Netflix viewers are hooked on The Sinner, a crime drama so addictive that fans admit to binge-watching from 8pm until 3am. The show, which first aired in 2017, has been described as "very unusual, very dark and very disturbed" by viewers, and it continues to captivate audiences on the streaming platform.
The series follows Detective Harry Ambrose, played by Bill Pullman, as he investigates disturbing murder cases. In the first season, he tries to understand what drove a young mother, Cora Tannetti (Jessica Biel), to brutally kill a stranger. The show also stars Christopher Abbott as Cora's devoted husband, Mason Tannetti.
What is The Sinner about?
The Sinner began as a miniseries but proved so popular that it ran for four seasons, from 2017 to 2021. It is based on the novel of the same name by Petra Hammesfahr and evolved into an anthology format, with Detective Ambrose examining a different murder case each series.
The official synopsis reads: "Detective Harry Ambrose investigates various atrocious murder cases and tries to analyse the reasons behind ordinary people committing heinous crimes. He employs some unusual tactics and a deep capacity for empathy to solve his cases. His boundless dedication is driven by his dark past, leading him into powerful and often dangerously intimate bonds with his suspects."
Why viewers can't stop watching
The show has an impressive 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes for its first season, with subsequent series scoring between 88% and 92%. The critics' consensus says: "The Sinner's first season, as a standalone, is as good as it gets. If you're looking for a murder mystery to sustain your dark impulses and drag you kicking and screaming from start to finish, look no further."
On Reddit, a user described the show in a discussion about "impossible to pause" series, saying: "Had plans to go out with a roommate. We started episode 1 at 8pm and next thing we knew it was 3am." Another user replied: "Literally the first show I thought of!"
One film critic echoed the sentiment: "After one episode, you'll happily want to skip the beach to stay home and watch the show you can't help but become obsessed with." An IMDb user review added: "This is a series that will keep you guessing till the end - very unusual, very dark and very disturbed. You won't feel good about yourself at the end in the nicest possible way. Very addictive and I loved the soundtrack too!"
The Sinner is currently streaming on Netflix UK, where subscriptions start from £7.99 per month.
