All Her Fault Season 1 Review: A Perfectly Twisted Show
All Her Fault is the perfect example of why audiences need to realize Peacock is a strong contender for original content. The series is perfectly written, has incredible performances by everyone involved, and delivers one of the best plot twists of the year.
Everything about the show is handled with such care that you don’t trust any of the characters until All Her Fault Season 1 Episode 7, when the plot twist is revealed. That’s when you begin to suspect one person, who turns out to be the most evil character of them all.
While Sarah Snook completely steals the show and her performance is beyond memorable, it is Peter who is to blame for everything. The title of the show is simply misleading, making us believe the mom is to blame when all along, he’s the one who brought this tragedy upon his family.
From the beginning, All Her Fault makes sure viewers mistrust the characters. Everyone seems to be hiding something, lying about something, or involved in the kidnapping.
Even Esther, whom we meet during Marissa’s worst hour, becomes a suspect for a short minute. Her trust is gained when she comes forward to talk about Kyle. Other than that, everyone remains under suspicion.
While the time jumps back and forth give us a closer look at what happened and why Milo was taken, it isn’t until Josie/Carrie’s backstory is shared with us that we understand their true importance. Most of the jumps only further push the idea that we shouldn’t trust them.
However, Josie’s past explains exactly why she did everything she did. Even though she is supposed to be the bad guy, Josie is simply a mother who lost her son and is doing everything she can to get him back.
She goes from being hated by the audience to fully understood. We reach a point at which we even feel sorry for her. Of course, kidnapping isn’t the answer, but we see why she goes that far.
The essence of All Her Fault is the motherhood experience. Every mother we meet is navigating their motherhood journey differently.
The series gives us a look at what hardships a mother can face, from the grief of losing a child to being judged for working a full-time job. But it goes as deep as talking about how lonesome this experience can be.
At school, mothers judge each other based on how they decide to raise their kids and what to do with their lives. A judgment that doesn’t even go away when a child goes missing.
But eventually, it’s motherhood that pushes both Josie and Marissa to act the way they do. Josie even tells Marissa that she’s talking to her “mother to mother.” While going about it in different ways, they both want to protect Milo.
Josie states she doesn’t want to hurt anyone, simply wants Milo to be taken care of. Marissa, on the other hand, commits murder to keep that promise. By the time she kills Peter, we’re all inevitably rooting for his demise.
Josie, Jenny, and Marissa stand out as great characters. Well-rounded women who have their own struggles, passions, and loves. But Jim stands out as much as they do.
His story goes beyond that of a detective who wants to find the missing child. We meet his family and understand his struggles. Viewers even see him breaking the law for the sake of his family.
That’s what pushes him to close the investigation and keep Marissa’s secret. Jim uncovers the truth because he pays attention to details and keeps a close eye on every underlying clue that we see.
Michael Peña’s performance stands on the same level as his counterparts, Snook and Dakota Fanning. A level that is met by Sophia Lillis as she delivers a performance just as great.
All Her Fault makes us despise Peter, feel sorry for Josie, and keep Marissa’s secret. Nevertheless, we end the series not really liking the characters.
They’re all messy, which makes them more real. They fight, keep secrets, make up, fall in love, and cry. They’re vulnerable, while some hide in their glass towers and money (cough Peter cough).
While the show gives us flawed characters, there are no flaws in the series. It is perfect from beginning to end.
What did you think of this episode of All Her Fault? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
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All Her Fault is available to stream on Peacock
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Lara Rosales
By day, Lara Rosales (she/her) is a solo mom by choice and a bilingual writer with a BA in Latin-American Literature known as a Media Relations Expert. By night, she is a TV enjoyer who used to host a podcast (Cats, Milfs & Lesbian Things). You can find her work published on Eulalie Magazine, Geek Girl Authority, W Spotlight, Collider, USA Wire, Mentors Collective, Instelite, Noodle, Dear Movies, Nicki Swift, and Flip Screened.