With silly twists and disjointed plots, Netflix and Harlan Coben’s “Fool Me Once” feels like at least three shows stuffed into one.
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“Fool Me Once” Plot Summary
“Fool Me Once” starts with a bunch of masked boarding school kids performing an ominous ritual. The mischievous and disorienting scene throws us right into the action. In the next 15 minutes, we see a marriage, a murder, a funeral, a helicopter ride, and someone getting pepper sprayed. Harlan Coben’s “Fool Me Once” moves comically fast through multiple storylines and many characters. The Netflix mystery knows how to deliver a cliffhanger but struggles to pull the viewer back up due to the weight of its own convoluted plot.
Based on the Harlan Coben novel of the same name, “Fool Me Once” focuses on Maya Burkett (Michelle Keegan), a single mother who just lost her husband in a horrific shooting. But when Maya sees nanny cam footage that suggests her husband (Richard Armitage) is still alive, family secrets begin to reveal themselves. Maya’s life is further upended when Detective Sami Kierce (Adeel Akhtar) discovers that Maya’s sister and husband were murdered by the same weapon. The family that once grieved is now suspicious of one another.
Who killed Maya’s husband and sister? Why did they do it? What connects these two murders? Maya, Detective Sami Kierce, and Maya’s niece (Danya Griver) each split off into their own stories as they unraveled the lives of their lost loved ones. As the 8 episodes of “Fool Me Once” venture into family secrets, childhood trauma, and plots of vengeance, surprises, danger, and murder still lurk behind every corner.
“Fool Me Once” throws everything possible at viewers: war trauma, boarding school shenanigans, secret children, affairs, illness, talking ghosts, and more. Some of the cliffhangers and twists are good fun, but every side mission and name mentioned in “Fool Me Once” becomes more confusing homework instead of a captivating mystery.
Content Information
“Fool Me Once” is rated TV-MA for occasional cursing, gun violence, and fighting
Other Noteworthy Information
- Nine of Harlan Coben’s novels have been adapted into Netflix series.
“Fool Me Once” General Information
| Network | Netflix |
| Genre(s) | Crime |
| Noted Characters | |
| Maya Stern | Michelle Keegan |
| Detective Sami Kierce | Adeel Akhtar |
| Eddie Walker | Marcus Garvey |
| Judith Burkett | Joanna Lumley |
| Abby Walker | Danya Griver |
| Joe Burkett | Richard Armitage |
Renewal Status
As of this writing, “Fool Me Once” is a limited series.
Directory
(Series Page | Character Guide)
“Fool Me Once” Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Stick Around)
Notable Performances, Moments, or Episodes
Adeel Akhtar as Detective Sami Kierce
Detective Sami Kierce is given some of the more far-fetched storylines in “Fool Me Once,” but Adeel Akhtar sells them in every close-up of his weathered face. He grounds his performance on Kierce’s vulnerabilities and is able to tap into the viewer’s empathy faster than any other character in the show.
Episodes to Anticipate
- Episode 1 sets up the mystery and introduces all the characters.
- Episode 7 is filled with jaw-dropping twists.
Highlights
“Fool Me Once” Understands the Art of the Cliffhanger
You may not understand every plot detail, character motivation, or clue in this mystery, but each episode ends with a bang to get you invested in the next episode. Put your brain aside and prepare to be swept by the shocking cliffhangers. Whether they make sense by the next episode is purely coincidental, but “Fool Me Once” utilizes its chapters to get viewers to keep watching.
On The Fence
Multiple Storylines Feel Disjointed
While some mysteries suffer from too little plot, “Fool Me Once” suffers from too much. War trauma, private school shenanigans, a secret love child, a detective with a disorder, a corrupt business, and a talking ghost all feel shoved into the show’s mystery. Maya’s investigation, Sami’s illness, and Abby meeting her long-lost brother all feel like three separate shows. The elements rarely connect and come off as insecure about telling one solid story.
Silly Twists Range from Shocking to Laughable
How are Joe’s and Claire’s deaths connected? “Fool Me Once” delivers on the surprise, if you don’t think too long about the reveal. As the twists keep twisting, the Netflix content makes fine popcorn chatter, but no one can seriously recommend this to a friend. How did Claire keep her child a secret? Why did Maya think she saw Joe if she knows he died? Why does Sami see ghosts? “Fool Me Once” shrugs and tries to get to the next shock fast enough so you don’t think about what’s happening.
Good If You Like
- Quick forgettable mysteries, and female protagonists kicking butts and taking names.
What I Hope To See
I hope to see Detective Sami Kierce in a spinoff as a ghost whisperer.
Recommendations
If you like this show, we recommend:
Check out our TV-Series page for our latest recaps and reviews, as well as recommendations.
Discussion Items
Let us know your thoughts in the comments:
- For those who read the book, how does the show “Fool Me Once” compare to the book?
- Are the twists as silly to you as to this humble reviewer?
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