The Widow

The Widow is a drama series by Amazon released in 2019. It is an exhilarating eight-part mystery thrill ride that is part heart-wrenching personal drama, part suspenseful adventure story. The series is a co-production between Amazon and British network ITV and was created by screenwriting duo Harry and Jack Williams, best known for curating gripping narratives like Liar, The Missing, and Rellik. The plot intricately weaves its narrative, divulging information in calculated chunks while juxtaposing contrasting visual terrains to keep the viewers hooked.

The series title 'The Widow' refers to Georgia Wells, impressively portrayed by Kate Beckinsale, who has removed herself off-grid since the unfortunate death of her husband in a plane crash over the Congolese jungle three years prior. Georgia's formerly active lifestyle in the English countryside has been replaced by solitude, where she lives in the Welsh mountains far from her past life. The story starts to race when she spots her supposedly deceased husband, Will, in a news story on a riot in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. This catalyzes Georgia to embark on a journey into the heart of darkness, both emotionally and geographically, to find the truth.

Contrasting the rugged landscapes of Wales, the series capitalizes heavily on the atmospheric and chaotic urban landscapes of Kinshasa and the dangerous terrains of the Congolese jungle. The visually striking settings form a captivating backdrop for the story as Georgia delves into a web of corruption, lies, and possibly murder to find answers.

The show adopts an interesting narrative structure, with time flitting between past and present, displaying the happier times of the couple and how they landed in this chaotic situation. This structure helps in deriving character depth and heightens dramatic suspense, with each historical flashback contributing to the growing puzzle of what actually happened to Will.

Georgia's tenacity and determination for the journey become emphatically clear when she repeatedly puts herself in dangerous situations. The hunger for truth and closure acts as her main driving force.

Alongside Georgia's mission, the storyline also includes other characters, each contributing to and complicated by the overarching mystery. Alex Kingston, as Georgia’s eccentric blind friend Judith Gray, and Charles Dance as Georgia's godfather and retired MI6 operative, Martin Benson, provide critical support and serve as an emotional anchor to Georgia.

Simultaneously, another narrative thread centers on Ariel Helgason, a blind man in Rotterdam, who is played by Ólafur Darri Ólafsson. He is trying to navigate his life after a tragedy, forging a new identity and dealing with his past. His storyline has quite a few surprises in store for the audience and builds another layer of mystery around the show's enigma.

Perhaps more than just a quest or a thriller, The Widow examines the effects of grief, desperation, guilt, and the lengths to which one will go to unveil truth, negotiate personal battles, and carry regrets. It often becomes a commentary on the postcolonial climate of Congo, highlighting child soldiers, illegal mining activities, and the socio-political landscape of a recovering nation.

The pulsating narrative is supported by pulse-pounding sound design that collaborates with the visuals to build tension. Additionally, the production design manages to capture the vibrant tapestry of the Congolese city and jungle landscape.

Nevertheless, the true core of The Widow is undoubtedly Kate Beckinsale. She carries the series on her shoulders effortlessly, shifting gears between vulnerability and tenacity with ease. Her portrayal of grief is raw yet nuanced, maintaining audience connection throughout.

In conclusion, The Widow is a gripping series filled with twists and turns that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Its narrative threads, although taking different routes, finely connect to form a suspenseful storyline. Beckinsale's standout performance, combined with splendid storytelling and a well-crafted script, make the series a worthy watch on Amazon. Clinging to whetted curiosity, the audience is ultimately driven by the very question that plagues Georgia - Is Will truly alive?