The paradox of 21st-century Hollywood is that the action genre seems to lose its edge each passing year.
With superheroes, endless franchising, virtual production, and advanced VFX technology, we’re bombarded with formulaic shows and movies filled with CGI battle scenes and artificial explosions. This trend often overshadows character development and even basic plot coherence. In the midst of this, any action offering that breaks away from the norm becomes noteworthy. Netflix’s “Who Is Erin Carter?” not only takes us back to the genre’s analog past but also unfolds the human story of a woman’s journey to provide her daughter with the stability she never had.
The central mystery in this seven-part series, premiering on Aug. 24, revolves around Erin Carter (played by Evin Ahmad). One morning, she wakes up her daughter Harper (Indica Watson) early to catch a boat from Folkestone Harbor in southeast England. Fast forward five years, and they’re now living in a charming suburb of Barcelona. Erin, a substitute teacher, is married to a kind nurse named Jordi (Sean Teale). Harper, now a feisty preteen, faces trouble at school for getting into a fight. Erin advises against violence but somewhat contradicts herself by earlier telling Harper, “FYI, when you throw a punch, you need to keep your fist tight.”
Erin’s knowledge of combat is more than theoretical. A supermarket robbery throws them into a dangerous situation, where Erin, in an act of heroism, confronts the criminals. However, this draws unwanted attention from her past, putting the stable life she’s built for Harper in jeopardy.
“Who Is Erin Carter?” embodies the elements of an addictive, old-school action drama. Produced by Left Bank Pictures (known for “The Crown”) and Palma Pictures in Spain, the show maintains high production values without being overly flashy. The fight scenes cleverly use the suburban setting, adding a refreshing minimalism. Erin faces off against enemies in various locales, including an empty classroom, a beachfront mansion, and a well-equipped kitchen where a cast-iron frying pan becomes an improvised bullet shield. The show, both in individual episodes and as a whole, is efficiently scripted and well-paced. Jack Lothian, the writer, executive producer, and showrunner, skillfully reveals Erin’s backstory at just the right moments. Despite the genuine pathos in her history, the show incorporates humor, particularly in Erin’s feud with the smug queen bee of her neighborhood, Penelope (Charlotte Vega), reminiscent of the soapy archness seen in “Big Little Lies” and “Desperate Housewives.”
While the show occasionally leans into silliness and relies on a few coincidences that strain believability, Evin Ahmad ensures that viewers stay captivated by her portrayal of Erin Carter. Ahmad, known for roles in Netflix’s “The Rain” and Swedish noir “Snabba Cash,” delivers a mesmerizing performance as an antihero with a dark past. Erin’s experiences make her well-suited for a life of crime, yet she strives to guide troubled kids away from the traps that once ensnared her. Ahmad skillfully avoids falling into typical action-girl tropes, portraying Erin as a character marked by sadness and fallibility. “Who Is Erin Carter?” introduces us to a haunted woman whose dreams and regrets set her apart in a genre dominated by interchangeable superheroes and superspies.
