One of the biggest shows on television in 2020 comes to the physical formats. The Undoing is based on the novel ‘You Should Have Known’ by Jean Hanff Korelitz, and is deserved of all of that acclaim; an absolute masterclass in televisual storytelling an career-best performances from both Nicole Kidman and particularly Hugh Grant.
The Undoing DVD review: Episodes seen: All 6.
Kidman plays psychiatrist Grace Fraser while Grant is oncologist Jonathan Fraser; wife and husband and parents to teenage son Henry (Noah Jupe). Clearly a highly successful couple in their own right, Grace is from a wealthy background, her father being widowed financier Franklin Reinhardt (Donald Sutherland). The Fraser’s world is thrown into disarray when the mysterious Elena enters their lives. Grace attracts the attention of Elena, and it is discovered that the pair’s children attend the same swanky local school. Elena’s behaviour towards Grace becomes increasingly unusual, from a naked presentation in the changing rooms at a local gym to Elena giving Grace a full-on-the-lips kiss in an elevator when leaving an auction at a fundraiser for the school. The plot thickens when Elena is later discovered battered to death at her local art studio. Said plot thickens even further when Grant’s Jonathan Fraser disappears after telling his wife he is attending a conference in Cleveland.
That brief synopsis roughly covers the opening episode, and to go any further would possibly spoil any enjoyment for new viewers. It’s a well-done piece of work, the narrative throwing curveballs, and red herrings aplenty across its six episodes. Suzanne Bier directs every single minute, the hugely talented director of the highly regarded The Night Manager and Bird Box, and that opening hour is an exceptional piece of television; a dynamite, tension-packed, glorious opener. Sadly, the pace drops a little from there on in, and the material does feel a little bit dragged out, and one may question whether the long-form adaptation is the right one for the source material. That said, there is enough going on to pull us back episode after episode – there’s no coincidence that this became Sky Television’s biggest American import since Game Of Thrones, a series that saw viewership grow week after week.
As I said, Kidman and Grant are superb, and it is probably the best thing I’ve seen Grant do for some considerable time. The supporting cast, particularly Edgar Ramirez is a little underused and not given time to shine, but a superb Donald Sutherland delights in his limited screen time.
Just search for ‘The Undoing’ ending explained and you’ll guess that the climax does offer a rather ambiguous closure. I found it a little disappointing considering the promise of what proceeded that final hour, but the performances and staging are so good you’ll walk away satisfied. Whether it stands up to repeat viewings and warrants a purchase on the physical format remains to be seen, but you’ll definitely find yourself recommending it.
