Collider: I love a good cop drama where the mystery unravels over the season.
And with this, I found the setting equally interesting.
This is not the kind of story that happens behind closed doors.
Image via HBO
Well, the crime happens behind closed doors.
I knew I wanted the city to become almost a character in itself.
JAMES: Thats a good question.
Image via HBO
I grew up basically in a film noir, without knowing it.
Ive always liked stories that complicate the Jamaican narrative because I think its very easy.
So, I think it was both.
Whats it like, as an adult, to then look back on the experience?
Did it give you a different perspective at all?
JAMES: Yes and no.
When I was growing up, its not like I fully understood my moms job.
Its not like these guys are shielding police work from you.
I grew up in that police station.
Image via HBO
Ive been around good cops and bad cops.
Ive been around dedicated cops and lazy cops.
Ive seen the good and the bad.
I already knew a lot of it.
That said, just because you know something, it doesnt mean you know it.
You still have to research and ask questions.
A former Scotland Yard detective returns to Jamaica to investigate a missing persons case, which leads her deep into the underworld of Kingston. As she uncovers dark secrets, the case threatens to expose far more than she ever imagined, exploring themes of identity, race, and post-colonial trauma.
Doing police work is really its own world with its own language.
JAMES: Its society adjacent, but not really society, in a way.
Its interesting to me where cops live.
Hopefully, if we do another season, well get to do more of that.
What was it like, as a writer, to take and follow the journey of the mystery?
JAMES: I never know.
If its a surprise to the viewer, it was a surprise to me when I wrote it.
When you write characters and put them in situations, people always do things that might surprise you.
Thats what happens when I write novels as well.
Its one of the reasons why my novels are always either in first person or narrated.
I brought that to the TV show as well.
Its closer to the human voice.
They surprise and they disappoint, or they shock.
I like to be open-ended in that way, because I think thats how life is too.
This British limited series uses a hefty investigation as a means to explore race and class.
Shes not the easiest character to get to know all the time.
I think she is a character you may love, even if you dont like her.
There are decisions that she makes that we wouldnt make.
And to me, that was important.
It was important to me that she was flesh and blood, but also somebody who is really far.
JAMES: Millie is a charmer.
She does it with Janet, making a nasty crack about white male anatomy.
She is also a charmer.
But if youre in her vortex, you may get some shrapnel.
JAMES: Yeah, it was extremely important to me.
In some ways, the relationships are more important.
Thats one of the things I liked aboutMare of Easttown.
In a lot of ways, its the relationships that are important.
Honestly, any kind of cop can solve a mystery.
But what are the balls that shes juggling in the air at the same time?
What does it take for everybody in this show to show up for work every day?
For Millie, she lives in this house where she sleeps on the couch.
She goes to work every day because she doesnt have to sit in her own house.
Curtis goes to work every day because he thinks change is happening.
As long as he keeps his lives distinct, then hes cool.
And Im interested in that.
And what are you going home to after that?
JAMES: Its surreal.
Sometimes the person who ends up in the role may not be who you pictured.
I pictured all sorts of people, including people who are not even alive, in the role.
Its like Harper Lee screaming, Oh, my God, its Atticus, when she saw Gregory Peck.
I dont think she was writing it going, I think Gregory Peck would be perfect for this role.
I think thats what happened to me with Chyna.
And that happened to me with Tamara.
They give a reading and youre like, Oh, my God, its her.
The crime series premieres on Max in November.
I loved the relationship between Millie and Hibiscus.
It was so compelling to watch and it made me cry more than once.
Theyre so powerful together that I was completely blown away by the fact that its Chyna McQueens screen debut.
What was it like to see that performance and that character brought to life?
JAMES: That was jaw-dropping.
I knew when I saw that documentary that that character had to be in this story.
There were scenes when the whole crew just fell silent.
You think shes been acting her whole life.
Did you always know that you wanted to have her find and rescue Romeo?
Was that important to you?
JAMES: I think it was very important for her that she saved Romeo.
She couldnt save Victor, the person that haunts her.
I also didnt want the show to get that dark.
So, yeah, I knew she was going to save him.
I knew it was important that she saves this child, but there are consequences.
Is that something you want to do?
Do you have more story ideas for what you could do with Millie?
Itd be great to do another season.
I think theres a lot of unfinished business.
The brother and sister are still alive, although theyve had their major plans thwarted.
Millie saved one person but lost a lot.
Is this something youre hoping to do again, as far as writing a TV series again?
Do you want to do more of that?
Its a different kind of writing, definitely.
It took some getting used to.
Collaboration is very interesting.
Sometimes I dont wanna write everything.
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