'Saint X' Episode 1 Review: Hulu whodunnit teases lust motive for Caribbean murder in nuanced opener
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hulu’s new show ‘Saint X’ has premiered with three 40-minute episodes, giving viewers a glimpse into an idyllic setting on a remote Caribbean island. The show is based on the novel of the same name by Alexis Schaitkin, developed for the screen by Leila Gerstein and directed by Dee Rees.
The Hulu show follows the mystery murder of a young woman named Alison Thomas who is vacationing with her parents on a peaceful resort on the Caribbean island. Things take a turn when she’s found dead in a small lake near the bustling waterfall. The show is split into two timelines - past and present. The past shows us the days leading up to the murder and the events surrounding it. Meanwhile, the present gives way for Alison’s sister, Emily Thomas, to solve the puzzle of her sister’s death after a man who worked at the resort and was accused of Alison’s murder resurfaces in New York, where Emily currently lives with her boyfriend. The story is designed around Emily and her journey to find the truth behind her sister’s murder, which was ruled an accident.
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World and characters
The show’s creator, Leila, has kept the novel's world intact as much as possible. There’s a subtle layer of tension among the characters who are also at the resort on vacation just like Alison’s family. Alison is accompanied by her father and mother, Bill and Mia Thomas, while her younger sister, Emily, is only seven years old at the time of her murder.
The resort where Alison and her family vacation has many people working around the clock but the show drives our focus toward two young caretakers tasked with taking care of the guests. One is Edwin, a youthful and flamboyant man who talks fast and is quick with his wit. Meanwhile, Clive Richardson, another employee at the resort and Edwin’s partner in crime, is a hardworking man who likes to avoid trouble.
Among the rest of the cast is a middle-aged, expecting couple. The husband keeps ogling Alison. We are also introduced to a father-son duo where the young son soon bonds with Alison. It’s clear from the get-go that Alison is at the center of the events. She’s smart, young, attractive, and confident. Things head to a pivot point when Alison gets up and rushes to play volleyball, organized by the resort. Unfortunately, she is found murdered.
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Who could've killed Alison?
All characters come with ulterior motives. Edwin has a playboy persona and flirts with Alison at every turn. The married man with the pregnant wife is also eyeing Alison, while his wife seems to detest her. The young college student, who is at the resort with his dad, wants to get close to Alison. Basically, everyone wants a piece of Alison for themselves, and it only appears a matter of who than why at this point.
The pilot episode has perfectly laid the foundation for the whodunnit, giving the audience a clear idea of everyone's motivations. However, more relationships will be explored in the next episodes as the story progresses to its meatier parts. Right now, it’s not wise to bet on anyone to be the killer. Instead, let us wait to see what happens next.
You can catch 'Saint X' every Wednesday exclusively only on Hulu.