The easiest thing to say about Fool Me Once, the latest Harlan Coben thriller, is that the lack of originality is a weak point for the new Netflix adaptation. Sure, we can all agree that this show is not the most original show to premiere in a while, but, it might be one of the most thrilling and unpredictable that has hit my screen in a very long time.
Fool Me Once follows Maya, who tragically saw her husband be brutally murdered right in front of her. Now, she and her daughter live seemingly simple lives, like any normal family. But, when Maya receives a nanny cam as a gift, things go wrong. Unexpectedly, Maya sees her dead husband on her nanny cam – holding her daughter.
The first episode of Fool Me Once might be one of the worst ‘pilot’ episodes this year. Sure, we are only a week through January, but after watching the first episode, I was extremely close to dropping this show. Something made me want to continue to watch this, even though, in the back of my mind, I thought I wasn’t going to like it, but I wanted to give it another shot. I didn’t want to give up on the first show I’d watched this year so quickly. Long story short, I am delighted I didn’t give up on this show because episode two was extremely thrilling and gripping.
Directors: David Moore (5 Episodes), Nimer Rashed (3 Episodes)
Cast: Michelle Keegan, Adeel Akhtar, Richard Armitage, Emmett J Scanlan, Joanna Lumley, Laurie Kynaston, Dino Fetscher, Marcus Garvey, Thea Taylor-Morgan, Daniel Burt, Natalia Kostrzewa, Edward Harper-Jones, James Northcote
Airdate: January 1st, 2024 (All 8 Episodes)
Many might find Coben’s latest adaptation fairly comforting, as it uses many of the solace aspects that many viewers find comfort in, which is why Coben’s novels are so popular in the first place. However, this isn’t a show to put on in the background while you do chores or scroll on your phone. Every second of Fool Me Once counts. If viewers want to try and solve the mystery of Maya and her family, they will need to give their undivided attention to the screen.
Wyatt’s Takes 