Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis star in the new series 'Scarpetta', an adaptation of Patricia Cornwell's novels, but critics say it falls flat. The show, which took decades to bring to screen, has been described as a 'dire mess' that adds unnecessary tech elements, including an AI chatbot as a main character.
The series follows Kay Scarpetta, Virginia's chief medical officer, played by Kidman, as she investigates a murder case in the present day, with flashbacks to the 1990s where a younger Scarpetta (Rosy McEwen) pursued a similar killer. The dual timeline, not present in the original novels, is criticised for lacking tension and relying on sudden revelations.
One of the most criticised aspects is the inclusion of an AI chatbot, Janet, the deceased wife of Scarpetta's niece Lucy (Ariana DeBose). This subplot, along with a storyline about 3D-printed organs and astronaut deaths, is seen as a cynical attempt to modernise the source material. Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays Lucy's mother Dorothy, even has a scene conversing with the chatbot.
Despite strong chemistry between Kidman and Curtis as warring siblings, the show is deemed 'prestige trash' that stretches a potential four-part story into eight episodes. Critics argue that the series fails to build suspense and treats its female victims as mere plot devices, while the misogyny theme is reduced to a single line about not using the word 'bitch'.
