All Her Fault Plays the Blame Game: It Shouldn’t Only Be the Mother’s Responsibility
Peacock’s mini-series All Her Fault explores how two mothers are burdened with guilt and responsibility when a young child is kidnapped. The show, based on Andrea Mara’s bestselling novel, finally premiered more than a year after its initial announcement.
The story centers on Marissa Irvine, portrayed by Sarah Snook, who faces every parent’s nightmare when her son goes missing. Adapted from a gripping psychological thriller, the series skillfully captures fear, confusion, and misplaced accountability. Fans of the genre or of actors Sarah Snook and Dakota Fanning, who plays Jenny Kaminski, will find much to admire in this portrayal of maternal devotion.
“Sometimes, horrible accidents happen.”
Despite the compelling narrative, many viewers question why society in the story targets only the mothers—Marissa and Jenny—while excusing everyone else’s responsibility. Both women are working parents, yet the fathers are strangely absent from blame. The show raises a difficult question: why is the weight of parenting errors still placed solely on mothers?
Today, with most families having two working parents, coordination and shared responsibility are vital. Marissa trusted Jenny, believing she had received legitimate information about her son’s playdate. She had no reason to imagine that a trusted nanny could be the source of danger.
Author’s Summary
The series exposes society’s lingering bias that holds mothers solely accountable for family crises, urging viewers to question shared responsibility in modern parenting.