Lady In The Lake Cast Carries New Apple TV+ Show
Two women. Two lives. Two destinies. Apple TV's highly anticipated series Lady In The Lake is finally here. It stars Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman in her first-ever leading role in a series, alongside Emmy-nominated actress Moses Ingram whose talent has taken the world by storm. Lady In The Lake is turning the page on the real-life unsolved murder in 1960s Baltimore that inspired Laura Lippman's 2019 novel.
We meet Maddie Schwartz, a wife and mother whose life is not at all how she planned. She was an aspiring journalist but let go of that piece of herself to fit into the world she thought she was destined for. It isn't until the disappearance of a Jewish girl in her neighborhood that she goes in search of the life she left behind. Then there's Cleo Johnson, a proud Black woman passionate about politics in her neighborhood, struggling to provide a better life for her boys. On the outside, it seems they are worlds apart, but their differences bring them closer together.
As Maddie runs from her story, she chases Cleo’s story, the Lady in the Lake, and will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. While it can seem like a story of female empowerment and togetherness, it's really about a relentless journalist. Maddie knows that telling Cleo’s story will allow her to rewrite her own. Portman's portrayal of Maddie is stellar. From the moment you meet her, it's like opening Pandora's box because, as the trailer says, everything seems to lead back to her. As we delve deeper into Maddie's story, the plot thickens, and her character becomes more complex. You become invested in her motives and the story she's writing.
While Maddie perspective drives the story, Cleo’s perspective keeps it afloat. Cleo is classy yet sassy, holding true power in her presence, making her easy to like. Ingram is captivating to watch. She moves with grace and confidence, but is also emotionally raw. Her character has so much depth as she’s a great mom but also a woman lost in the world of Baltimore, just trying to claim her power. Ingram's talent for making her audience feel every emotion — anger, sadness, defeat, fear — is all-consuming.
These two women deliver an intense and captivating story, but the supporting cast also plays a huge part in its appeal. The men of the series — Byron Bowers, Josiah Cross, and Y'lan Noel — give amazing performances and effortlessly shine in the 1960s Baltimore setting. Everything from their dialogue to their physical presence felt like a true reflection of the time. Given the story's historical and emotional heaviness, it's a daunting task, but the supporting cast provided exactly what was needed to elevate the story.
While Lady in the Lake deserves much praise for its casting, I did find the story challenging to follow at times. The dual perspectives of Cleo and Maddie add significant value to the series, but I occasionally got lost in their personal battles, which felt somewhat disconnected from the central investigation. The series tackles large themes of gender, race, and passion, and, while it offers insightful commentary, it sometimes misses the mark.
Director Alma Har'el takes bold, creative risks and, while some of them could have worked well, I struggled with the flashbacks, dream sequences, and dance numbers, which lacked seamless integration into the narrative. The storytelling occasionally felt messy and, towards the end, the story dragged more than I could handle. By the final two episodes, the storyline had lost its rhythm, making some scenes feel redundant. Despite this, the series concludes smoothly, offering a satisfying ending with room for further storytelling.
Lady In The Lake is streaming now on Apple TV+.
