On Hulu
The new Hulu drama “Death and Other Details” tries to blend elements of classic old-style murder mysteries with more modern, character-driven whodunits like “Knives Out” and “The White Lotus”. Unfortunately, the end result is a convoluted, overstuffed mess that never quite comes together.
At the center of the show is Imogene (Violett Beane), a young woman who was taken in by the wealthy Collier family after witnessing her mother’s murder as a child. Years later, Imogene finds herself back on a luxury cruise with the Colliers, where another murder occurs and she’s forced to team up with the disgraced detective Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin) to solve the crime. The show jumps back and forth in time, layering on twist after twist, but the convoluted plotting and lack of likable characters make it more confusing than intriguing.
While Patinkin and Beane have some decent chemistry, the rest of the ensemble is forgettable, and the show’s attempts at social commentary feel half-baked. “Death and Other Details” may scratch the itch for fans of classic murder mysteries, but it’s ultimately a disappointing and derivative effort that can’t match the wit and style of its influences.