With ‘Baby Reindeer’, Netflix turned dark comedy into the genre of the moment. And with its latest series, the streamer is hoping to repeat the trick. ‘Bodkin’ blends a true crime thriller with twisted comedy.
The first scripted show from Barack and Michelle Obama’s production house, Higher Ground, it follows three journalists as they descend on an Irish town still haunted by the disappearance of three locals.
What starts as an attempt to make a true-crime podcast takes a turn for the sinister. The trio find themselves in the thick of suspicious events that prove the case is far from solved – and the culprit is still at large.
Here’s all you need to know about ‘Bodkin’ and where the series was filmed.
Is Bodkin a real town?
While ‘Bodkin’ riffs on true-crime documentaries, it’s all entirely fictional. The town doesn’t actually exist and most of the filming taking place in the Irish fishing village of Union Hall.
Characters in the trailer describe Bodkin as being in ‘the arse end of nowhere’, with the real location of Union Hall being located at the very bottom of the country and a population of just 270 people.
Cast member Siobhan Cullen said Union Hall ‘makes the perfect Bodkin.’
‘It’s so stunning and it encapsulates all of what people imagine about the beauty of Ireland. It’s all here, it’s such a stunning place.’
Where else was Bodkin filmed?
The locations of the idyllic, but fictional, town of Bodkin were filmed in West Cork, where the town is supposed to be located, with the shoot taking place in the summer months of 2022.
Filming also took place in Glandore Village, located less than two miles from Union Hall, with the two locations connected by Poulgorm Bridge, which features in the series. Glandore has a slightly larger population than Union Hall, with an estimated 1800 residents.
Dromadoon Pier, one of the southernmost points in all of Ireland, appears in Bodkin, with its stunning views of the ocean.
While most of the series takes place in remote locations, some scenes were filmed in Dublin, with the city’s Fenian Street making an appearance. Other scenes were filmed at Leopardstown Racecourse, located about ten miles south of the capital city. Some scenes were shot at Howth Castle, a historic residence dating back to 1177.
What’s the premise of Bodkin?
‘Bodkin’ follows a group of journalists who are looking to go viral by turning a local tragedy into a true-crime podcast series.
When they arrive in the picturesque, but remote town of Bodkin, they receive a frosty reception from locals reluctant to have their quiet village turned into a media circus.
The trio finally get a lead from loose-lipped residents at the local pub, but soon find themselves caught in the middle of mysterious events that suggest the culprit of a crime 30 years ago is still at large.
Is there a trailer for Bodkin?
Yes. Watch it below to get a taster of the latest Netflix series.
How many episodes are there?
There are seven episodes on Netflix now, ranging in length from 44 to 56 minutes.
Is Samhain a real Irish festival?
Samhain is a real event, taking place in Ireland on October 31 and is one of four Gaelic celebrations throughout the year, with Samhain marking the changing seasons from summer to winter.
‘Bodkin’ revolves around a disappearance that took place during Samhain, where people in the town celebrate by donning eerie masks so that the dead won’t recognise them and cause harm from beyond the grave.
In the series, Samhain is described as being ‘Irish Halloween’, though the festival is actually thought to predate Halloween, with the idea being that dead spirits returned to the land of the living to wreak havoc in order to please the gods.
Who is in the cast of Bodkin?
Will Forte heads up the Bodkin cast as American podcaster Gilbert. The actor is a veteran of ‘Saturday Night Live’ and star of ‘Nebraska’ and, of course, ‘MacGruber’.
Siobhán Cullen (HBO series Obituary) plays investigative journalist Dove, who grew up in Dublin and returns to Ireland to find the truth behind the mystery.
Completing the trio is researcher Emmy, played by British actress Robyn Cara (‘The Rising’).
David Wilmot (‘The Crown’) is Seamus Gallagher, a mysterious figure who can be charming when it serves his needs, but is prone to violent outbursts.
Chris Walley (‘The Young Offenders’), takes on the role of local resident Sean O’Shea, a young lad wrapped up in shady business and soon finds himself completely out of his depth.
What are the reviews saying about the series?
Other reviews have been more middling. 'A passable binge' is CNN's verdict, The New Statesman grumbles that ‘the satire feels too muted, lost in a thicket of shamrock jokes that are doubtless aimed mostly at the Americans in the audience'.
The best TV shows of 2024 (so far) that you need to stream.
The Gathering: All you need to know about Channel 4 thriller.