Round Two: Unbelievable

Unbelievable: Season 1, Episode 2 (B)

I wanted to give this show another shot after watching the very disturbing pilot, which featured a number of triggering flashbacks to the assault endured by its protagonist. I’ve been a fan of Kaitlyn Dever for a while after her work on “Justified” and her breakthrough comedic turn in the film “Booksmart.” This is a harrowing performance, one that finds her character so isolated because of the harm that this act has done to her and has resulted in her doubting her own memories and perception of what’s real. Following the fallout from her alleged lie is relatively miserable, and this second episode sought a wider perspective as it introduced a new investigator looking at an entirely different case that only we as viewers suspect is actually related. There’s such a difference in how Karen spoke to Amber compared with how all of the male detectives, who weren’t even so terrible, and how she understands that the matter needs to be dealt with in a compassionate and human manner that doesn’t further destroy someone’s mental state. Merritt Wever, a two-time Emmy winner for “Nurse Jackie” and “Godless,” is a formidable actress, and this is a great role for her that she handles masterfully. Danielle Macdonald, who plays Amber, is also very talented, delivering a similarly accessible turn to her recent parts in “Skin” and “Paradise Hills.” We only got to meet Grace at the very end, and she seems like someone who won’t give up until she’s truly chased down all the leads. I’ll look forward to her inevitable partnership with Karen and getting to see more of the great Toni Collette onscreen as I continue watching this show.