in the scenes between Lisa and Linda: their contrasting energies complimented each other, and their chemistry was undeniable, much like Cardellini's zappy dynamic with Christina Applegate.

But alas, they only shared a handful of moments together.

Lisa Kudrow was a highlight of No Good Deed. Image: Netflix.

Sadly, Kudrow shared most of her scenes with Ray Romano, and I'm sorry (if you're an Everyone Loves Raymond fan, shield yourself), but he wasn't in the best form. If anything, his low-energy performance drained a lot from his scenes with Lisa.

It wasn't all Romano's fault, as his character Paul felt a bit regressive, falling into the stereotype of the emotionally repressed, killjoy husband who resents his 'nagging wife'.

I can't pinpoint if there was just a disconnection between Lisa and Ray, or he was just miscast in the role, but as I was watching, I was wondering if the show would have worked better with someone like Paul Rudd or Adam Sandler in this role.

But oddly enough, it's hard to blame the cast for No Good Deed falling flat: the group of talent assembled for this series was incredible.

Luke Wilson is in fine form as a pathetic has-been actor, making the most of his dialogue, which wasn't always a lot to work with. Teyonah Parris and O-T Fagbenle shine in their limited scenes, as an anxious, expectant couple with a mother-in-law who just won't quit. Hacks actress Poppy Liu and Broad City's Abbi Jacobson did their best with a side plot that didn't really add much to the overarching narrative, although I'd question why someone like Jacobson's comedic talents were wasted on such a bland character.

Luke Wilson is delightfully deranged in No Good Deed. Image: Netflix.

There's no denying the cast is impeccable but the chemistry isn't always there between them.

It could come back to the writing, which had encouraging moments but was overall uneven. It was funny but not hilarious, which means that the material didn't give its strong comedic actors like Linda, Abbie and Luke a chance to shine.

At the same time, the show's more emotionally vulnerable moments were often betrayed by cheap laughs.

To be clear: No Good Deed is not bad by any stretch of the imagination, especially by Netflix's shaky standards, but there's something lacking. By the finale, I was left feeling restless. The series wasn't something I couldn't finish but there was something missing.

That being said, it's still an easy and inoffensive watch — just don't go in comparing it to the excellence of Dead To Me, as you could be sorely disappointed.

Feature image: Netflix.