“The Last Thing He Told Me” joins the list of what were previously Lifetime movies that were enlarged (or simply stretched) to become limited series. In an efficient adaptation of Laura Dave’s novel that doesn’t soar much above that description, Jennifer Garner plays the woman who, “Dateline”-style, finds her husband is not what he seems.
Garner plays Hannah, whose picture-perfect marriage to Owen (“Game of Thrones'” Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is shattered when her husband chooses to depart when his company is under investigation.
“Protect her,” he urges in a mysterious note, “her” alluding to his 16-year-old daughter Bailey (“Mare of Easttown’s” Angourie Rice), who has treated Hannah like the typical wicked stepmother until then.
Hannah can’t figure out why Owen would flee, and her meetings with law enforcement hint there’s more going on than corporate shenanigans, but rather a deeper mystery hidden within his background. Hannah thus swings into detective mode, piecing together the complex trail of breadcrumbs with the help of a friend (Aisha Tyler) and a well-connected ex (Geoff Stults).
Dave collaborated on the adaptation with Josh Singer (Oscar winner for “Spotlight”), with Garner and Reese Witherspoon’s companies serving as the other producers. With seven episodes, the show doesn’t go on too long, but its disclosures don’t feel very unique until they occur, given the popularity of the “But do you really know your husband?” genre.
What that leaves is enjoying Garner’s return to thriller terrain (following her recent appearance in “Party Down”) and Hannah’s friendship with Bailey, which would have more impact if this wasn’t such a tired formula.
“The Last Thing He Told Me” gets a late boost from David Morse, who plays a significant part in the closing episodes, and Victor Garber, who played Garner’s spy daddy in “Alias.” However, by that point, the series had established itself as at best middle-of-the-road fare, serving as yet another reminder that in both TV drama and newsmagazines, the first order of business is to ask a lot of questions before saying “I do.”
“The Last Thing He Told Me” launches on Apple TV+ on April 14. (Disclosure: Lowry’s wife works at an Apple division.)
Source: edition.cnn.com
