Reviewing half a show is never straightforward. It's demanding to assess a project's overall quality when only part of a season is provided in advanc
Reviewing half a show is never straightforward. It’s demanding to assess a project’s overall quality when only part of a season is provided in advance, and that applies to most genres, but is perhaps especially true for mystery. After all, a huge part of the whodunnit formula goes beyond the “who” and into the “how” and “why.” A great twist can elevate even the most underwhelming stories, but a bad resolution can derail even the most solidly built puzzle.
Thus, I’m somewhat torn about Hulu’s newest offering, Phony, starring TV queen and Emmy nominee Connie Britton alongside The White Lotus breakout Sam Nivola. The plot is compelling, and the performances are on point, but with only half the season to refer to, it’s arduous to reach a decisive conclusion. Based on the episodes provided for review, Phony is a solid mystery grounded in a charming mother-son relationship — and offers a live-action take on the “Other Mother” story you’ve been waiting for.
What Is ‘Phony’ About?
Phony stars Sam Nivola as Sonny Cooke, an amiable and cheerful teenager living a normal life in a petite town. He shares an unusually close bond with his mother, Ellen (Britton), who also happens to be the principal at his school. They even have an unspoken gesture where he’ll squeeze her shoulder twice, and she’ll do the same in return; it’s their way of saying “I love you.” At first glance, Sonny seems to have it all: a pretty girlfriend, a wonderful home life, and a pristine reputation — he’s friends with everyone. In reality, he’s warm to everyone, and they all respond in kind, even though many are annoyed by his overtly pleasant behavior.
Things take a turn for the worse when Sonny has a car accident following a fight with his mom. After spending a few days in the hospital, he wakes up to find that Ellen looks different. He doesn’t recognize her, even though everyone else around him does. His friends don’t notice any difference, and neither do her coworkers; only Sonny can perceive the change, and he doesn’t even have his phone to look at older pictures or videos. He does have a Costco card with a photograph of how he remembers her, though. When he initiates the shoulder squeeze and she doesn’t return it, Sonny becomes convinced an imposter has replaced his mother and will do everything to discover the truth behind Ellen’s disappearance.
Phony was created by Nick Paley, co-writer of the Oscar-nominated cult gem Marcel the Shell With Shoes On, who also acts as writer, director, and co-showrunner alongside Anthony King. The cast also includes British icon Meera Syal as Sharla, a quasi-PI that Sonny hires to look over the case; Grace Brennan as Mallory, an ancient friend of Sonny who’s recently back in town; Colter Lee as Weldon, Mallory’s cousin and the only one who fully believes Sonny; Mahaela Park as Chloe, Sonny’s girlfriend; and Maliq Johnson as Vogel, Sonny’s best friend.
‘Phony’s Biggest Strength Lies in Its Cast
Right off the bat, Phony establishes itself as a coming-of-age dramedy with a mystery at its center. Although it doesn’t necessarily set itself apart from the rest of the pack, the show’s cast is charming enough to warrant spending time with this puzzle that needs solving. Nivola, who made a robust impression as the slightly creepy and misguided Lochlan in Season 3 of The White Lotus, switches gears to play Phony‘s Sonny, a teenage everyman who, pre-accident, might as well have come out of a school pamphlet: he’s too warm, too eager, too much. Post-accident, Sonny becomes clumsy, anxious, and outright paranoid, and with good reason.
Then there’s Ellen — Sonny’s “cool” mom, the Lorelai to his Rory, but without the stunted adolescence and emotional immaturity. Britton has perhaps the toughest role in the series; for one episode, she’s all smiles and love, the epitome of what a great mom should be. Then, she shifts, buried under some of the most impressive onscreen makeup in a minute, and becomes a recent Ellen: colder, more nervous, more postured, and strangely foreign to Sonny. Her words and actions say she truly cares about her son, but her gestures and expressions possibly tell another story. There’s no outright confirmation, of course — where is the mystery in that? — but there is the hint of something amiss, the shadow of a doubt. That Britton conveys as much through her eyes alone is further proof that she really is one of television’s greatest talents.
As for Phony‘s supporting cast, everyone is game. The juvenile cast is likable enough, never veering too far into stereotypes and injecting plenty of wide-eyed enthusiasm. The ensemble’s standout so far is Syal as a woman who doesn’t really believe Sonny but agrees to aid nonetheless — and soon finds enough reason to share his doubt. Syal’s droughty wit is the perfect complement to Nivola’s bundle of nerves, and their scenes together are some of the best. Huge shoutout to Lee, too, whose awkward Weldon is the perfect mix of nerdy enthusiast and valuable ally.
‘Phony’s Mystery Is Compelling, Confusing, and Genuinely Trippy
Visually and thematically, Phony doesn’t do anything particularly novel. The gloomy, rainy setting is atmospheric enough, and the constant utilize of beaver motifs — including a literal beaver building its dam — provides an fascinating complement to Sonny’s journey as he slowly unravels. Yet, the show doesn’t seem interested in exploring anything outside Ellen’s presumed disappearance. There’s nothing wrong with a mystery just wanting to focus on itself, but often, the best entries in the genre enhance their central question with robust subplots and parallel themes.
That’s not the case with Phony, and I wish we could see more of that, especially regarding the element of mothers and sons. Sonny professes his closeness to Ellen, and there are some scenes of them being playful and normal. Yet, overall, the series doesn’t spend enough time with them to explain where this powerful connection comes from, and it very much matters since it’s the root of Sonny’s desperate quest to prove this recent woman is an imposter. Whatever happened to his father could also factor into the larger mystery, but it remains a frustrating gap in this larger canvas — at least for now.
For what it is, Phony is genuinely trippy. The makeup work on Britton is impressive, to the point where it took me quite a while to determine that it was really still her underneath. As for the story, the series wisely chooses to leave that question open for as long as possible, with Sonny seemingly trapped in his personal Coraline nightmare. What this Other Mother wants from him remains a mystery — and four episodes in, you won’t even be close to solving it, but therein lies the appeal.
Phony premieres October 20 on Hulu.
