The Jetty, a BBC mini series, can be confusing. Let me start you off knowing what it took me a while to grasp. The story is told in two different timelines. There is no transition or signal when switching timelines, which is what threw me off. In the current world, policewoman Ember (Jenna Coleman) is looking into a fire that burned a building significant to the town. In the past timeline we watch the life of a missing girl Amy (Bo Bragason), whose disappearance may be related to the fire in the current time.

The Jetty features a host of characters who for one reason or another keep vital facts secret. A podcaster named Riz (Weruche Opia) is in town to do a podcast on the unsolved case of the missing Amy. The original police investigation into her disappearance was almost nonexistent, and Riz claims to have new information.

Ember is approaching the first anniversary of her husband’s death. He was Malachy AKA Mack (Tom Glynn-Carney) and he used to own the now burned building. Ember lives with her teen age daughter Hannah (Ruby Stokes). Her mother Sylvia (Amelia Bullmore) is nearby.

Ember sees connections between the current arson case and the cold case of the missing girl. Some of the connections hit very close to home, which troubles her.

We simultaneously see the unfolding of Amy’s last days. She was wild and rebellious. When she crooked her finger at Caitlin (Laura Marcus), Caitlin followed. Amy called Caitlin “Kitty” and introduced her to drugs, liquor, and sex. Kitty fell in love with Amy and would do any unsavory thing Amy wanted to be in her presence.

There were many other characters in this four part drama. People who knew Amy in school. Amy and Caitlin’s parents. Ember’s own life was tied in, too. Ember had a hangup on the idea of grown men having sex with underage girls and this influenced her questions and leads.

I thought the twist at the end was not believable. There was nothing in the previous storylines to make what we ultimately learn ring true. You can’t set up a twist like this with one line of dialog about not seeing your own flaws. While the various character arcs and relationship dramas were compelling and drew me along, the way it all fit together at the end was a head scratcher.

Marialy Rivas directed. She made the series atmospheric and moody but also muddled.

The series is streaming on Hulu. If you watch this one, let me know what you think. It isn’t going on my recommended list, but maybe you see it differently.