I’ve just finished watching the tenth and final episode of Dear Edward, a drama series you can stream on Apple TV. I loved this show, great writing, gorgeous cinematography, lovely music and wonderful acting, even down to the most minor of characters. The series is one of the best cinematic explorations of grief that I’ve ever seen.

            A 12 year old  boy named Eddie is the sole survivor of a plane crash that kills his parents and brother, Jordan. The only reason Eddie survives and not his brother is that he insisted on taking his Jordan’s window seat (as determined by a “rock, papers, scissors” match.)

A piano prodigy and all-round brilliant child, Edward had been homeschooled for years and had been living in Manhattan with his parents, who were both accomplished in their respective fields. After the crash, he winds up moving to a blue-collar neighborhood and staying with his Aunt Lacye and Uncle John in Nyack, New York. The couple is grieving themselves. They love Eddie but have no idea what to do with him. As you might imagine, Eddie is a mess.

            The airline pays for relatives of crash victims to meet in a grief group in a church basement. This group and each member’s story forms the basis of the ten episodes. The film’s depiction of grief is not trite and is not filled with platitudes, but is robust, sometimes humorous and almost always feels authentic. As it unfolds, the plot is filled with twists and turns and does not succumb to audience-pleasing solutions to the problems portrayed.