Surface Review: A Psychological Thriller About Identity That Struggles to Find Itself

Polished and perceptive though it can often be, the series only really scratches the surface level of its own potential.

Surface
Photo: Apple TV+

In Surface’s opening moments, Sophie (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) finds herself quite literally in the process of self-discovery. Suffering from severe memory loss acquired from a suicide attempt, the woman is left scrambling to uncover the truth behind her distress. She has a lavishly beautiful San Francisco home; a loving husband, James (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), who makes her breakfast and showers her with affection; and a career that keeps her busy and fulfilled. Alas, nothing is quite as tranquil and idyllic as it appears on the, ahem, surface.

Similar to the water metaphor that permeates the show’s pilot, Surface is about diving into the depths of one’s past and discovering that not everything is quite as clear as it seems. In the fashion of many a psychological thriller, there are secrets hiding in the shadows. But in a series that’s meant to replicate the cloudy headspace of its soul-searching protagonist, Surface plays out in a frustratingly formulaic and predictable fashion.

Polished and perceptive though it can often be, Surface lacks an original hook. All too often, the series favors the obvious themes and familiar tropes of similar genre fare, and without much in the way of a rich or compelling narrative thrust, Surface feels perfunctory. Created by Veronica West, who earned acclaim for her beloved but short-lived Hulu series High Fidelity, Surface is at least self-aware and not without wit or charm, but it lacks a clear tonal focus and ultimately fails to indulge in the ostensible thrills of its pulpy premise.

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It’s a shame because Mbatha-Raw brings a great deal of intensity to an otherwise familiar archetype. Her performance is often lived-in and curious, even or especially when the series can’t help but feel like it’s lacking those same exact qualities. Indeed, Surface isn’t lacking for prestige talent, notably director Sam Miller, who was at the helm of Michaela Coel’s soulful and immensely powerful I May Destroy You. For one, there are some effective attempts on Miller’s part communicate the muddled perspective of the show’s characters, especially Mbatha-Raw’s perpetually deceived central character, via hazy lensing.

There are moments—including one in which Baden (Stephan James), a figure from Sophie’s past, causes her to question everything she once took for granted—that showcase Surface’s potential, but it only makes one wish the series were deeper, more cutting and unpredictable. Particularly as we follow Sophie as she gradually learns that her seemingly loving husband isn’t being honest and that even her best friend, Caroline (Ari Graynor), isn’t exactly the woman that she claims to be, Surface fittingly and ironically never really finds itself.

Score: 
 Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Stephan James, Ari Graynor, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Francois Arnaud, Millie Brady  Network: Apple TV+

Will Ashton

Will Ashton is a freelance entertainment writer based in Pittsburgh, PA. He studied journalism and film at Ohio University, and his writing can be found in a variety of print and online publications, including Slate, Indiewire, Insider, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, CinemaBlend, and Collider. He also co-hosts the weekly film review podcast, Cinemaholics, alongside Jon Negroni.

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