Mare of Easttown
By Martin Brown,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Suburban murder mystery has violence, sex, drinking.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Mare of Easttown
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Shame about the language
Report this review
Good for 15+.
Report this review
What's the Story?
MARE OF EASTTOWN takes place in a small Philadelphia suburb, where Mare (Kate Winslet) is a local detective. Though the unsolved disappearance of a teenager haunts both her and the town, Mare typically spends her days chasing down petty criminals, most of whom she knows personally. When a young mother is brutally killed, Mare must root out the murderer within her small community.
Is It Any Good?
Kate Winslet may be the star, but it's the ensemble here that makes her new murder mystery series stand out from those that are pure logic puzzles or that focus strictly on killers or detectives. Before turning into a full-blown whodunnit, Mare of Easttown takes its time getting to know the town of Easttown and its inhabitants. It's interested in characters over pure plot. And, though Winslet's Mare is obviously at the center of the action, the town is made up of a sprawling cast of richly defined characters. Twists and turns inevitably come, but the depiction of Easttown itself (from Winslet's accent on down) is what makes the show work.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why murders are such a common element of drama. What is it about murder that's compelling for an audience?
Where is Easttown, and what is the community like? How does Mare fit in there? How does the setting affect the story?
How did the violence in Mare of Easttown affect you? What's the impact of media violence on kids?"
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 18, 2021
- Cast: Kate Winslet, Guy Pearce, Jean Smart
- Network: HBO
- Genre: Drama
- Character Strengths: Compassion
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Awards: Emmy, Golden Globe
- Last updated: May 19, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate