The #2 Show on Apple TV+ Is an Intense 1960s Crime Thriller—And It Stars One of My Favorite Actors

I love watching a good ole period piece . If you fall into this category as well, then you definitely need to be watching the new Apple TV+ limited drama series Lady in the Lake . Now I must admit that I’m a bit hesitant to start new shows these days for the simple fact that so many of them are canceled pretty much as soon as they get off the ground (there’s nothing worse than a show abruptly ending with no real answers to, well, anything), but I was convinced by my friend to give this Natalie Portman crime thriller a shot. Needless to say, I’m already obsessed thanks to its riveting storyline and intense acting.

Best of all, because it’s a limited series, there’s actually a *real* conclusion to look forward to. If you’ve been searching for some new entertainment, allow me to give you three reasons as to why you should make Lady in the Lake your next binge watch.

1. The Thrilling Storyline

Apple TV+

For those who don’t know, Lady in the Lake is based on the 2019 novel of the same name written by Laura Lippman. The story is set in 1960s Baltimore, and hones in on an investigative journalist who seemingly becomes obsessed with solving the murders of 11-year-old Tessie Durst and a bartender named Cleo Johnson. While there’s plenty of entertainment that comes along with the mysterious plot line, the show also does a good job of highlighting the many racial, social and gender structures of that specific time period. The series being set in 1966 makes it right at the tail end of the Civil Rights Movement, and smack dab in the middle of many notable victories in terms of women’s rights such as the Griswold v. Connecticut Supreme Court ruling that prevented limiting women’s access to birth control.

2. The Mid-1960s Visual Experience

Apple TV+

Perhaps I’m alone in thinking this, but the visual/costuming details of a show not adequately matching the appropriate timeline of period pieces is something that irks me to no end. It might seem like a nit-picky small detail, but it definitely matters when you are retelling stories from certain eras. Lady in the Lake is a show that gets it correct from the 1960s Diana Ross and the Supremes-inspired hair, to the hippie-like fashion that began taking over in the latter half of the decade. Even the Volkswagen car models and housing designs (interior and exterior) are a match, which only adds to the superb watching experience.

3. The Powerful Performances

Apple TV+

Natalie Portman acts beautifully in her small screen debut, especially as she works through the intense process of uncovering the grisly details of the brutal crimes she's investigating. Another call out is the performance of Moses Ingram, who takes on the role of murdered bartender Cleo Johnson. Playing somebody who is "dead" isn't an easy task, but it's one I hope Johnson receives some recognition for as a rising actor when award season rolls around. (Prior to this series, Ingram was best known for her role as Jolene in the Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit .)

The performances of Portman and Ingram reel you in to the point where you won’t want to leave your couch until you find out what happens.

Lady in the Lake is now available on streaming via Apple TV+.

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