Justin Theroux ponders what’s best for his family in this Mosquito Coast exclusive clip
TV Features Justin Theroux
Apple TV+’s The Mosquito Coast puts its central family, the Foxes, on the run from its very first episode, which premiered on April 30. The sepia-toned drama stars Justin Theroux and Melissa George as married couple Allie and Margot Fox, who are escaping from their murky past and the American government, taking their teenage children Dina (Logan Polish) and Charlie (Gabriel Bateman) along for the ride. After perilously crossing the desert to enter Mexico, the family finds surprising refuge in a Mexican hacienda under the roof of a powerful matriarch, played by famous singer and actress Ofelia Medina. But is it really a safe space? In this exclusive A.V. Club clip from the upcoming fourth episode, Allie and Margot wonder if they’re putting their kids in more danger (hint: they probably are).
As seen in this clip from “Bus Stop,” Margot is particularly nervous about the impact of this lifestyle on her young adults, but Allie is optimistic that they’ll love the opulence of their new settings. In fact, he tells his wife that they’re safer here than in France or the U.S. Allie, an egotistical but genius inventor, hates the capitalism of his country and seeks to take his family far away from it all. “We’ve been preparing them for this,” he tells Margot. “Bus Stop” also sees the Foxes have an intense dinner with their hosts upon realizing they’re being used as pawns in a larger scheme, and Margot gets to show off her badass side.
The Mosquito Coast is loosely based on Theroux’s uncle Paul’s 1981 novel of the same name. The cast also includes Kimberly Elise, Scotty Tovar, and James Le Gros.
“Bus Stop” streams May 14 on Apple TV+.
4 Comments
I’m enjoying the series, but I’m also wondering, after three episodes, just when the hell we’re going to get to the main setting/action of the novel. Which I don’t think is a whole lot to ask since your show is titled Mosquito Coast.
I’m wondering if that might be S2, and most of S1 is the family literally escaping to the Coast, and then flashbacks to their previous life?I’m enjoying the show as well. It has to be one of the most beautifully shot series on TV. I also like Theroux’s performance – he really leans into the unlikeable madman characterization, and makes Allie increasingly hard to like.However, I do find that each episode does seem to end with a “c’mon, how would that happen” moment. Much like while watching Ozark, I find it hard to believe that this family would still be free and alive after, like, two episodes of this …
I’m just not liking the whole “being pursued by shadowy agents for an unclear reason.” It’s an unnecessary complication that dilutes the whole premise. The thing that is so interesting and terrifying about the novel is how the flight from civilization is all internally driven by a perverted sense of preserving family, and the horror of the story is how a kid comes to realize that the person he admires most is a madman. The story would’ve been perfectly fine, and quite potent as an allegory for our doomsday prepping culture, without having to seemingly validate the paranoia of the protagonists by having them actually be pursued by the government. Plus I’m just waiting to be let down by the reason WHY they have to run. The longer a secret like this is kept from us the viewers, the more likely it is to be a big, wet shart of a letdown.
“loosely based on Theroux’s uncle Paul’s 1981 novel of the same name.”Very loosely based. Almost unrecognizable, based on the description in the article.