SERIES REVIEW – Time travel is far from a new topic in pop culture (think H.G. Wells’ 1895 time machine or the 1980s Back to the Future movies), but Netflix’s latest eight-part miniseries, Bodies, offers a relatively fresh and exciting approach. Of course, fans of the Darkness and 1899 series may be familiar with the story, as the leap between past and future is central here, and the characters must once again deal with the complexities of time as they discover their destinies and the dark secrets of the past. Bodies’ mood and story elements are also strongly reminiscent of Darkness, where time travel, mystery, and family drama are closely intertwined… After the early (and unjustified) cancellation of 1899, Bodies could easily fill the void and give fans another mysterious time travel adventure series.

The Bodies series follows an exciting time-travel concept in which four London detectives encounter the same mysterious corpse at four different times. As in the Darkness and 1899 series, time travel plays a key role in the story, which should be of particular interest to fans of those series. The Darkness series is set in the fictional German town of Winden, where the mysterious disappearance of a young man reveals secrets and bizarre connections between four families that also involve time travel. The 1899 series deals with similarly intriguing and mysterious themes, and Bodies follows this line of thought by using the concept of detectives and time travel to shape the story. Similar to its two German predecessors, the Bodies series uses great acting and strong production values to make the story exciting, and it also creates an emotional connection between the audience and the characters that keeps the viewer interested even in the complexities of time travel.

Four eras, four London detectives, one victim!

Netflix’s new series, Bodies, is an unusual time-travel crime thriller that tells the story of a murder from the perspective of four London detectives living in different eras. The premise is bold and fresh, and the cast is excellent, including Shira Haas, who made a name for herself with her enduring performance in The Orthodox.

The Bodies investigates a mysterious murder on Longharvest Lane, a dark and mysterious London street. The murder victim is an unidentified man with a strange tattoo and a mysterious wound on his body, but no bullet is found. The story thus takes place in four different time periods: the present, 1941, 1890, and 2053, where the detective played by Shira Haas finds herself in a future world where technology and utopian equality have been replaced by a cold and calculating autocracy.

What makes the show special is that each time period adds different characters and backgrounds to the mystery as the detectives try to unravel the connections between past and future. The show builds slowly, but the acting and character development keep the viewer engaged throughout. The performances of Shira Haas, Amaka Okafor, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, and Kyle Soller, an 1890s detective with his own inner issues, are outstanding and create an interesting dynamic between the detectives of different eras.

However, the performance of Gabriel Howell, who plays the young Elias, can be a bit melodramatic at times, and the story around which it is built is not psychologically well developed. However, Stephen Graham, who plays the older Elias, is flawless in his performance and fits the mood of the series well.

Not just a murder mystery

The Bodies series is not just a simple murder investigation, but a complex time-travel mystery that also explores deeper questions. The series is not afraid to touch on social and political issues, as the detectives confront social prejudice and various forms of human hatred in the past and the future.

The graphic novel on which the series is based, by Si Spencer, has provided a strong foundation for the story, with shifts between past and present keeping the reader interested. The directors, Marco Kreuzpaintner and Haolu Wang, successfully create the atmosphere of the different time periods and effectively convey the specific atmosphere of each era through costume design, set design and character behavior.

The series is also exciting, full of surprises and thought-provoking, and while it sometimes lacks the depth that would make it truly memorable, the dynamic between the characters and the mystery, as well as the high quality of the production, make it a worthy presentation of a bold and exciting journey into the deep recesses of time and the mystery surrounding a single character that permeates everything.

The single body, four timelines unique idea

In addition, the idea of a mysterious body appearing at four different times is unique and innovative. The story unfolds gradually, with each episode adding new layers to the mystery, which focuses on time, memories, and human relationships. The characters are well developed and easy to relate to, while the jumps between past and future are exciting and interesting.

It is also worth mentioning how faithfully the sets and costumes reflect the historical periods of the two pasts. The show’s directors, Marco Kreuzpaintner and Haolu Wang, manage to create an atmospheric and dark London, the perfect backdrop for investigating a murder mystery. The cinematography and musical score also add to the dark and mysterious atmosphere of the series, keeping the viewer glued to the screen throughout.

The time travel theme and the scientific elements, while not very deep, bring exciting twists and surprises to the story. Bodies obviously does not strive for scientific credibility, but rather focuses on mystery and human relationships. The social and political issues raised in the series add depth to the story and message.

The Bodies series is an exciting and intriguing investigation into the mystery that is also a story about the mysteries of time and the human soul. With a strong cast, superb direction and high quality production, the series stands out from its peers and provides the viewer with a memorable and thought-provoking experience. For those who enjoy time-traveling mysteries and stories with diverse characters, Bodies can be an exciting and entertaining watch.

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