Based on a novel of the same name, The Good Daughter focuses on two estranged sisters: Samantha Quinn (Rose Byrne), who moved away to New York and her younger sister Charlotte (Meghann Fahy), who stayed behind in their hometown in Georgia with their father, Rusty (Brendan Gleeson). The Quinn family is a family of lawyers, and Rusty takes on the most controversial cases in town, including Kelly Wilson’s (Shayna Bernando) case and her involvement in a tragic accident. This brings the sister back to the past, to their shared trauma and the attack they both survived when they were only young girls. 

The family dynamic is strong, with the actors displaying excellent chemistry that makes the audience believe they are a real family with deep underlying trauma and an unspoken past. The family story runs parallel to the legal process and investigation around the tragedy that shook the town. This works for the majority of the show as the two mirror each other, leaving space for the many flashback sequences to be seamlessly and naturally integrated within the main storyline. At times, the two plots may seem a little separate despite their parallels, especially towards the end of the show when they move towards their own resolution. 

“The truth must dazzle gradually, or every man be blind,” is a quote from an Emily Dickinson’s poem that constantly returns in the show. This speaks to the key aspect that makes this show work: the element of surprise and the constant twists and turns that are bound to surprise us over and over again. The series makes the audience believe in a series of assumptions only to then unravel them right in front of us to reveal that the truth had been hidden far deeper than the viewers could have imagined. But it does so gradually, walking us through each reveal and giving it as much time as necessary to explore its consequences and relevance to the plot.

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The set-up in episode 1, and partially in episode 2, is lengthy as the show has a lot of background information it needs to convey to the audience. However, it does so brilliantly by always delivering its key information in conflict, keeping the pace tight despite the very dialogue-heavy scenes. The show is at its best after the initial set-up is completed and once Fahy and Byrne, whose absence is very much felt in the first episode, can finally share a screen and act opposite each other. 

This is a heavily character-driven story that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end, when everything finally pays off and all the secrets are revealed, perfect for fans of the thriller or crime genre. The Good Daughter is a well-made thriller and an even better family drama with brilliant chemistry between its main cast and a compelling narrative. 

★★★★

On Sky on November 12th / Meghann Fahy, Brendan Gleeson, Rose Byrne / Created by Karin Slaughter / Peacock, Sky TV

About the Author

Clotilde Chinnici

Author

Clotilde’s love for film began at a very young age with the Disney cartoons she would watch over and over. However, her passion for films truly sparked with franchises like Hunger Games and Harry Potter. After graduating with a BA in Film from King’s College London, Clotilde started working in film production and entertainment journalism while developing a deeper understanding of film movements and trends. Although most of her time is occupied by watching films, writing and talking about them to anyone who will listen, Clotilde enjoys reading and baking in her free time.

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