My quick rating – 6.5/10. Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue sets up a familiar story and delivers a mostly satisfying one-season mystery that fans of the whodunit genre should find worth their time. The show follows nine strangers who survive a plane crash only to find themselves stranded in a remote Mexican jungle, and then, one by one, they begin to die. What starts as a survival tale quickly turns into a murder mystery, where every character becomes both suspect and potential victim.
Visually, the show makes a solid effort. The sweeping aerial shots of the jungle are genuinely stunning, and even when it’s clear some of the environments are sets, it doesn’t pull you too far out of the experience. The contrast between natural scenery and fabricated surroundings is noticeable, but forgivable given the show’s generally engaging atmosphere and solid pacing.
Where Nine Bodies stumbles slightly is in its acting. The lead performers—particularly David Ajala and Eric McCormack—hold things down well and bring needed weight to the central narrative. Lydia Wilson is good, though at times feels underutilized or not quite as assertive as the role might require. Meanwhile, the supporting cast fluctuates in quality; some characters feel like filler or archetypes rather than real people, with a few bit players seemingly unsure of their place in the story. The older couple leans into their stereotype well enough, though their brief political commentary feels oddly tacked on and doesn’t really seem necessary.
The structure might feel confusing at first, especially as the show flips between events surrounding the crash and the external perspectives of characters involved in the broader mystery. It can take a moment to find your footing, but once you do, the payoff is worthwhile. The full arc is well thought out, and the ending doesn’t cheat us. You won’t be left with that frustrating “wait, what?” feeling—it all wraps up with satisfying clarity.
The mystery element is handled with restraint and intelligence. Anthony Horowitz crafts a solid puzzle, avoiding the temptation to throw in twists just for shock value. If you like to play detective, you’ll have enough clues to start forming theories, and while I had a hunch about the killer, I wasn’t fully sure until the reveal. That uncertainty is what makes a mystery work, and on that front, the show succeeds.
While it’s marketed as a limited series, Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue does end on a tantalizing cliffhanger that leaves the door cracked open for a potential second season. Whether that will happen likely depends on the show’s reception, but even if this is all we get, it stands as a complete, cohesive, and entertaining mystery ride.
This show is a visually appealing, twisty survival whodunit with standout performances from its core cast and a mystery that earns its resolution. Some uneven acting and minor tonal hiccups aside, it’s a binge-worthy series for mystery fans—and one that ends with just enough intrigue to make you hope for more.
You can check this out on MGM+ and through a few other streamers including Amazon.