Time holds all secrets to the universe in the time-traveling Netflix limited seriesBodies. Based on the DC Vertigo graphic novel, it’s much more than just another entertaining entry within thescience-fiction genre. It’s an exploration into the passage of time, and how the choices we make not only define us but more importantly, the people around us.Jumping across four different time periods, the thriller series is a murder mystery, period piece, and family drama all rolled into one.One of the main draws ofBodiesis its phenomenal cast, and though there is no glaring star power with big Hollywood names, it does the series a service, as viewers aren’t distracted by celebrities. It’s often rare that time-traveling series can be digestible with its infamously complicated storylines, and it’s no small feat that the Netflix limited series more than accomplishes this.
The British thriller is an adaptation first and foremost, and it is one of the manysuccessful comic book adaptationsto come out in recent years. With adaptations come die-hard fans of the original source material, andBodiesmore than honors its roots while creating something magical of its own. The DC Vertigo graphic novel was written by authorSi Spencer, and across eight episodes, his story is brought to life through rich characters and philosophical pondering. Theseries jumps across four time periods and follows a different detective attempting to solve the same murderto varying degrees of success. A conundrum with seemingly no answer, a man’s naked body appears on the same street in 1890, 1941, 2023, and 2053, and his inexplicable death and appearance is what links all four detectives together.
Kyle Soller Leads a Great Ensemble Cast in ‘Bodies’
BodiesstarsKyle Soller,Jacob Fortune Lloyd,Amaka Okafor, andShira Haasas the four detectives, respectively, and each faces adversity within their time period as they go on the hunt for a murderer who evades justice by jumping through time.All four actors portrayingthe tortured detectives are the beating heart of the show, and each one hides secrets of their own as they attempt to uncover others' hidden truths. This is partially what setsBodiesapart from other series within its genres. It takes the time to explore the past in order to understand the present better and demonstrates the daily struggles former generations went through to fight for change. Soller’s performance as Detective Inspector Alfred Hillinghead is particularly moving, as he must conceal who he is in a society that is not yet ready to accept his true self. Soller, previously known for his work asSyril Karnin the Star Wars seriesAndor, fully embraces his gifts as a dramatic actor inBodies.
Why ‘Bodies’ Is the Perfect Murder Mystery to Binge-Watch
If science fiction and time-travel aren’t enticing enough to tune in, then the murder mystery at the series center should be. There are hundreds of rabbit holes and shady suspects, andBodiesbecomes an addictive whodunitthat will make you unable to resistbinge-watching the entire seriesin an entire sitting. If you need a break from the same predictable cop procedural shows, this is the perfect solution. British actorStephen Grahamportrays the main murder suspect who seems to appear in each time period, and he is the series' secret weapon. Appearing in acclaimed series such as HBO’sBoardwalk EmpireandPeaky Blinders, he gives one of television’s most wicked performances in recent years and is sure to be nominated for numerous awards. His evasion of the law as the four detectives attempt to track him down is invigorating to watch, and the series pays many homages to classic detective mysteries.
Bodiesis dark, and grimy, andleads viewers into the dingiest of places with pulse-inducing jump scares. It has tense, cigarette-smoke-filled interrogation rooms with startling revelations, and checks off every box that agood murder mystery seriesshould have while delivering even more. The most fun and exciting time period to watch is the one set in the present day, thanks to a phenomenal performance by Amaka Okafor who shines as a meticulous detective and single mother. Portraying Shahara Hasan, she is the first of the detectives to realize something otherworldly is happening, and she inarguably becomes the star of the series. As she gets closer to the truth and discovers chilling secrets,Bodiesbecomes the nextbest Netflix original crime thrillerviewers have been desperately craving as the streamer has been struggling with churning out hits.
How ‘Bodies’ Compares to Netflix Time-Travel Series ‘Dark’
WhileBodiessucks viewers in with a disturbing murderthat launches a hundred questions with no answers, it morphs into something much deeper and profound as the series delves further into life and death. What if there was a way for humans to cheat death? Would it make you a God, or the devil? Good versus evil is at the root ofBodies, and the series argues that when power falls into weak hands, the demons within often win. Yes, there are plenty of wolves hiding in sheep’s clothing who prowl the streets in this addictive thriller, but goodness is never too far away.
The German Netflix original seriesDarkhad similar themes as it jumped around different time periods, but it wound up being much more concerned with the meaning of life, and the things humans do to each other. It was universally acclaimed, andBodiesclearly took inspiration from the series and follows proudly in its footsteps.Bodiesshares similar interests withDark, and its concern with existentialism is its crowning jewel through the murder mystery investigation. How do we find meaning and identity in a meaningless world? It doesn’t offer simple answers. It makes us think and gifts us with something so much more profound than a time-traveling series with a gruesome death.
At its core, the series argues that we are not defined by what we think, but by what we do. Evident to anyone tuning in to watch,Bodieshas a bit of everything for everyone to love: tortured detectives with vices, determined to solve the case. It’s got ruthless mob bosses, cults, and heroes willing to sacrifice anything for the ones they love. It’s no secret that Netflix has been in need of the next big hit as it competes with its streaming rivals, andBodiesmore than delivers. It also uses the various time jumps to explore issues of racism, anti-Semitism, and homophobia, leading it to feel more relevant than ever as a compelling study of how people in society have strived to not only survive but to fight to be their true selves for centuries now. Over its ambitious eight episodes,Bodiesoffers a rollercoaster ride for viewers to embark on.
