Alias Grace Overview: Margaret Atwood Can Do No Wrong

The Canadian production of "Alias Grace" is the latest Margaret Atwood adaptation to hit the screen. It's current available on NetFlix. It follows the success of the wildly popular Emmy award winning "Handmaid's Tale" (currently on Hulu).

"Alias Grace" is based on true story of "celebrated murderess" Grace Marks (played excellently by Sarah Gadon). She is committed to an asylum for thirty years for the murder of her employer Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper/mistress Nancy Montgomery (Anna Paquin from "True Blood"). Farmhand McDermott says Grace was ringleader in the killings (instead of him). James has a less than stellar reputation and is later hanged for the crimes.

As the series begins, Grace is visited by American psychiatrist Dr Simon Jordan. He has been hired by several benefactors to try to get Grace paroled. Through their meetings we learn Gracie's story. Is she telling the truth or just what the doctor wants to hear?

Women did not have many options in the 1840s. Grace was trapped the moment she was born. Her father, an alcoholic and gambler, takes her family from Ireland to Canada. Her poor mother dies in route. This leaves Grace to fend for herself. The potential for abuse is at every turn. Grace has no recourse. We see what happens to Grace's BFF Mary Whitney after a botched abortion.

I enjoyed the introduction of spirtualists, the hypnosis scene and the ambigious ending. Were Grace and Jeremiah conning everyone? We'll never know the truth because Grace is the person telling the story. And despite her pretty face and innocent countenance, she's nobody's fool. Grace may in fact be the smartest person in the room.

Grade: 4 3/4 Monsters (out of 5). "Alias Grace" may be a slow burn for some but with just six episodes it's worth the watch. The topic is as relevant today as it was in the 1800's (especially given the recent sexual harassment scandals). Have we really come that far in 150 years? Some days it doesnt seem like it. Sarah Gadon is a very compelling onscreen presence. She does an amazing job of displaying all the conflicting emotions of Grace-- strength, vulnerability, coyness, etc. Her performance is definitely award worthy.