Mosaic

HBO’s Mosaic is an innovative and experimental attempt in the landscape of television drama that expands the conventional narrative boundaries of storytelling. Created by Steven Soderbergh, the famed director behind movies like 'Erin Brockovich' and 'Traffic,' the series first emerged in 2018 as a standalone mobile application before taking the form of a six-episode miniseries.

At its core, Mosaic is a thrillingly convoluted murder-mystery filled with intrigue and suspense. Dramatically set in the picturesque wintry landscapes of Summit, Utah, the narrative is centered around a popular children's author, Olivia Lake, played impressively by Sharon Stone. Olivia is a strong and flamboyant personality with a penchant for art and younger men, and her mysterious disappearance forms the crux of the narrative and sets off a chain of events that keeps the audience engaged and guessing.

Soderbergh's multi-format storytelling is on full display in Mosaic, given his reputation for risk-taking and genre-bending in his career. The viewers encounter a meticulously knit web of seemingly unconnected characters, all of whom have their motives, secrets, and inappropriate relationships that could potentially make them responsible for the crime. The lineup includes Eric Neill (Frederick Weller), a con-man who gets entangled with Olivia; Joel Hurley (Garrett Hedlund), an aspiring artist nurtured by Olivia; Nate (James Ransone), Eric's brother, who gets unwittingly involved in the deceptive plot; and Petra (Jennifer Ferrin), Nate’s significant other, a woman with her hidden agendas.

However, what sets Mosaic apart in the realm of TV drama is its unique, non-linear narrative style employed by Soderbergh and writer Ed Solomon. Instead of offering a straightforward, chronological sequence of events, Mosaic adopts a more complex scheme, chopping up the narrative timeline and scattering the pieces across its six episodes. This allows the audience to see events from different perspectives as the plot continually moves forward and backwards in time. As the series unfolds, the viewers get piecemeal revelations and snapshots of the characters' lives that simultaneously deepen the mystery and intrigue around Olivia's disappearance.

Additionally, the narrative style is complemented by the original 'Mosaic' mobile application. The app presented an interactive version of the narrative, where viewers could choose their own pathway through the story by selecting different character perspectives, thereby imparting an actively engaging viewer experience. While the app did not alter the main plotline, it gave audiences supplementary material like voicemails, emails, and news articles – expanding the evidentiary pieces of the storyline puzzle and increasing the depth of characterisation.

Production-wise, Mosaic upholds HBO’s enduring commitment to high-quality content. The cinematography and scene setups are stunning—a testament to Soderbergh’s capabilities as a director—and magnificently capture the chilly desolation of the Utah landscape that mirrors the cold, unforgiving nature of the narrative itself. It is visually engaging and atmospheric, enhancing the sense of place integral to the viewing experience. The performances too, especially that of Sharon Stone, are praiseworthy, breathing life into Soderbergh and Solomon’s ambitious endeavor.

Mosaic is ultimately a cerebral drama, demanding the audience's active engagement and attention in understanding its complex, fragmented narrative. It comes with the weight of compelling crime drama, and is equally experimental in its narrative approach. The series marries classic television form with modern techniques of interactive storytelling, creating a mosaic of perspectives, like its name implies.

Whether one chooses to perceive Mosaic as a revolutionary experiment or an overly ambitious project, there’s no denying that it is a refreshing addition to the roster of television series, posing as a challenge and an invitation for audiences to delve into the labyrinthine world of complex narratives and multi-perspective storytelling. With its distinct narrative approach and top-notch production, Mosaic is a series that pushes the boundaries and shapes the future of television drama.