Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Complacent Harlan Coben series has violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Fool Me Once
What's the Story?
FOOL ME ONCE follows Maya Stern, a recent widow raising a young daughter on her own after her husband's murder. When she thinks she sees her dead husband on the nanny cam, Maya's motivated to untangle a byzantine conspiracy around her husband's death.
Is It Any Good?
Netflix's Harlan Coben series have become a cozy and reliable source for mystery stories that know how to sustain suspense and intrigue, but this one drops the ball. Fool Me Once never really gains momentum, and the characters are only defined in broad strokes (overbearing mother, drunk widower, rookie cop, etc.). Lead actor Michelle Keegan can't quite get the tone right -- her character mostly shrugs off all the strange and malevolent things that happen, despite her deep personal stake in them. The result is a mystery with mechanics that function, but without the production support to make them work.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the mystery. What is the central question of the show? What are the clues? What do you think happened? Why?
What are some tactics that Maya Stern uses as she searches for answers? Do you think she's right do use these tactics? Why or why not?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 1, 2024
- Cast : Michelle Keegan , Adeel Akhtar , Joanna Lumley
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : May 20, 2025
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