February 20, 2018

By Sadie Lea

Each season, it can be expected that new television shows will try and find a place in popular nightly programming. This has been seen before with television shows that initially seemed underrated like _Grey’s Anatomy_,_ _The Fosters,_ _Catfish: The TV Show_ and many others that eventually gained larger audiences. Steven Soderbergh’s murder mystery _Mosaic,_ however, transcends traditional viewing platforms by bringing interactive content right to your phone.

_Mosaic_ aired on HBO on Jan. 22. The small series was released with six episodes; however, the free app, that doesn’t require an HBO subscription, for iOS and Android was released on Nov. 8, 2017 and Nov. 21, 2017, respectively, with full episodes and more details built in.

The app begins with one choice: “Meet Olivia Lake.” From there, the viewer unlocks new perspectives from the two men who are accused of killing her. The perspectives begin to intertwine as a detective becomes involved, as well as one of the accused’s sisters.

As you travel down the paths, not only do you unlock different points of view, but you also unlock key elements like emails, police documents and news articles as you progress. This new medium allows for viewers to see the show the way they choose — Do they believe he killed Olivia Lake? Or was it someone else?

Taking on such a unique medium can lead to challenges in and of itself, leaving the show with a lackluster plot, but this was not the case. From the very beginning, Soderbergh makes you connect with Olivia Lake, as stubborn as she is. The app allows viewers to see the events leading up to Olivia’s murder from her perspective. Once you find out she’s been murdered, you begin picking up on each clue dropped before the murder itself, creating your own theories on who really killed Olivia Lake.

The character development makes you trust each person then leaves you spinning with confusion as you see the scene from a different point of view, making you unsure of who to believe. Finding the show is almost like finding one of those hidden gem television shows on Netflix. Although the season has aired on television, it still is addicting and binge-worthy. Only half a day would be spent watching six episodes. The innovative features of the app allow you to immerse yourself in the storytelling experience, not just view the show from the outside looking in.

_Mosaic_ is eerie and addicting. If you’re looking for a new show to binge watch, the show’s app is just a few clicks away until you’re hooked.

_Edited by Brooke Collier | bcollier@themaneater.com_