I just watched ‘Bodies’: a Review
“Four detectives in four different time periods of London find themselves investigating the same murder.”
By Segun Ade-Martins
I hate time-loop stories. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed Groundhog Day and, more recently, Palm Springs. Their storytelling techniques are some of the best the world has seen. What I disdain about them so much is the dread I feel about characters being trapped in the same sequence of events playing out repeatedly.
Maybe that’s what hell is, but I feel that dread so intensely, and I object to putting myself in that situation of consuming media that makes me feel so intensely wrong.
This is why you may be surprised to know that I thoroughly enjoyed Bodies, the Netflix miniseries based on a graphic novel released on Vertigo of the same name.
It’s a time loop that sneaks up on you. Firstly, the marketing was excellent. I probably would not have been interested in watching it if they had bashed the time loop elements in the trailer.
It’s so compelling because of the sense of mystery they create around the bodies in London that show up in four different time periods. And the fact that there are four detectives investigating essentially the same case.
First, we meet D.S. Shahara Hasan, played by Amaka Okafor (Naija in the house), who is a hijabi police sergeant with a good reputation at her station. The first shots open on her: training, visiting her father on his birthday, her son, and then into an impromptu work shift to contain a white supremacist protest and procession.
When she gets there, it’s already rowdy but contained. Then she notices a suspicious young man with a gun. This triggers a foot chase that leads to the discovery of a naked body.
All this happens within the first six minutes. The shot and sequence editing is seamless in this series, and the story editing is masterful, including the storytelling. It knows exactly when to cross the time periods and heighten their stories.
The 1890 timeline adds the most crucial part of the time jumps. Kyle Soller gives an excellent portrayal of the unfortunate in many ways, D.I. Hillinghead.
The other timeline takes place during World War II in London, facing regular bombing, and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd plays the corrupt but charming D.S. Charles Whiteman.
Finally, 2053 is a completely different world from events in 2023, and Shira Haas plays the hyper-loyal D.C. Iris Maplewood, which I feel is another crucial part of the time jumps.
I write this hoping that you know that all timelines are equally important; the endpoints of 1890 and 2053 are the most important for the mechanics of time travel.
Stephen Graham plays the mysterious Commander Elias Mannix and Sir Julian Harker, around whom the story revolves. His performance is incredible and carries the weight of the whole series with his reserved and measured brutality. “Know you will be loved,” he says repeatedly.
The whole cast gives excellent performances, making us invested in the four detective story arcs. “Bodies” hides common filmmaking techniques and structures perfectly. It’s as if life is unfolding before you, and the story feels inevitable. Why and how are the questions your subconscious screams at you while watching.
And just as it dials up the pressure on the characters, it reveals what it really is: a time-loop story. But it is one that I highly recommend watching; it gets 9.8 out of 10 for me.
To the filmmakers and cast, bravo!
Don’t watch it because…
You are an ultra-conservative person in your philosophy, and the homo-erotic storyline will offend you (it’s key to the story). You might also be triggered by the cult and conspiracy that drive the plot as well. And yeah, don’t watch if you don’t appreciate truly excellent sci-fi.
Watch it because…
I love everything about this series, from the story arcs of each major character to the villain. How everything connects and how bits are laid out in plain sight and turn out to be a super important story element. Also, the fact that the storytellers don’t explain the mechanics of time travel in nerdy detail.
Originally published at http://thestrangejournal.wordpress.com on November 8, 2023.
