Netflix fans have become completely hooked by a period drama hailed as 'excellent.' The six-part series, titled Alias Grace, transports subscribers to 19th-century Canada, unfolding across two timelines: 1843 during a notorious double murder, and 16 years later when a psychiatrist assesses whether one convicted murderer deserves a pardon on grounds of insanity.
True Story and Adaptation
The series centers on the killings of Scottish gentleman farmer Thomas Kinnear and his pregnant housekeeper Nancy Montgomery. Housemaid Grace Marks and stablehand James McDermott were found guilty; McDermott was executed, while Grace's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, with both accusing each other. The story is based on true events and adapted from Handmaid's Tale author Margaret Atwood's 1996 novel of the same title.
Cast and Reception
Wayward star Sarah Gadon portrays Grace Marks, with Kingsman actor Edward Holcroft as her psychiatrist Dr. Simon Jordan. CB Strike's Kerr Logan plays James McDermott, and Due South's Paul Gross and True Blood's Anna Paquin appear as victims Thomas Kinnear and Nancy Montgomery. One fan on IMDb praised it as 'an outstanding series, so well told and brilliantly acted.' Another described it as a 'perfect balance of beauty and horror,' while a third called it 'excellent' and 'not to be missed.' A fellow user added: 'The way the story messes with your brain is sooo good. It's not even fast or dramatic in a typical way, but it just pulls you in slowly and suddenly you're completely hooked.'
Author's Perspective
Discussing the novel with Virago, Atwood explained: 'The book itself is "pieced" like a quilt - with contrasting views - every faction at the time had their version of Grace. Demon or innocent? Even - tall or short? But in the gaps in the story - the places where evidence was not there or had gone missing - I felt free to invent.' Alias Grace is available to stream on Netflix.
