A fractured marriage

January 12, 2025

When a couple decides to sell their house, cracks begin to appear in their marriage

A fractured marriage


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o Good Deed is a slow-burn drama about Lydia and Paul Morgan, who find themselves caught up in a web of ambition, desire and the consequences of their actions. The series revolves around the sale of their high-end Los Angeles home, which quickly becomes more than just a real estate transaction. It becomes a lens through which the complexities of their marriage and personal lives come to surface.

Lydia, played by Lisa Kudrow, is not just focused on material success. Her drive is rooted in a more fundamental need for control. Kudrow brings intricacy to this role, showing how Lydia’s desire to control everything around her stems from a vulnerability that she barely acknowledges. The character is not without its flaws, but Kudrow ensures that even in Lydia’s most manipulative moments, there is something to empathise with. She is not a villain in the traditional sense but a person trying to maintain a sense of power in a world that feels increasingly out of control.

Opposite her, Ray Romano delivers a subdued yet powerful performance as Paul Morgan. He highlights the cracks in their marriage. Paul is quieter and more introspective; someone who has never fully stepped into the role Lydia has carved out for him. Romano portrays Paul with subtlety, making his character’s indecision and quiet resentment palpable. It is not that Paul is passive by nature. His silence is a product of his internal battle. Romano avoids making Paul seem weak or submissive. Instead, Paul’s hesitation reflects a man slowly losing sight of the path he had imagined for himself.

The chemistry between Kudrow and Romano is authentic. It is rooted in the unspoken frustrations of a marriage strained by years of compromise. Their interactions reveal a relationship held together more by duty than affection, each character embodying the quiet discontent that often accompanies unaddressed grievances. The series gives an honest view of a fractured marriage.

The supporting characters enrich the story and add unpredictability. Linda Cardellini, for instance, plays a character whose intentions are unclear from the start. She keeps viewers guessing, adding suspense that keeps the story grounded in uncertainty. O-T Fagbenle, who portrays one of the potential buyers of the Morgan home, brings an unexpected energy to the show. His character shifts in ways that keep the audience on their toes, unsure of what he really wants and how far he’s willing to go to get it. Fagbenle’s presence is magnetic. His role becomes more important as the series progresses.

The chemistry between Kudrow and Romano is authentic, rooted in the unspoken frustrations of a marriage strained by years of compromise. Their interaction reveals a relationship held together more by duty than affection, each character embodying the quiet discontent that often accompanies unaddressed grievances. The series gives an honest view of a fractured marriage.

The series avoids rushing to provide answers. Instead, it carefully unpacks the flaws of its characters and their motivations, slowly building tension. There are no cheap plot twists or forced reveals, just a straightforward dissection of what drives each character. The pacing allows for reflective moments, giving the emotional beats a sense of authenticity.

The humour in No Good Deed is often understated, emerging from awkward situations or uncomfortable truths rather than slapstick comedy. It does not feel like a diversion from the drama but adds to the depth of the characters. As for suspense, the series builds anticipation without relying on traditional plot devices.

Though centred around the sale of a house, No Good Deed is not about real estate. The property functions as a metaphor for the life Lydia and Paul have built; a life that appears enviable from the outside but is fundamentally flawed. As the sale progresses, those cracks widen, forcing the Morgans to confront truths they have long avoided.

The series does not make it easy for its characters. Every decision carries weight, every action has consequences and no character is left unscathed. Lydia and Paul are not heroes or villains. They are simply people shaped by their desires and failings. This refusal to moralise offers a narrative that feels grounded and authentic.

The pacing of No Good Deed is deliberate but effective. The story unwinds in a way that feels both natural and inevitable. The tension grows slowly as Lydia and Paul’s marriage disintegrates and the stakes of the sale, while never fully removed from the story, take a backseat to the more pressing issues between them. There are no easy answers or black-and-white characters. Everyone involved in the story has their motivations, some more selfish than others. The series shows the consequences of those choices.

It is not overly dramatic or fast-paced, which may not grab everyone, but it’s a good pick for those who enjoy character-driven stories.


The author is a freelance contributor

A fractured marriage