By Chelsie Derman
Reviews Editor
“The Stranger,” Netflix’s latest binge worthy mystery series, leaves viewers dying to watch its addicting storyline unravel. The compelling British series made its debut on Jan. 30.
Centered on the seemingly normal Price family, hell breaks loose when a stranger approaches the father of the family, Adam Price (Richard Armitage), and reveals that his wife faked her last pregnancy. As the father of two sons, and the almost-father of the child he lost through a miscarriage, he questions the integrity of his wife and becomes hellbent on finding out the truth.
Outside of the drama surrounding Price and his lying wife, gravitating mysteries arise around the town. The pounding, heart-racing music in the background, along with the snippets of flashbacks and odd clips — such as the naked, terrified boy racing through the field — advances the story’s suspense. Even when mysteries are solved, more questions arise— who did it? Who’s lying? Who’s the stranger?
“The Stranger” is based on the Harlan Corben novel and was adapted and written by Danny Brocklehurst. On screen, the show does an excellent job of making the storyline come alive, through the character’s raw emotions and the pounding music which emphasizes how crazy and confusing everything has become. With all the mysteries thrown at the characters, their lives have, in a sense, turned upside down.
Not only does the show’s town mysteries, such as the naked boy and the decapitated alpaca, add to the suspense of the story, but throughout the show, I couldn’t help but wonder how Price’s lying wife and these odd occurrences were connected.
The titular character, The Stranger, plays a crucial role in the storyline. The character is known for approaching people in their day-to-day lives, revealing that she is aware of their secrets. The Stranger typically runs away after receiving blackmail from her victims to avoid answering any questions.
By the end of season one, the show successfully answers the questions that were raised and leaves the viewer satisfied. The story wraps up in an appalling, unexpected way that left my heart racing until the very last scene.
“The Stranger” forces viewers to question whether they can really trust the people around them and raises an alarming question — who is actually on our side?
It is easy to binge watch “The Stranger,” as the show never fails to keep you on the edge of your seat. The suspense, characters and music all add to the development of the story, making it a thrilling watch. I highly recommend this show to anyone who loves a good mystery and enjoys watching the startling truth unfold in front of them.
