“Fool Me Once” is a slow-burn drama about grief, memory and the lies we tell ourselves. The series, based on Michael Robotham’s novel of the same name, follows psychologist Alex Delaware as he tries to help a young woman who has survived a traumatic brain injury. The show is anchored by a strong lead performance from Gabriel Byrne, but its pace and plot mechanics keep it from reaching its full potential.
Trailer, via Netflix.
Gabriel Byrne’s Central Performance
Gabriel Byrne plays Dr. Alex Delaware, a psychologist who specializes in treating survivors of trauma. When his patient Beth (Kerry Condon) starts having vivid flashbacks she can’t explain, Delaware becomes convinced that her accident wasn’t an accident at all. Byrne brings a quiet intensity to the role, making Delaware a man who is both analytical and deeply human.
The relationship between Delaware and Beth is the emotional core of the series. Byrne and Condon share a chemistry that carries scenes where the dialogue might otherwise sag. Their exchanges feel lived-in, with Byrne finding small moments of tenderness and frustration that ground the larger mystery.
“He had seen the look before, the blankness in the eyes, the way the world narrowed to a single point of focus.”
That passage captures the show’s approach: it leans on description and implication rather than explicit exposition. Byrne’s Delaware observes more than he speaks, and that restraint serves the character well.
A Slow Burn That Doesn’t Always Land
The series is structured around Delaware’s investigation into Beth’s past, which leads him to a web of secrets involving her family and her late husband. The pacing is deliberate, almost to a fault. Episodes spend considerable time establishing Delaware’s routine and his interactions with his colleagues, which can feel like padding when the central mystery remains frustratingly opaque.
The show also struggles with its handling of memory and identity. Beth’s condition is described as a traumatic brain injury, but the series doesn’t offer much scientific grounding for how her memories are failing or returning. Instead, it relies on metaphorical descriptions of fragmented memory and the idea that people can change their pasts through repetition. This abstraction works sometimes, but it often leaves viewers grasping for a concrete sense of what is happening to Beth.
Supporting Cast and Character Flaws
The supporting cast is solid but underused. David Strathairn plays Detective Pete Fonseca, who works with Delaware on the case. Strathairn brings a gruff warmth to the role, but his character feels like a sidekick rather than a partner in crime-solving. The show’s tendency to sideline Fonseca in favor of Delaware’s solo investigations is a missed opportunity, since their dynamic could have added texture to the procedural elements.
The series also introduces Beth’s ex-husband and her family members, each of whom has something to hide. These characters are sketched with care, but the show’s refusal to fully commit to their stories leaves them feeling thin. Some of them are revealed to be lying, while others are let off the hook without much explanation. This inconsistency undermines the tension that the show tries to build around them.
Where It Falls Short
The biggest problem with “Fool Me Once” is its unwillingness to commit to its own mystery. Delaware spends episode after episode chasing clues and talking to witnesses, but the show rarely delivers the payoff that would justify the wait. When revelations finally arrive, they are often delivered through flashbacks or vague recollections rather than through a satisfying narrative arc.
The show also leans heavily on psychological jargon and Freudian symbolism, which can feel academic rather than dramatic. Terms like “ego,” “superego” and “id” are thrown around with frequency, and while they add some intellectual weight to the proceedings, they can also distance the audience from the emotional stakes. The series wants to be smart, but it sometimes sacrifices clarity for cleverness.
Final Verdict
“Fool Me Once” is a competently made, occasionally moving drama that falls short of greatness. Gabriel Byrne’s performance is the reason to watch, but the surrounding material doesn’t always support him. The pacing is slow, the mystery is opaque, and the supporting cast is underutilized. Fans of psychological thrillers will find enough here to engage with, but the show never quite earns the investment it asks for.
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