Dead to Me is a dark comedy with a stellar cast, tight writing, and a story that is far more than the sum of its parts
What is Dead to Me
Dead to Me is touted as the show that drew Christina Applegate back to television. The draw is undeniable. Simply watching the pilot is proof of the show’s power, laughs and emotional investment. Applegate herself is a powerhouse.
The show is a dark comedy that is equal parts comedy and mystery. It leans heavily on Applegate and fellow lead Linda Cardellini (Avengers: Infinity War) with a script that empowers women instead of looking at them through the male perspective.
The Dead to Me Story
Applegate plays Jen Harding, whose husband was killed in a hit and run. She has become obsessed with finding the person who murdered her husband and routinely badgers the police who aren’t making progress on his case. She attends grief counseling and meets Judy (Cardellini), who makes every effort to befriend her.
Judy and Jen soon strike up a friendship, with Jen even offering their boathouse to Judy when she gets evicted. Judy is hiding more than a few secrets, some of which are revealed when Jen meets Judy’s narcissistic boyfriend, Steve (James Marsden (Westworld)). What follows is a series of dominoes that peels back the painful scars that Judy and Jen have been scratching since even before they met.
Why Dead to Me Works
The show’s writing comes directly from creator Liz Feldman. Feldman was a writer on 45 episodes of Blue Collar TV, and also a writer on over 100 episodes of The Ellen Show. She writes with a feminine edge, understanding the woman’s perspective, and not writing from the angle of how men see women.
Jen and Judy have conversations about superficial things like wine and when dating is right. They have deeper conversations about hormones, memories, and loss. The writing touches on topics of connection, abandonment, and grief. Their story is consistently told with depth, heartbreak, and uncomfortable humor.
What Can’t Be Said
For every ounce of praise we can heap on Dead to Me, we must equally bite our tongues. The story is told in episodic fashion, peeling back the onion with each 30-minute installment. As each layer is revealed, viewers grow to learn Judy and Jen a little more.
With that type of writing, it goes to say any details would equal spoilers. Those spoilers would completely ruin the timing of the reveals that Feldman and her writers’ room have crafted. The best response is to carve out some time and watch Dead to Me. Whether that timeline is one afternoon, one week, or longer, viewers will not be disappointed.
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Check out more of my writing over on my Amazon.com page, including the Leon “Catwalk” Caliber cyberpunk series, and the Urban Samurai series. Also, check out the Geek Wolfpack Podcast and the ADHD D&D podcast.