Netflix seems to have found its own Stephen King in Harlan Coben. The crime novel writer has already had several adaptations on the platform, also of very varied origin: ‘Safe’ (United Kingdom), ‘Forest Inside’ (Poland), ‘Don’t talk to strangers’ (United Kingdom), ‘The innocent’ (Spain), ‘Forever and ever’ (France) and ‘Stay by my side’ (United Kingdom). Added to these titles is ‘Not a word’, which has been causing a stir since its premiere on the platform.
not without my son
The story of ‘Not a Word’ takes place in a wealthy Polish housing estate, where a couple has to face the sudden disappearance of their son Adam. From there, the network of characters involved in the event will be deepened: from the police to the boy’s own friends, his relatives, the people from the places he frequented and a mysterious couple of murderers whose crimes have nothing to do with with this… or maybe yes.
This is a thriller very much in line with other adaptations by the same writer. Coben likes it intertwine plots that a priori they go in parallel and put continuous script twists so that there are constant surprises and the viewer never knows where the shots are going to go. Something that facilitates the viewing of the pull of its six chapters of 50 minutes each.
In this miniseries, in addition, topics that are very topical are touched on, such as the use of new technologies and the moral responsibility they imply (is it ethical to use them to control your children even if you tell yourself that it is “for their own good”?), bullying, drug use among young people… and the big question that leaves us at the end: How far would you be willing to go for your children?
A generic proposal
While this series does the job as the product it purports to be, a fast-paced entertaining thriller (and so fast, considering Netflix’s contract with the author to adapt 14 of his novels in 5 years), sometimes something that goes a little further is missing. Not in the sense of transcendent but it is true that the miniseries does not shine with its own light or among other adaptations of the author or among other proposals of the same genre.
Despite having a good pace in general, it does not make you end up sympathizing with the characters and that you are interested in them beyond their involvement in the plot of intrigue. Which isn’t a problem, if you’re just looking for a mystery to liven up the afternoon but, of course, don’t expect something along the lines of ‘Bron/Broen’ or ‘Broadchurch’ because you won’t find it.
As a curiosity, the series shares characters with the other Polish miniseries that Coben adapts (‘Forest inside’) although it is not necessary to have seen it to understand the story at hand.
‘Not a word’ is the new Polish miniseries from Netflix (a country that is giving the platform unexpected successes such as ‘The Indomitable Shrew’, 365 Days and its sequel) that thriller fans will likeespecially if you already know some of the adaptations of Coben’s works.