One True Mystery – The pilot opens with a voiceover of Gilbert Power (Will Forte) briefly reflecting on how much his life has changed since starting his podcast. When he admits that the most unexpected change was Dove (Siobhan Cullen), the footage cuts to her arriving at an apartment, searching for someone named Krtek (Fergus Mulligan). After discovering him hanging by his neck in what appears to be his bedroom, she proceeds to leave. Upon opening the door, she finds herself face to face with a man dressed as a demon (Shaq Taylor), supposedly looking for Dave’s Halloween Party. She directs him upstairs and leaves.

Seemingly sometime later when Dove meets with her editor at the Guardian, Damien (Charlie Kemp), it’s revealed that Krtek was a key informant on an assignment that she’s been investigating for 18 months. Their meeting continues with Damien practically telling her that the Guardian is taking a step away from the assignment. Dove isn’t happy with the announcement and only becomes more frustrated when she learns that her next assignment will take her back to her Irish roots.

Dove is then shown arriving at an airport where she interrupts a conversation between Gilbert and his researcher, Emmy Sizergh (Robyn Cara). After a brief and awkward introduction, Emmy reveals that she’s got their entire itinerary already mapped out, starting with meeting their driver Sean O’Shea (Chris Walley). Gilbert assures the team they are going to have so much fun and Bodkin won’t know what hit it.

Sean is in the process of escorting the team to their hotel while Gilbert admires the green countryside and Emmy quickly runs through their itinerary. An awkward silence fills the car once Dove corrects one of Emmy’s mispronunciations. Sean attempts to fill it by learning more about their plans. This conversation not only reveals that the Samhain Festival is coming up next week but investigating the mystery of its origins is the team’s entire reason for being in Bodkin. Sean is enthused by the prospect of being mentioned on Gilbert’s podcast while Dove remains silent, despite Sean’s best attempts to spark up a conversation.

At a brief stop, Gilbert learns that Ireland is considered the tech capital of Europe. Sean contributes a lot of that to someone nicknamed, ‘Sh*t Pant,’ who apparently went off to Silicon Valley and returned filthy rich.

Immediately arriving in town, Gilbert meets Barry (John Olohan) and Cathal (Brendan Conroy), who just happened to be around when the three people went missing. As Gilbert learns about their theories for the disappearances, they learn about his podcast. Shortly after, the team is greeted by Mrs. O’Shea at the O’Shea’s Guest House. Emmy and Gilbert chat idly with Mrs. O’Shea in the main area while Dove snoops around the rest of the house. This leads to an eerie encounter with a dog/wolf that Mrs. O’Shea claims to not own. Mrs. O’Shea becomes nearly despondent and walks off when Emmy tells Gilbert that they need to leave if they want to make it to Ailbhe’s Hollow.

Emmy shares the history of the hollow with Gilbert before Darragh (Pat Shortt) arrives and gives them free rein as the property owner. Close by, Dove updates Damien on the progress of their investigation while reasserting her claims that she knows nothing about podcasts and has a real case to work back in the States. He assures her what she’s doing is right for the paper while encouraging her to treat the trip as a holiday.

Emmy and Gilbert gather at a pub later that evening to further discuss the podcast. Although Dove and Sean both join them, Sean spends his time with mates at a different table and Dove researches her other case. After learning that Ktrek’s death was ruled a suicide, she becomes frustrated at Gilbert’s ranting over fairies. While storming off she tells them if they want to really learn what happened, they need to find the real Bodkin and stop wasting time in tourist traps.

After Dove calls Sean’s attention, the group finds themselves at another pub where the patrons are not only much older but nowhere near as friendly. After ordering drinks and finding a table, they meet a younger couple, Charles (Peter Bankole) and Annika (Sabine Timoteo) who sold everything they owned, bought a van, and ventured out on a tour across Europe. They claim their only problem is they haven’t been about to Bodkin. Dove becomes rude once again about Gilbert confirming the area’s beauty. She tells him that Bodkin might be beautiful but bad things still happen there. Shortly after this, everyone’s attention is drawn to Teddy (Ger Kelly) at the bar, who has burst into an old traditional Irish song. For some reason, this only adds to Dove’s rage.

Gilbert later meets Seamus Gallagher (David Wilmot) when he tries to approach Teddy at the bar. As Gilbert is invited to join him, Dove meets a man outside who claims to know who’s responsible for the three disappearances all those years ago. It soon becomes clear he’s a bit senile when he blames it on horses and says he once saw a horse transform into a beautiful woman. This frustrates her further and when she rushes back inside to discover Gilbert celebrating with Seamus, she calls Damien. He practically tells her to help Gilbert with the investigation or find a new job.

Gilbert is woken the next morning by a call from Amber (Ahna O’Reilly) which quickly turns into a brief argument about money. He soon joins Emmy, who is in the process of tracking down Sean. Dove shows up as well but her mood is just as sour and only grows even more so when she learns about Sean’s sudden disappearance. As Emmy starts to lay out the day’s schedule, Dove tells them that she continuing with the investigation on her own.

While Gilbert and Emmy begin their investigation by questioning Fiona’s cousin, Bridgit, Dove visits a small shop in town to ask for directions to Portola Road. When the clerk launches into a tirade about Fiona and her love for true documentaries, Dove simply walks out. Gilbert and Emmy don’t have much better luck as Bridgit practically slams the door in their face. This leads them to question the Garda who originally investigated the case, Sergeant Powers (Denis Conway).

It takes some work but Dove finally makes her way to Portola Road where she finds Sean’s apartment but no Sean. While she’s there, Seamus Gallagher shows up as well. She manages to hide from him and later follows him into town where he buys flowers. When he takes them to a bluff overlooking the sea and throws them in, he catches Dove spying on him. Much to her surprise, he tells her exactly where he lives and opens his home to her, but insists there is no sense in dredging up the past.

Sergeant Power tells Gilbert and Emmy all about the traditions of Halloween and Samhain over tea but claims there is no story here. The more they try to pry information out of him, the clearer it becomes that he’s not interested in bringing up the past. He even becomes belligerent at one point but Gilbert manages to distract him by bringing up their shared last name. It’s not long after spiking their tea that Sergeant Power becomes drunk, which is later proven to be just an act to get them out of the house. Once they leave the house, fire trucks and police cars speed by outside.

After her heated confrontation with Seamus, Dove begins walking back to town until she realizes she’s being followed by someone in a car. She scurries through the woods but the driver eventually catches up to her and hits her. After she’s run down, she is approached by two men in black masks who warn her against looking into the Samhain mystery.

The episode ends with Gilbert and Emmy following the blaring siren to Sean’s burning car while Dove once again encounters the wolf on her walk back into town.

 

Bodkin Review

I feel it’s too early to say much about the series, although as far as pilot episodes go, I am intrigued and learn more as fast as possible. I do enjoy the quaint, small-town setting along with the mystery surrounding many of the inhabitants as well as the 25-year-old case. This reminds me a bit of Twin Peaks and for that, I’d give it a 5.6 just to start. There are times when things become rather dull, but I was most surprised by Will Forte’s acting. I am not saying that he is the greatest actor/comedic voice of the 21st century because that would be a flat-out lie.

Rather, if you are familiar with his old aggressive approach to humor, you will find that he’s completely transformed for this role. There might be some hope for him after all. I felt that Siobhan did an equally decent job as well, although she’s at a huge disadvantage because her character is equally parts whinny and brattish.

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