Secrets are the backbone of ominous mystery series. Some people tell small lies with giant consequences. Others bury who they are for the sake of protecting others. But it all comes out eventually. And it’s just a matter of the cost—the body count along the way, how badly the lies hurt the people the protagonist is trying to protect. In the latest Netflix thriller, Toni Collette is a mom whose past creeps out when she tries to stop a violent act. And the Pieces of Her trailer indicates this past catches up with her and her daughter in a big way.
In the trailer, we see Andy Oliver (Bella Heathcote) stumble across a series of VHS tapes featuring her mother—we think—playing piano all over the world. But we can’t imagine she’s just a concert pianist. Not after we watch her handle a gunman with such finesse. Laura’s already a bit of an enigma but the trailer indicates she and Andy are in desperate need of an important chat. I am already stressed!
Here’s a brief synopsis, per Netflix:
In a sleepy Georgia town, a random act of violence sets off an unexpected chain of events for 30-year-old Andy Oliver and her mother Laura. Desperate for answers, Andy embarks on a dangerous journey across America, drawing her towards the dark, hidden heart of her family.
It’s always the sleepy towns where things get wild. Minkie Spiro directs the eight-episode series, which is based on the Karin Slaughter novel of the same name. Charlotte Stoudt is the Pieces of Her showrunner. Rounding out the cast are Jessica Barden, Jacob Scipio, Joe Dempsie, Aaron Jeffery, Omari Hardwick, Gil Birmingham, David Wenham, Calum Worthy, Nicholas Burton, and Terry O’Quinn.
As per usual, I am chock full of questions: How deep do Toni Collette’s secrets run? Which if these people—and how many—are going to die? Is my beloved Chris from Skins (a.k.a. Gendry Baratheon) a baddie? Obviously, I am going to find out. And luckily we don’t have to wait too long.
Pieces of Her releases on March 4.