Web Series Review - Buried
Images courtesy of Common State.
Please check your side mirror before opening the car door, lest you kill a cyclist riding past.
Single mum, Abi Cohen (Miriam Glaser) learns this lesson the hard way in Buried, a dark comedy miniseries directed by Charlotte George. In five action-packed episodes under ten minutes each, we join Abi as she tries to get rid of the body before the final bell rings to pick up her daughter from school. Now, don’t get me wrong, Abi is concerned that she has taken another human life, we see her later search up whether sleep deprivation is a viable defence for manslaughter— but your honour there is literally no rest for the wicked!
The audience watches Abi half-heartedly toss the equipment she needs to dispose of the cyclist’s corpse into her basket at her local hardware store. Glaser’s air of resigned indifference is palpable through the screen. The message from George is clear: mothers, especially those flying solo, deal with so much that nothing phases them anymore. The pressure of conforming to societal expectations of motherhood keeps them trapped and exhausted.
This is further explored through other characters who are also mums:
Hiker Jane (Fiona Choi) feels the need to inundate other mothers with unsolicited advice to prove that she raised her children right.
Heather Hobbs (Eliza Matengu) performs the Instagram-worthy version of motherhood she thinks is required of her.
Rita (Alicia Gardiner) is desperate to befriend other Grade 1 mums for both her own and her child’s sake.
All of these women are seeking connection—a community where they can raise their kids together. That’s the true tragedy of the miniseries. Yes, I know someone dies in the first two minutes. We’re going to soldier through it just like every mother alive and those before them.
Go watch this show. It’s got a rocking soundtrack, a feminist cop, and a surprising number of discussions on road safety. After that, call your mum.
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Watch Buried here.