If your idea of weekend binge-watching is getting lost in a labyrinth of crime, mystery, and mind-bending timelines, then Netflix’s genre-defying series ‘Bodies’ might just be the perfect playground for you. Starring Stephen Graham in a role that completely veers off his usual path, the series offers a compelling narrative that weaves together the lives of four detectives from different timelines. Buckle up, because it’s a roller coaster through past, present, and future, and we’ve got your VIP backstage pass to meet the all-star cast.
Stephen Graham: The Puppet Master?
Stephen Graham is no stranger to complex roles. You might remember him from ‘Boiling Point’ or ‘Matilda,’ but in ‘Bodies,’ he dives deep into an enigmatic persona that connects four timelines like a puppeteer pulling strings. Portraying Elias Mannix and Julian Harker, Graham is the axis around which the narrative orbits.
Writer Paul Tomalin captured the essence of his casting decision, saying:
“Stephen Graham was on the ‘yeah, right’ pile. The impossible ‘no way would he ever dream of doing something this mad’ pile. In terms of British actor choices, he’s in everybody’s top three.”
Full Cast
- Amaka Okafor as Shahara Hasan
- Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as Charles Whiteman
- Kyle Soller as Alfred Hillinghead
- Shira Haas as Iris Maplewood
- Stephen Graham as Elias Mannix/Julian Harker
- Tom Mothersdale as Gabriel Defo
- George Parker as Henry Ashe
- Synnove Karlsen as Polly
- Michael Jibson as Jack Barber
- Emily Barber as Kathleen
- Nitin Ganatra as Ishmael Hasan
- Greta Scacchi as The Woman
- Gabriel Howell as young Elias
- Chloe Raphael as Esther
- Andrew Whip as Ladbroke
- Derek Riddel as Calloway
- Chaneil Kular as Syed Tahir
A Glimpse into the Four Corners of Time
Shahara Hasan: The Anchor of 2023
In a series that shuttles through time, Amaka Okafor plays DS Shahara Hasan, a detective based in the year 2023. In an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com, Okafor couldn’t contain her excitement, stating:
“It was like a proper three-course meal of a character. I love that she has so many different facets and that I wasn’t limited. It’s not about her faith, it’s not about her race, it’s not about the fact that she’s a single mum. Those are just part of who she is, but actually she’s a brilliant detective.”
Charles Whiteman: A Walk on the Dark Side of 1941
Jacob Fortune-Lloyd takes us back to 1941 as DS Charles Whiteman, a detective with shades of moral ambiguity. Fortune-Lloyd describes him as “a lone wolf,” “a bit villainous,” and added, “you’ll go on a journey with Whiteman, quite a radical one, actually.”
Alfred Hillinghead: By the Book in 1890
Kyle Soller as DI Alfred Hillinghead represents the 19th century in this temporal jigsaw. Hillinghead is a detective who prefers to play it by the rules, offering an intriguing contrast to Whiteman’s morally dubious tendencies.
Iris Maplewood: A Vision of 2053
Shira Haas allows us to peer into the future as DC Iris Maplewood. Living and working in the year 2053, her role adds another complex layer to this already intricate narrative.
Supporting Players: More Than Meets the Eye
From Tom Mothersdale’s Professor Gabriel Defoe, a leader in the time-bending field of quantum gravity theory, to George Parker’s Henry Ashe, a photographer who stumbles upon something horrific, the supporting cast is equally stellar.
Nitin Ganatra as Shahara’s father Ishmael Hasan, Greta Scacchi as ‘The Woman,’ and a plethora of other actors like Emily Barber, Michael Jibson, and Synnove Karlsen bring their own unique flavors, making this a true ensemble piece.
Underlying Mysteries and Ongoing Investigations
The characters aren’t the only enigmas here. There’s the perplexing matter of a single body that appears across all four timelines. Yes, the exact same body, in the exact same location. This adds a layer of urgency to each character’s investigation, offering viewers a buffet of intrigue that keeps them hungry for more.
So if you’re in the mood for a storytelling extravaganza that transcends the confines of linear time, ‘Bodies’ on Netflix is your next watch. This series is more than just a ‘whodunnit.’ It’s a ‘when-is-it,’ and ‘why-is-it,’ and the ensemble cast makes it a multi-dimensional delight.
