The Sinner Season 4 review: A gripping plot made better by fine storytelling,terrific performances

3.5/5

Story:

On the heels of the jarring case he had to handle in the last season, the now-retired detective Harry Ambrose(Bill Pullman) heads off to Maine with his partner Sonya(Jessica Hecht) for a much-needed quiet vacation. But life has other plans for the seasoned investigator, as he becomes entangled in a tragic event that takes hold of the island town he stays in. Ambrose is forced out of retirement to uncover the truth behind the case, which involves Percy(Alice Kremelberg), the daughter of an important family in the town. As the detective sets off on the case, he is also forced to stare down his own personal demons that haunt him.

Review:

After an underwhelming third season that failed to capture the gumption and intrigue of the previous ones, The Sinner had its work cut out for it in terms of delivering a season to make up for missing the mark last time. And it certainly did in the best of ways, with an explosive final season that packs the punch of its glory days that made it such a popular show.

In the current season, the now-retired Harry Ambrose finds himself a part of a startling case involving the youngest member of an influential family, while he is on vacation to an island in Maine accompanied by his partner, Sonya. Still troubled by the traumatic experience he had to go through on his previous case, the quietude and sea air do little to improve his spirits. When he becomes the only eyewitness to the apparent suicide of Percy, the heir to the Muldoon family, who own and operate the island’s oldest fishing business, Ambrose has to leave behind his vacation plans to get to the bottom of the unsettling case.

The current season also sees the series follows the groundbreaking concept that made the show stand apart from other run-of-the-mill investigative dramas: focussing on the ‘why’ of it all when it comes to a shocking case involving the death of an ordinary, seemingly unremarkable person. And with each episode, Ambrose slowly unravels the threads that lead viewers to discover the layers of disturbing truths that hide behind the picture of normalcy the islanders give off, in a story that is structured to move at a pace that will help you fully absorb its intrigue.

This season’s story is a marked improvement over the last, which had faltered a few times along the way. The story is told in an engaging way, never veering off course once, with each episode peeling back just the right amount in the grand scheme that leaves you wanting more. The season also takes the time to fully flesh out its characters, in a way that offers believable reasons and motivations for every action they commit, leaving you invested in what happens to them whether you want to be or not.

The Sinner is truly Pullman’s show, and he reminds viewers of that in the current season as well, with many instances that show off Ambrose’s ‘larger than life’ character. From narrow escapes that might seem implausible and a sense of justice rigid to a fault, Ambrose is definitely not a hero viewers can identify with on most levels. But the series tries to remind us of his humanity by making him grapple with his personal demons of the past, although it does little to give the character any sense of reliability. Pullman nonetheless gives a dignified performance worthy of praise.

The supporting cast also does a great job at beautifully essaying the emotions of their flawed, troubled characters. They authentically capture their characters inner conflicts, frayed emotions and psychological turmoil exceptionally well, which just adds to the already well-written story.

The series also delivers on its traditions of placing well-positioned misdirects throughout its eight episodes that’ll throw off even long-time fans . If you were sure you were 100% certain about where the story was going, it manages to pull out the rug from under you, and the unpredictability really adds to its entertainment value.

And of course what is a season of The Sinner without an element of the bizarre and unorthodox. While it was the outlandish ‘healing’ rituals of a cult last time, it is a mystic brand of spirituality intended to be a transcendental experience in the current season. The island setting, captured by some beautiful cinematography, also adds to the mystique.

Most importantly this season of the series delivers in terms of a meaty climax that viewers can really sink their teeth into, and it does so while making sure to tie up all loose ends so that you’re never left wondering about a single thing.

Verdict:

The fourth season of The Sinner is leaps and bounds ahead of the previous season, with a riveting premise and a storyline that moves at a good pace. The deep characters and wonderful performances by the cast, and a story developed well enough in a way you can’t poke holes in, make the drama an absorbing watch.

The Sinner is available to stream on Netflix.