The Sinner (TV series)
A detective probes crimes by unlikely culprits in an anthology series.
The Sinner is an American police procedural anthology television series developed by Derek Simonds for USA Network, based on Petra Hammesfahr's 1999 novel. Bill Pullman stars as a detective investigating crimes committed by unlikely culprits, appearing in every season while the cast otherwise changes. Originally an eight-part miniseries, it premiered to critical acclaim and high ratings, leading to four seasons from 2017 to 2021.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Anthology
- Crime drama
- Mystery
- Based on
- The Sinner, Petra Hammesfahr
- Developer
- Derek Simonds
- Composer
- Ronit Kirchman
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Seasons
- 4
- Episodes
- 32
Facts from the source article.
Premise
In the first season, Detective Harry Ambrose investigates why Cora Tannetti stabbed a man to death. The second season follows Ambrose to his hometown after a boy named Julian Walker confesses to poisoning a couple. The third season involves a fatal car accident in Upstate New York that leads to a larger case. In the fourth season, the retired Ambrose travels to coastal Maine, where a tragedy involving a prominent family's daughter draws him into an investigation.
Production
The series was adapted from Petra Hammesfahr's novel, with the darker outlook toned down and the setting moved from Germany to Upstate New York. It marked Jessica Biel's first role as an executive producer, a position she described as "gold". Ordered on January 17, 2017, the eight-episode first season aired from August 2 to September 20, 2017. Originally a miniseries, it was renewed for a second season in March 2018, which premiered on August 1, 2018, and concluded on September 19, 2018. A third season was renewed on March 6, 2019, premiering on February 6, 2020. A fourth season was renewed on June 15, 2020, premiering on October 13, 2021, and reported on November 17, 2021, to be the last. The song "Huggin and Kissin" by Big Black Delta was featured in the first season. Casting for the second season included Carrie Coon, Natalie Paul, and Hannah Gross. Matt Bomer was announced for the third season, with Jessica Hecht, Parisa Fitz-Henley, and Eddie Martinez cast in starring roles. For the fourth season, Alice Kremelberg, Michael Mosley, Cindy Cheung, David Huynh, Ronin Wong, and Neal Huff were cast. Filming primarily took place in New York state, with the first season using various towns to depict the fictional Dorchester; the Mt. Pleasant Justice Court building in Valhalla, New York, served as the Dorchester police building.
Reception
The first season received critical acclaim, with a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 41 reviews and an average rating of 6.6/10, and a Metacritic score of 71 out of 100 from 23 critics. It was the number one new cable series of 2017 by Nielsen delayed viewing data. The second season earned a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 33 reviews, with an average rating of 7.54/10, and a Metacritic score of 75 out of 100 from 16 critics. Critics noted the follow-up season surpassed expectations despite Jessica Biel's character not returning. Alex McLevy of The A.V. Club praised the second season, highlighting Carrie Coon's performance as Vera Walker and noting the season could be better than the first. Ben Travers of indieWire wrote that the first three episodes of season 2 matched the tone and intensity of the debut, with new cast members Tracy Letts, Natalie Paul, and Carrie Coon compensating for original cast departures, and stated that "The Sinner is no one-hit wonder."
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes of The Sinner (TV series) are there?
The Sinner has 32 episodes across 4 seasons.
When did The Sinner (TV series) end?
The Sinner last aired on 1 December 2021.
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