by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
I recently had to have a conversation with my kindergartner about her iPad. One of her favorite apps is YouTube, and the algorithm got all out of sorts. It was tough to have the conversation about the dangers of the internet and social media, since I know she’s too young to understand. She just enjoys watching videos, but I’ve also noticed that she sometimes films herself doing a tutorial about something, and then signs off each video with like, rate, and subscribe. The internet is a powerful influence that every parent has to figure out how to deal with at some point or another.
Mrs. Davis is the extreme result of when the internet becomes completely out of control.
I remember watching the trailer and thinking it will be high concept sci-fi that will hopefully get me thinking about the risk associated with technology. It felt like Terminator but funnier. I saw Damien Lindelof’s name attached, and my level of interest rose immensely. Surely, the person behind such shows as The Leftovers, Lost, and Watchmen can bring something to the table and produce a hit for Peacock.
But I was not prepared for what Mrs. Davis show was about to say to me.
Mrs. Davis is a Siri-like AI assistant who controls almost all the people in the world. There are varying levels of control Mrs. Davis has over people, ranging from giving them second chances, or limiting the amount of time they have. She’s exceedingly powerful and finds ways to enact her will on others. There’s something powerful about her, but something terrifying about her capabilities as well. Literally invisible, Mrs. Davis can show up in literally anyone’s ear to proxy a conversation with anyone. The ability to show up anywhere at any time is an unsettling feeling, and catches Simone (Betty Gilpin) off guard.
Simone is our protagonist — she makes a deal with Mrs. Davis that she’ll look for and destroy the Holy Grail in exchange for Mrs. Davis shutting down for good. The Holy Grail isn’t a metaphor for something. She is charged with finding the Holy Grail. Also doubling down as a nun hunting down people who are magicians, Simone has a crisis of faith about her quest. Gilpin gives an amazing performance. She knows how to balance comedy with big emotional moments and action scenes. Simone certainly goes through the wringer throughout the series, questioning the validity of her quest at every turn, and risking a lot in order to find what she is looking for. She is also one of my favorite characters to root for.
Lucky for Simone, she has help from underground groups who are resisting the allure of Mrs. Davis. Front and center with the group is Wiley (Jake McDorman), an ex-partner of Simone and a leader of the resistance movement. Wiley serves as a connection to Simone’s past who will help her no matter what, but matters are complicated because of their love story. Wiley serves as a pseudo-foil to Simone. He’s embraced Mrs. Davis in the past, while Simone has consistently resisted her, and Wiley doesn’t have much in the name of faith, versus Simone, who has fully embraced her faith since she became a nun. McDorman perfectly encapsulates Wiley, and his chemistry with Gilpin is off the charts. He’s not afraid to call Simone out on her crap, but he’s also willing to risk his life to protect her. In a way, Wiley’s story is just as interesting as Simone’s, and he could have been the main character if someone else was producing the show. Thankfully, they keep Wiley as a secondary character and Simone as the main hero.
My favorite part of Mrs. Davis is the themes revolving around technology. What I did not expect is a story that shows the power of faith and how it parallels the pull of technology. Simone constantly questions things with her fellow nuns, and she doesn’t act like a typical nun. Her quest is the perfect example of a leap of faith that she has to take to accomplish her goals. There’s often a pull of both opposing forces among people. The writers manage to strike this balance, commenting on how seductive both religion and technology are, and how they require so much from people. Wiley’s true test during the final episode is my favorite part of the entire series, as it explores how people can measure their own value without the need for religion or technology.
The ending presents a strong case for great storytelling, and leaves it to the imagination of the viewer. Lindelof is great at this ambiguity; the story he wanted to tell may be done, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the entire story is over. I was floored by the ending, simply because it leaves everything so open. I remember watching the end of Watchmen with a very similar feeling. Since Mrs. Davis is considered a limited series, this is all we’re going to get, which I’m strangely okay with.
Peacock is on a roll lately, with Poker Face and Bel-Air having strong seasons this year. Mrs. Davis brings the streamer to a whole new level of quality, and makes it a service worth subscribing to. The series balances an amazing adventure around the world, and sports some of the best performances this year. I loved Mrs. Davis — it is one of the stronger seasons of television this year.
Score: 9/10
Mrs. Davis is currently streaming on Peacock
You can read more from Mike Hilty, and follow him on Twitter, Letterboxd, and Serializd