Lady in the Lake - (Apple TV+) 

By: Rachel Brodeur

Lady in the Lake may take place in 1960s Baltimore, but there is something about it that is shockingly modern. This immersive moody thriller is a fresh addition to Apple TV’s diverse roster.  The costuming, the makeup, and the sets all convey that it is a period piece, but the strength and conviction that star Natalie Portman (Black Swan, Jackie) brings to protagonist Maddie Schwartz, feels like a more timeless tale of womanhood. 

Based on the 2019 novel of the same title by Laura Lippman, Lady in the Lake starts with a missing child, but the voiceover foreshadows that the story is also about a missing woman. The seven episode limited series follows seemingly parallel stories of Jewish housewife Maddie Schwartz, and African American single mother Cleo Johnson, played by Moses Ingram (The Tragedy of Macbeth, The Queen’s Gambit). Early in the series, Maddie and Cleo cross paths, but the ongoing impact of their timelines and connections to each other feels more profound as juxtaposing scenes continue to link them. In fact, it is Cleo Johnson that provides the voiceover narrating Maddie’s life. These women may live in the same city at the same time, but they reside in different worlds. Social segregation and both indirect and direct racism are pervasive factors impacting both women’s ability to achieve their goals. 

Exactly what each of their goals are, is also part of the mystery, as both women have their secrets. There is crime; there is deception; there is danger, but overall there is a desperation in their actions forced upon them by their circumstances, by society, and perhaps even by themselves. Lady in the Lake can be confusing and intense at times, but invested viewers will not be disappointed. Ultimately, Maddie Schwartz is willing to do anything to discover the truth, even when those truths don’t want to be discovered.

Rachel’s Rating: 8/10

Natalie Portman brings star power to Apple TV’s limited series thriller Lady in the Lake. With clever editing, the blend of mystery, crime and social commentary on 1960s city life offers a gripping and intense experience.