by Alice-Ginevra Micheli, Contributing Writer
I’m not going to lie. This review has taken me a while to write. Rarely has there been a show that has divided audiences and critics as intensely as The Crowded Room. When it was being advertised, it seemed to be another high-caliber drama series that Apple TV+ wanted to add to the roster. Add to it a stacked cast, including Tom Holland stepping out of the Spidey suit, and Amanda Seyfried, recently acclaimed from her role in The Dropout,and there seemed to be all the elements one would need to ensure success.
So color me, and most other general audience members, surprised when the critical reviews weren’t just bad, they were some of the worst in recent history. Having been assigned to review this show, I wasn’t looking forward to the task ahead of me; however, I bit down and started consuming episode after episode.
Having done so and taken the time to mull over it all, I can honestly say that this has been unjustly judged.
Following Holland’s Danny Sullivan, The Crowded Room takes place in the summer of 1979. Danny has just been arrested, and Seyfried’s psychologist, Rya Goodwin, has been chosen to solve the mystery behind the crime and criminal before more danger arrives.
Before I get into the meat, let’s touch on the performances. This is one of Holland’s best acting outings since Spider-Man: No Way Home,but in a completely different way. The energy that he is asked to bring to the table, ever-changing and completely imbalanced, would have been a challenge for even the most veteran of actors. However, the way in which he so easily shifts as required from scene to scene is nothing short of impressive. If this show hadn’t been so panned by critics, I would be certain that he would be a shoe-in for an Emmy nomination, if not a win.
Additionally, Seyfried is not to be ignored. Unlike her more recent dogmatic personality performance, Rya creates a much-needed grounding for Danny. She is the sympathetic and intelligent one, and is full of all the adult conflicts and subtleties that ensure a dynamic presence.
When the two are on screen together, it’s a joy to watch. Not necessarily because what’s happening is happy, but the undeniable magnetism present.
So now, I promised meat, and it’s time to get into it. Why has this show been so negated by the professionals in the field?
My theory is to do with the key storytelling choice at play here. While I have been laissez faire in revealing this element in a more casual setting, I will respect the reader’s choice as to whether or not they will “spoil” themselves regarding it. I say “spoil” in quotation marks because I actually think it will enhance the viewing experience, not tarnish it.
Personally, I went in already knowing what was going to happen purely based on my knowledge of the real life court case that this story is inspired by. Therefore, I was watching from an informed perspective. It is this reviewer’s opinion that this is an element that is required knowledge to properly enjoy the show. Ignoring the “gotcha” feel of it all allows the story itself to have a bigger impact overall.
In fact, I believe it was a poor choice on the part of Akiva Goldsman, the show runner, to try and involve this kind of storytelling in an attempt to emulate some renowned movies of the past. This works best when you understand what you’re in for. You have to be in it for the long haul, and then you will then be rewarded.
This is a human story that deals with the very real limits of a person’s mind, and the consequences of reaching them. It’s an intimate portrayal of a specific example regarding mental health struggles, designed to open up the conversation around its controversy. It shouldn’t be considered as a blueprint to mental illness, or the right or wrong way to deal with it. It should instead be seen as one tragic story that could be retold in a different way had there been the understanding we have now. We can’t forget, this is a show set almost 50 years in the past, and a lot of what happens is stuck in that era on purpose.
I’m not going to say that this is a miniseries for everyone. If you struggle with mental illness yourself, I highly recommend looking up the trigger warnings associated before diving in. However, I also highly recommend that viewers become familiar with the original case — even with just a quick Google search — before hitting play on that first episode. Your experience watching will be enriched, and will result in a deeper, more effective story for you overall.
I’ll be curious to see how this one is revisited in the future. I know I will be taking a look at it retrospectively. Maybe you’ll get a chance to as well.
Rating: High Side of Liked It
The Crowded Room is currently streaming on Apple TV+
You can read more from Alice-Ginevra Micheli, or follow her on Instagram and Letterboxd