Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mystery drama relies on intricate plot, has some violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Stranger
What's the Story?
When a mysterious woman calling herself "THE STRANGER" approaches Adam Price (Richard Armitage) with secret information about his wife, she sets off a chain of events that involves an intricate web of people throughout the town. As Price attempts to cope with the unsettling news about his relationship, his wife disappears and he finds himself embroiled in a series of mysteries that may or may not be related to her disappearance.
Is It Any Good?
In lieu of a single, compelling premise, this series' mystery is a web of disparate threads, which not only makes it plot-heavy but prevents any real character development. Netflix's previous adaptation of a Harlan Coben novel, 2018's Safe, starring Michael C. Hall, was largely successful on the strength of the story's urgency: Hall's character charges around a small town to find his kidnapped daughter. It's fun to think of The Stranger as the second installment in a Netflix-Coben anthology, but this miniseries lacks many of the elements that made Safe so satisfying. Without someone truly interesting to root for, the burden is on the eventual plot payoff -- one that never really comes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the central mystery in The Stranger. Why are mysteries fun to watch? Do you usually guess the resolution or do you like to remain in the dark?
How might The Stranger differ from other mysteries you've seen? Who are viewers meant to be rooting for? Who are the suspects? Who are the detectives? How do these roles change as the show progresses?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 30, 2020
- Cast : Richard Armitage , Siobhan Finneran , Jennifer Saunders
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : January 31, 2022
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