Today, Xiao Feng recommends an unpopular large-scale American drama - "Alias Grace" (English name: Alias Grace).
IMDB score of 7.6, Douban even reached 8.6 points, although there are only one season and 6 episodes, but the whole drama is very exciting, whether it is the plot or acting skills, it is impeccable.
Plot line
The play is based on the novel by Margaret Atwood and tells the story of a maid named Grace in 19th-century Canada.
Isn't it exciting that she's accused of murdering her employer and his butler?
The story begins with a psychiatrist, Dr. Simon Jordan, who comes to prison in order to assess whether Grace is really insane.
Grace sat there, sewing the quilt as she began to tell the story of her life.
Her story is like needlework in her hands, unfolding little by little, and each stitch hides a secret.
Grace's first big story was about her childhood, how she immigrated to Canada from Ireland, and her family background was poignant — her father was an alcoholic and violent.
Her mother died on a ship, and the experience had a great impact on her.
Later, Grace moved to Canada and began her career as a maid.
Her first employer was okay with her, but the real plot takes place at her later employer's house, where the murder took place.
She works with another maid, Mary, a bubbly girl who has an ill-fated fate and later becomes another key figure in the case.
Grace describes in great detail how the bodies of the employer and the housekeeper were found on the day of the murder, and the whole scene is described in a thrilling way.
But when she's talking, you always feel like she's hiding something, or something she hasn't figured out herself.
The highlight of this drama is that it is not in a hurry to tell the audience the truth, but slowly unfolds Grace's memories and Dr. Jordan's investigation.
The more the doctor listened, the more fascinated he became, and at the same time the more and more confused: was this woman a sincere victim or a cunning murderer?
Then, there's the wonderful place where Grace describes "hypnotherapy."
There is a scene in which she tells another version of the events in a hypnotic state, which is simply a big reversal of the plot!
When I saw this, I couldn't help but think: Does the screenwriter walk with his head upside down every day, and his imagination is too rich!
Each character is vividly portrayed, from Grace's complex inner world to Dr. Jordan's moral confusion.
Through Grace's story, the show explores how society viewed women at the time, and how fragile justice and truth were in the face of public opinion.
Whether it's Grace as a maid or a high-ranking celebrity, everyone's story has its two sides, and everyone can be a victim or a perpetrator.
This constant reversal of roles allows the audience to constantly scrutinize and speculate while chasing the drama.
Large-scale scenes
First of all, let's talk about the unbearable things that Grace suffered during her career as a maid.
Once, in the family Grace was serving, a relative of the host's family, a so-called "gentleman", actually secretly followed Grace to the kitchen after dinner.
This guy took advantage of the fact that others were not paying attention, and he brazenly did something to Grace.
But our protagonist is not simple, and directly gave the guy a slap in the face, letting him know that this girl is not easy to mess with.
And then there's an even more exciting one: Grace's good friend Mary, the lively maid, and the little affair between her employer.
Mary is taken to the study by her employer, and things don't quite go quite right.
Mary cried and told Grace afterwards, and the whole scene was both distressing and infuriating.
There are also some weird large-scale scenes in the play, such as the priest who claims to be able to perform hypnotherapy.
In a so-called therapeutic session, he put Grace into a hypnotic state, and then began to engage in very ambiguous words and actions.
The scene looks eerie and uncomfortable, raising deep doubts about the priest's true intentions.
In general, these large-scale scenes in the play are not only to create topics, but also to reveal and criticize the oppression and exploitation of women in that era.
Dr. Jordan
Throughout the plot progression, Dr. Jordan's role becomes more and more important.
He is not just a spectator, but more like a representative of the audience, and through his eyes, we see a woman who insists on her innocence after being abandoned by the world.
He begins to wonder if there is a larger conspiracy behind all this, if Grace is really guilty, or if he is just a pawn sacrificed by complex interpersonal relationships and social structures.
As the plot deepens, another layer of plot gradually emerges - that is, the subtle emotional entanglement between Dr. Jordan and Grace.
His sympathy for Grace gradually turns into emotional investment, which obscures his judgment.
When I see this, I want to say, isn't this a typical workplace taboo?
But it also reflects a profound theme: when emotions collide with duty, how should one choose?
The story continues
Grace's story continues, and she tells more details about other family members and friends, each of whom is like a character in the novel, and their choices and decisions all directly or indirectly affect Grace's fate.
In particular, those seemingly inconspicuous supporting roles often play a decisive role at critical moments.
The depiction of these characters makes the whole plot more rich and three-dimensional, and the audience seems to be able to touch the breath of that era.
In addition to the complexity of the characters, the reproduction of the social environment at that time in the play is also very in place.
From clothing to mannerisms, from social hierarchy to gender roles, every detail contributes to the construction of an authentic 19th-century Canada.
Of course, I have to mention the visual arts in the play.
Those exquisite scenes, whether it is a deserted prison or a gorgeous mansion, enhance the atmosphere of the story with their unique style.
And the quilt sewn by Grace is like a symbol of the whole play, and every stitch and thread carries her secrets and emotions.
THE END
As for the ending, Xiaofeng won't spoil it, I'm afraid everyone will say that I owe it.
But what is certain is that the drama "Alias Grace" is definitely an American drama that is very worth watching.
Recommended for drama shortages, like high quality, don't have much time, like large-scale friends, you won't be disappointed.