Home Before Dark: a quality show to be savored on Apple TV+

By Alexandra Heilbron on June 25, 2021 | 1 Comment

In the second season of Home Before Dark, young reporter Hilde Lisko (Brooklynn Prince) has acquired some fame for her dogged perseverance in solving a murder in the first season. In the first episode of the second season, when she’s woken up one night by a loud noise and a flash, she’s determined to get to the bottom of the strange occurrence.

She still hasn’t given up on the mystery behind the disappearance of her father’s childhood friend, Richie Fife, despite her parents begging her to let it go because they worry that the answer to the mystery will lead her into danger.

More determined than ever to continue her work as an investigative journalist, Hilde discovers that the strange flash was a result of an explosion at a nearby farm.

Not only that, but the farmer believes that a huge corporation that wants to buy his farm and kick him off the land that has been in his family for generations, is behind the explosion.

Hilde’s lawyer mother Bridget (Abby Miller) tries to contact the corporation, only to discover that they never answer their phone and their premises are completely empty, except for a landline.

With the entire family now involved, Hilde digs deeper, but as before, she finds that the life of an investigative journalist is a dangerous one.

This series has the extraordinary quality found in many of the shows available on Apple TV+. Although it revolves around a child, this is not a show meant for children. Filmed in Vancouver, the series takes place in the fictional coastal town of Erie Harbor, Washington and the setting is appropriately gray and bleak, while the cast is brilliant.

Brooklynn Prince, who won awards for her breakthrough role at age six in The Florida Project, brings a seriousness to the role that belies her young age. Hilde is a 10-year-old who doesn’t realize she’s not a adult. She’s so confident that she asks adults for their first names. She’s barely phased by the handful who don’t take her seriously.

Jim Sturgess plays her father with warmth, as he tries to tamp down Hilde’s unending curiosity and drive in an effort to keep her safe, but he realizes she’s a force to be reckoned with. Abby Miller plays her mother with strength, as she tries to keep Hilde from getting into trouble while also dealing with Hilde’s older sister Izzy (Kylie Rogers), who’s going through typical teenage angst.

The supporting cast, including Aziza Scott as the newly minted Sheriff of Erie Harbor, and Scott Lawrence as the Sheriff’s level-headed father, play warm-hearted, understanding locals who become Hilde’s allies.

Three episodes are now available on Apple TV+, with a new one rolling out each Friday. Home Before Dark is a show that’s better when it’s savored, not binged, and the release of one episode each week for a total of 10 weeks makes for a tantalizing wait as the audience gets to unwrap a little bit more of the mystery each week. ~Alexandra Heilbron

5 out of 5 stars.

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1. Joanne • June 30, 2021 @ 9:05 PM

   Totally agree, great series and so far I’m loving the second season.

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