Watch or skip: Bodkin is your new Netflix crime obsession

We have some great news for fans of crime shows! Bodkin, Netflix’s latest dark comedy series premiered on Thursday, May 9. We know everyone is going to be wondering if Bodkin is the next big Netflix series. 

Netflix sent me screeners for Bodkin, so I’ve seen the full series. And, let me tell you, it’s absolutely the next big Netflix series. It’s one of my favorite Netflix shows of the year so far. 

Created by Jez Scharf, Bodkin stars Will Forte, Siobhán Cullen, and Robyn Cara. The series follows Gilbert, Dove, and Emmy, played by the aforementioned trio, as a team of investigators trying to solve the mystery of three people who disappeared from the Irish town of Bodkin more than two decades earlier. Gilbert has a moderately successful true crime podcast. Dove is in an investigative journalist with The Guardian, but she’s in a bit of trouble for something that happened with a subject. Emmy is Gilbert’s assistant, who’s a lot smarter and more than qualified for her role. 

When they arrive in Bodkin, they’re immediately met with skepticism and disdain from the townsfolk, but the investigators are able to piece together enough evidence to realize one thing: absolutely no one is telling them the truth. There’s a story here if they look long enough to find it, and that’s where the series begins. 

Bodkin is not a true crime series, but it's meant to feel like one.

Why you should watch Bodkin 

Bodkin is great, and that’s why you should watch it. The Netflix series checks all the boxes for me. It’s smart, funny, has something to say, and it’s wildly entertaining. There are some dull moments; I can’t lie. Those moments are few and far between all of the wild things that are happening. 

What starts as a simple mystery evolves into something that you never see coming. It’s impossible to know where this story is headed, but it’s clear Scharf and the creative team did the heavy lifting dropping the breadcrumbs throughout to lead viewers on a wild race to the finish. It’s not perfectly executed, but it’s a good enough ending and pay-off for viewers to leave satisfied. 

Bodkin is also hilarious. Yes, it’s dark, and it has a lot to say about the perils of the true crime genre. But, this show is so funny. The whole premise is funny, and it gets more and more ridiculous as the story goes on. Gilbert, as a character, is basically a big doofus trying to cash in on others' pain by digging up secrets from the past, but he can’t get out of his own way. Dove is also funny in an unintentional way because she’s so matter-of-fact and dry. Emmy is just the best, but she’s also quite a funny and charming character. Forte, Cullen, and Cara are so good in this series, too. 

The funniest thing about Bodkin is the dialogue, though. There are so many incredible sayings, phrases, and interactions. In the words of Creed Bratton, the people of Bodkin don’t give an eff about nothin’. And, that’s apparent from the jump. 

Aside from the great story, entertaining and hilarious story elements, and terrific performances, Bodkin actually has a lot of heart. That’s the thing this series does best. It’s not just caring about the characters, either. It’s more than that, you know? It’s about how they change throughout these seven episodes and how they must come to terms with what’s wrong in them or with them. With so much tone-deaf true crime, Bodkin is a refreshing perspective that holds a mirror to the genre and questions if it’s ever worth it.

I’d recommend Bodkin who is a fan of mysteries and dark comedies!

You should skip Bodkin if… 

You don’t like mysteries or dark comedies. I’d recommend this series to everyone else for all the reasons I mentioned. 

There are some disturbing elements and moments in the series, too. In the first scene, there’s the body of someone who died by suicide. There’s some violence, old dead bodies, and a wee bit of gore, but it’s pretty tolerable for most viewers. If you don’t have any interest there, it’s probably okay to skip Bodkin. 

Bodkin is probably a skip if you don’t like good TV shows. This is a great show, and it’s going to be popular. You’re going to be hearing about it online. People will probably talk to you about it. If you don’t like participating in the discourse, skip this series. 

Oh, and if you like Ryan Murphy’s disaster of a TV show, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, you probably won’t like Bodkin. I mean, look at that title. What were they thinking?

Overall, I hope most people will make the smart choice and tune in for a great new Netflix series. I promise you won’t regret it!