Dead to Me Review: Beyond the Drama and Black Humor

Does the end justify the means?

In the Netflix series Dead to Me, released in 2019 and ended in 2022, Liz Feldam explores this
idea through a dramatic storyline, full of crime and unexpected twists, while dipping into the
complexities of friendship and unconditional love.

The series begins in media res, with a grieving Jen, starring Christina Applegate, after her
husband has tragically died in a hit-and-run. Suddenly, Jen finds herself struggling with
balancing her new life as a single mother of two kids and her job as a real estate agent while
copying with an ongoing investigation with no leads and little support from the police. Amid this
chaotic scenario, Jen decides to attend a support group where she meets Judy (Linda Cardellini),
an eccentric but kind woman with whom she easily bonds. However, after spending more time
together, Jen realizes Judy has not been completely honest about her life. At the same time, the
audience learns that Judy was the person responsible for the hit-and-run that caused Jen’s
husband’s death. From that moment, the friendship between Jen and Judy is tested challenge
after challenge as new lies and secrets unfold.

Far from the dark and mysterious tone that usually accompanies this kind of plot, Feldman
embarks on the public in a humoristic TV series where the intricacy and motivation of the
characters are more important than their actions. As we learn more about our protagonists
through the use of flashbacks, what first started as a story with clear victims and victimizers
turns into a puzzle impossible to solve. A huge part of this is due to the script's construction,
which undoubtedly draws elements from Greek tragicomedies where the protagonists are
condemned to suffer and subject to divine intervention. Throughout the development of the 3
seasons that compose this series, it becomes harder for the audience to decide whether or not the
tragedies surrounding the protagonists are their fault or the result of destiny. The casting of the
show also does a great job both playing their roles and characterizing the emotions of their
characters, especially those of guilt and grief. The audience easily empathizes with them
preventing them from wishing them wrong.

Dead to Me also explores deeply the issue of mental illness and coping mechanisms. On the one
hand, we have Judy, who deals with depression but tries to remain positive about life, believing
in the greater good. However, her childhood trauma and fears of abandonment often make her
lose agency over her life, getting involved in tangled relationships. Jen’s mother-in-law, Lorna,
deals with her grief and guilt through substances, while Jen’s anger issues lead her to make
impulsive decisions throughout the series. Yet, despite touching on several serious issues, the
show is effective in maintaining its comedic tone throughout the series. The depiction of a
dramatic crime case in the paradisiac setting of Laguna Beach, along with the use of bright
lighting and cheerful jazz as soundtrack helps to create an ironic and almost absurd atmosphere
that keeps the series from falling into a thriller.

Although the plot twists in Dead to Me can become a bit tiring and unrealistic in seasons two and
three, the storyline remains interesting enough throughout its development to make it a
binge-worthy show. Packed with a unique script and stellar performances that have made the
show worth several Emmy nominations, Dead to Me is an easy show to recommend. It is a series
that not only entertains but comes as a thought-provoking show that challenges the viewers to
explore the spectrum of human emotions and the bonds we make with others. In the end, whether
or not the end justifies the means, Dead to Me leaves the audience with a new perception of what
is morally correct, and the burdens that one overcomes while making our way through life.