'All Her Fault' Is Absolute Nonsense

"All Her Fault" Is Absolute Nonsense

Peacock’s new adaptation of Andrea Mara’s bestselling novel delivers an awkward and disappointing domestic thriller. Despite its high-concept premise and the star power of Sarah Snook from “Succession,” the series stumbles in nearly every way possible, from story pacing to emotional depth.

A Terrifying Premise

The story begins with an unnerving situation: a mother goes to pick up her 5-year-old son from a playdate, only to be told by the woman answering the door that she has never heard of the child, his friend, or the friend's mother. Every attempt to contact the supposed playdate host leads to more confusion — disconnected numbers, false leads, and parents denying any knowledge of the arrangement.

“All of this happens within the first five minutes of All Her Fault, whose full 8-episode season will arrive on Nov.”

A Poorly Executed Adaptation

What begins as a gripping nightmare soon collapses under the weight of its own ambition. The adaptation struggles to translate the tension of Mara’s novel to screen, relying on cliché tropes and heavy-handed storytelling.

“Based on the best-selling novel by Andrea Mara, this domestic thriller—yes, another one—is so ill-conceived and poorly executed, on so many levels, that it’s hard to know where to start.”

Creative Misfires

Creator Megan Gallagher fails to craft a coherent tone. The show slides from melodrama to confusion, rarely letting viewers settle. The plot oscillates between predictable twists and meaningless chaos, while any deeper themes about motherhood or fear are lost in the noise.

“Creator Megan Gallagher (Wolf) doesn’t suggest thematic takeaways so much as scream them, repeatedly, as if in hopes of awakening a half-asleep viewer.”

Author’s Summary

A visually tense but thematically empty thriller, "All Her Fault" wastes its sharp concept and Sarah Snook's talent on incoherent storytelling and ineffective suspense.

Time Magazine — 2025-11-06