Since its release on 9 May, Bodkin has climbed its way up Netflix’s top-watched rankings, as the streamer’s new dark comedy pokes fun at the litany of true-crime content that has proved so popular on its platform.
The Irish show explores the mysterious disappearances that occurred 25 years ago in the titular small coastal town during a traditional Halloween festival.
Gilbert, an American podcaster looking to retrace his Irish roots, is joined by his assistant Emmy and an investigative journalist from Dublin, Dove, who is in the middle of a major professional crisis.
Show creator Jez Scharf said his series is “a commentary on stories of violence”, adding: “But really, it’s about the stories that we tell in general, and the stories that we tell ourselves and what violence we can do to ourselves and others.”
The series is a product of Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground production company.
Among the not-so-true crime of Bodkin are stunning locations of what is supposed to be the picturesque landscape of County Cork.
Here is everything else know about Bodkin, from who is in it to where it is filmed.
Who is in the Bodkin cast?
Siobhán Cullen as Dove
Dove is a hard-nosed journalist who reluctantly takes part in the true-crime podcast after a failed investigation in London means she has to leave her day job at The Guardian.
Siobhán Cullen is no stranger to Irish TV after her break-out roles in The Dry and Obituary.
Cullen also had roles in the RTÉ1 and BBC One miniseries Paula.
Robyn Cara as Emmy
In contrast to Dove, Emmy is an upbeat, enthusiastic researcher at The Guardian who has just started her career as a journalist and is keen to impress her American boss, Gilbert.
The actress portraying Emmy, Robyn Cara, appeared in the critically acclaimed Apple TV comedy Trying and BBC One’s Life.
Casra also appeared in the Jean-Claude Van Damme action film We Die Young.
Will Forte as Gilbert
Gilbert Powers is an enthusiastic American, who finds himself at the butt of many jokes while he snoops around the village of Bodkin.
The actor, Will Forte, got his big break on Saturday Night Live and after that was featured in a number of Hollywood comedies, including The Lego Movie and Strays.
Forte has also starred in television shows including The Simpsons and Rick and Morty.
Chris Walley as Sean
With the podcast team needing a local guide to drive them around the remote village, Sean acts as their escort.
The slightly erratic Bodkin resident is played by Chris Walley, who got his breakthrough as Jock Murphy in The Young Offenders.
Walley has since appeared in several films, most notably in the Best Picture-winning 1917, directed by Sam Mendes.
Other cast members
- David Wilmot (Anna Karenina and The Guard) plays Seamus Gallagher
- Pom Boyd (Vanity Fair) plays Mrs O’Shea
- Ger Kelly (King Frankie) plays Teddy
- Seán Óg Cairns (Find Me in Paris) plays Garda Eoin
- Charlie Kemp (Emmerdale Farm) plays Damien
- Kerri McLean (The Ritual) plays Maeve
- David Pearse (The Banshees of Inisherin) plays Frank
- Denis Conway (Brooklyn and Alexander) plays Sergeant Power
- Charlie Kelly (The Terror) plays Fintan
Where was Bodkin filmed?
When asked about the town of Bodkin, Scharf said, “It’s a fake town, it’s a fake place. It’s all fake people.
“The mystery itself, we worked very hard to find something that is in no way adjacent to a real true-crime story. The fictionality of it was very deliberate.”
On where he decided to shoot the Netflix show, the creator said it “had to be West Cork”. “You drive around West Cork and around every corner you have to step out of the car and have a look as it’s so beautiful.”
While the town itself might be fictional, its quaint setting is very much real, with the show using the small fishing village of Union Hall throughout the series.
Located on the south-western tip of the island of Ireland, Union Hall’s scenic location is a great source of tourism. The small-town nature of Bodkin can be gauged from the fact that it is only home to less than 300 permanent residents.
Meanwhile, for the show’s memorable shots of the sea, Dromadoon Pier was used as a filming location as well as Glandore Village for its chocolate box cottages.
Belmont Demesne, Enniskerry’s Carnegie Library, Sally Gap and Travelahawk Beach in Wicklow also provided backdrops for the Netflix show, as did Fenian Street, Howth Village, Howth Castle and Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin.
How many episodes are there?
Bodkin is a seven-part series, which opens with the episode “One True Mystery” – instantly making it clear that the town does not want any outsiders digging up their dark past.
All episodes are already available to binge-watch on Netflix now.
If you have already made your way through the whole lot, then you might have to wait for another instalment.
There has been no news either way about a second series, although producers might be tempted after it sat on Netflix’s Top 10 several days after its premiere.
What we do know is, the show is billed as “ongoing” as opposed to “limited”, which does not rule out a follow-up. Still, fans will have to wait and see what decision the streaming giant eventually makes.