‘Bodkin’ Review: Netflix Crime Series Is Deathly Dull

Per Netflix, Bodkin is a blend of mystery, comedy, and drama, not a true crime series but a knowing wink at the genre (one tagline even reads “Based on a true story—overheard in a pub”). The series presents itself as a gritty but gripping thriller that simultaneously packs plenty of chuckles for true crime lovers and haters alike. If only.

Rather than innovative or interesting, Bodkin is deathly dull and dour. The show starts with intrepid reporter Dove Maloney (Siobhán Cullen) discovering that the key source in a major...