Key Highlights
- Nicole Kidman and Rosy McEwen star as Dr. Kay Scarpetta in the new Prime Video series.
- The show blends murder investigation with family drama, featuring a talented cast including Jamie Lee Curtis and Bobby Cannavale.
- Based on Patricia Cornwell’s iconic forensic crime novels, the series revisits the ’90s and ’00s roots of the genre.
- Criticized for some dated elements but praised for its attention to forensic detail and nostalgia.
The Return of Kay Scarpetta: Prime Video’s New Series
It’s a crime there hasn’t been a Kay Scarpetta series before now. And finally, after 35 years since Patricia Cornwell’s iconic protagonist made her first literary debut, the forensic crime writer’s legacy has found its way to television screens. With Nicole Kidman and Rosy McEwen taking on the role of Dr.
Kay Scarpetta, Prime Video’s “Scarpetta” promises to bring the ’90s and ’00s roots of the genre back into the spotlight.
The series, written by Liz Sarnoff (Lost, Deadwood) and directed by David Gordon Green (the modern Halloween trilogy) and Charlotte Brändström (The Rings of Power), aims to blend murder investigation with intricate family drama. A stellar cast, including Jamie Lee Curtis as Dorothy Farinelli-Watson and Bobby Cannavale as Pete Marino, supports Kidman and McEwen in their roles.
A Meticulous Forensic Detective
Nicole Kidman delivers a methodical, smart, and sangfroid chainsmoker portrayal of Scarpetta. She’s the by-the-book forensic pathologist who urges her colleagues to wear sanitary equipment and refrain from using slurs. The physicality shared between Kidman and McEwen in their ’90s counterparts is wildly convincing. Bobby Cannavale’s Pete Marino, both in his present self (Sr.) and his past self (Jr.), is a wise-cracking, deeply loyal partner to Scarpetta.
Nostalgia and Detail
“Scarpetta” takes the forensic thriller back to ’90s and ’00s basics. It’s a crime procedural that blends murder investigation with complicated family drama, set in three time periods: the ’70s, ’90s, and the present. The series is not without its dated elements, particularly in its flashback technique and lack of real background for half of the serial killers’ victims. However, it succeeds in bringing back the meticulous attention to forensic detail that Cornwell’s novels are known for.
Criticisms and Praises
While “Scarpetta” hits every note in the genre as described by Alexis Nedd for Mashable — a curmudgeonly detective solving dead girl cases with personal/romantic life falling apart — it’s not without its flaws. The series leans into the psychological cat-and-mouse game that defined ’90s forensic fiction, but the cast’s performances are what truly elevate the show. Jamie Lee Curtis as Dorothy Farinelli-Watson is incredibly fun to watch, clad in sequins and leopard print, delivering red hot home truths.
Ariana DeBose’s performance as Lucy, Scarpetta’s tech-savvy daughter mourning her late wife by turning her into an AI companion, adds a touch of Black Mirror-style innovation.
Despite these touches, “Scarpetta” remains steeped in nostalgia and respect for the author who drove forensic fiction through the hallmarks we now take for granted.
With a cast this brilliant and a cliffhanger ending, Scarpetta’s first season feels like the beginning of a series, Cornwell-style. It’s not perfect but it’s certainly worth diving into if you’re a fan of forensic thrillers with familial feuds.
Scarpetta is streaming on Prime Video March 11. Dive in and experience the return of Kay Scarpetta.
