STAY CLOSE: Now streaming on Netflix. There’s brilliant dialogue in this series. #SpoilerAlert
Here’s an example of dialogue that gives exposition without being on the nose.
Two Detectives sit across from a set of parents, concern on their faces.
INT. HOME – DAY
Father: A parent’s worst nightmare. Do you have kids?
Female Detective: Yes, 2 years old.
Male Detective: No. My ex-wife didn’t want them.
The female Detective looks at the male Detective knowing he’s lying but not giving him away.
EXT. HOME – DAY
As the Detectives walk to their car.
Female Detective: I did want kids. I just didn’t…
Male Detective: … want them with me.
She doesn’t negate it.
…
We learn here for the first time that these two were married. We’ve been with them for several minutes at this point with no other evidence of anything but a working relationship. They even talk about the last woman he dated.
In just those brief, subtle bits of dialogue, we learn that not only were they married but they have a decent relationship. There’s no tension. No hard feelings. It didn’t have to be spelled out for us. We’re smart. We get it.
P.S. I learned so much British dialect. 😁
James Nesbitt acted his a$$ off.
…
Critique:
– The main title sequence feels way out of tone for this show. It pulls me out every time.
– Really disappointed that our protagonist had absolutely nothing to do with the A-story – Who killed Carlton Flynn/Who is the serial killer – and it was all just coincidental that things began happening to her family. I knew her hands were clean the whole time and I kept wishing that she was involved.
Written By: Shannan E. Johnson