The Girl from Plainville

The Girl from Plainville
Genre
Created byLiz Hannah & Patrick Macmanus
Based onThe article
by Jesse Barron
Starring
Music by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
  • Liz Hannah
  • Patrick Macmanus
  • Elle Fanning
  • Brittany Kahan Ward
  • Lisa Cholodenko
Producers
  • Neal Ahern
  • Russ Hammonds
Cinematography
Editors
  • Kate Hickey
  • Libby Cuenin
  • Ryan Denmark
Running time40–49 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkHulu
ReleaseMarch 29 (2022-03-29) –
May 3, 2022 (2022-05-03)

The Girl from Plainville is an American biographical crime drama television miniseries created by Liz Hannah and Patrick Macmanus. The series stars Elle Fanning, Chloë Sevigny, and Colton Ryan.[1] It premiered on Hulu on March 29, 2022.[2] A portion of the series showed at SXSW on March 12, 2022.[3] The series is a dramatization of the events leading to the death of Conrad Roy and his girlfriend Michelle Carter's conviction for involuntary manslaughter.[4] The series received mostly positive reviews, with praise towards the performances of Fanning, Ryan, and Sevigny.

Premise

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The Girl from Plainville explores the events in Massachusetts leading to the death of Conrad Roy by suicide in 2014 and his girlfriend Michelle Carter's conviction in 2017 for the involuntary manslaughter of him.[4]

The narrative follows a non-linear structure with two parallel storylines, one concerning Conrad and Michelle's relationship from their initial meeting in Florida in 2012 up until his death, and one concerning the events following his death. Conrad and Michelle's text messages to each other are frequently re-enacted as if they were having a live conversation. There are also a number of fantasy sequences, told from Michelle's point of view.

Cast and characters

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Main

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Recurring

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In addition, Ella Kennedy Davis co-stars as Sydney Roy, one of Coco's younger sisters.

Guest

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  • Pearl Amanda Dickson as Susie Pierce
  • Guy Boyd as Dr. Peter Breggin

Episodes

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No.Title [5]Directed byWritten byOriginal release date [5]
1"Star-Crossed Lovers and Things Like That"Lisa CholodenkoLiz Hannah & Patrick MacmanusMarch 29, 2022 (2022-03-29)
2"Turtle"Zetna FuentesAhmadu GarbaMarch 29, 2022 (2022-03-29)
3"Never Have I Ever"Lisa CholodenkoAshley Michel HobanMarch 29, 2022 (2022-03-29)
4"Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore"Pippa BiancoSara PearsonApril 5, 2022 (2022-04-05)
5"Mirrorball"Pippa BiancoSarah ChoApril 12, 2022 (2022-04-12)
6"Talking Is Healing"Liz HannahBashir GavrielApril 19, 2022 (2022-04-19)
7"Teenage Dirtbag"Liz HannahLiz HannahApril 26, 2022 (2022-04-26)
8"Blank Spaces"Daniel MinahanLiz Hannah & Patrick MacmanusMay 3, 2022 (2022-05-03)

Production

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Development

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On August 15, 2019, it was announced that Universal Content Productions was developing a television series inspired by the case, with documentarian Erin Lee Carr and journalist Jesse Barron serving as consulting producers.[6] On August 7, 2020, it was reported that series was given a straight-to-series order and the series would be titled The Girl From Plainville which would be on Hulu. The series is created by Liz Hannah and Patrick Macmanus who are also expected to executive produce alongside Elle Fanning and Brittany Kahan Ward. Universal Content Productions, Echo Lake Entertainment, and Littleton Road Productions are the production companies involved with producing the series.[7] On April 14, 2021, it was announced that Lisa Cholodenko is set to direct the first two episodes of the series.[8] On September 2, 2021, it was reported that Hannah, Zetna Fuentes, and Pippa Bianco were added as directors for the limited series.[9] The series was released on March 29, 2022.[2]

The series was released on StarzPlay in the United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, and Latin America, including Brazil and Mexico.[10]

Filming for the series began on August 17, 2021, and concluded on December 10, 2021, in Savannah, Georgia.[11]

Casting

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Upon the series order announcement, it was reported that Elle Fanning was cast to star.[12] On May 6, 2021, it was announced that Colton Ryan joined that cast on a starring role.[1] In August 2021, it was reported that Chloë Sevigny, Norbert Leo Butz, Cara Buono, and Kai Lennox were cast as series regulars.[13][14][15] On October 1, 2021, it was announced that Peter Gerety, Michael Mosley, Ella Kennedy Davis, Pearl Amanda Dickson, Kylie Liya Page, and Jeff Wahlberg joined the cast in recurring roles.[16]

Reception

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Critical response

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The Girl from Plainville received mostly positive reviews from critics. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 93% approval rating based on 29 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Grounded by a disturbingly powerful performance by Elle Fanning, The Girl from Plainville dramatizes a sordid true story with tasteful restraint."[17] On Metacritic, the limited series has a score of 76 out of 100, based on 18 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[18]

Saloni Gajjar The A.V. Club gave the limited series a B− and said, "it succeeds in bringing a humane element to a puzzling crime without sensationalizing it. And for the most part, this is because of rousing performances by Fanning, Ryan, and Chloë Sevigny..."[19]

Lucy Mangan of The Guardian gave the series three out of five stars, praising Fanning's and Sevigny's performances but criticizing the script: "...it doesn't feel as though there is enough depth, insight or value added here to justify the endeavour."[20]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2022 Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards Best Actress in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Elle Fanning Nominated [21]
Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Chloë Sevigny Nominated
Best Directing in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Liz Hannah (for "Talking Is Healing") Nominated
Best Writing in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Liz Hannah and Patrick MacManus (for "Star-Crossed Lovers and Things Like That") Nominated
Television Critics Association Awards Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials The Girl from Plainville Nominated [22]
2023 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Limited Series The Girl from Plainville Nominated [23]
Satellite Awards Best Actress in a Miniseries, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television Elle Fanning Nominated [24]

References

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  1. ^ a b Otterson, Joe (May 6, 2021). "Colton Ryan Joins Elle Fanning in Texting Suicide Case Series 'Girl From Plainville' at Hulu". Variety. Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Del Rosario, Alexandra (February 8, 2022). "'The Girl From Plainville' EPs Talk Bringing 'Glee' To Hulu Series "As A Tool To Explore" Michelle Carter's Story". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "The Girl From Plainville". SXSW. Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Huff, Lauren (January 20, 2022). "Elle Fanning goes on trial as Michelle Carter in eerie first look at 'The Girl From Plainville'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Shows A–Z – girl from plainvile, the on hulu". The Futon Critic. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (August 15, 2019). "UCP To Develop True Crime Series About Texting Suicide Case". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  7. ^ White, Peter (August 7, 2020). "Hulu Goes Straight-To-Series With Elle Fanning Texting Suicide Drama & Food Doc From David Chang & Morgan Neville". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  8. ^ White, Peter (April 14, 2021). "Lisa Cholodenko To Direct Elle Fanning Hulu Series 'The Girl from Plainville'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  9. ^ Petski, Denise (September 2, 2021). "'The Girl from Plainville' Adds Liz Hannah, Zetna Fuentes & Pippa Bianco As Directors For Hulu Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  10. ^ "StarzPlay picks up Hulu's The Girl from Plainville for Europe, Lat Am". C21Media. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  11. ^ "The Girl from Plainville". Variety Insight. Archived from the original on February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  12. ^ Otterson, Joe (August 7, 2020). "Elle Fanning to Star in Hulu Series Based on Michelle Carter Texting Suicide Case". Variety. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  13. ^ Petski, Denise (August 20, 2021). "Chloë Sevigny Joins Elle Fanning & Colton Ryan In Hulu Series 'The Girl From Plainville'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  14. ^ Petski, Denise (August 27, 2021). "'The Girl From Plainville': Norbert Leo Butz Joins Elle Fanning, Colton Ryan & Chloë Sevigny In Hulu Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  15. ^ Petski, Denise (August 30, 2021). "'The Girl From Plainville': Cara Buono & Kai Lennox Join Elle Fanning In Hulu Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  16. ^ Rosario, Alexandra Del (October 1, 2021). "'The Girl From Plainville': Peter Gerety, Michael Mosley Among Six Set As Recurring For Hulu Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  17. ^ "The Girl from Plainville: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  18. ^ "The Girl from Plainville: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  19. ^ Gajjar, Saloni (March 29, 2022). "Hulu's bleak The Girl From Plainville struggles to justify its existence". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  20. ^ Mangan, Lucy (July 10, 2022). "The Girl from Plainville review – Elle Fanning doesn't put a foot wrong in this questionable true-crime drama". the Guardian. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  21. ^ Schneider, Michael (July 7, 2022). "'Severance,' 'Ted Lasso' Lead Streaming Nominees for 2nd Annual HCA TV Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  22. ^ Hailu, Selome (August 6, 2022). "'Abbott Elementary' Tops 2022 TCA Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  23. ^ Panaligan, EJ; Earl, William (January 16, 2023). "Critics' Choice Awards 2023 Full Winners List: 'Everything Everywhere All at Once,' 'Abbott Elementary' and 'Better Call Saul' Take Top Honors". Variety. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  24. ^ "IPA Reveals Nominations for the 27th Satellite™ Awards". International Press Academy. December 8, 2022. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
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