# Olive Kitteridge (miniseries)

Olive Kitteridge is an American television miniseries based on Elizabeth Strout's 2008 novel Olive Kitteridge. Set in Maine, the HBO miniseries features Frances McDormand as the title character, Richard Jenkins as Olive's loving husband Henry Kitteridge, Zoe Kazan as Denise Thibodeau, and Bill Murray as Jack Kennison. The show is divided into four parts, each depicting a certain point of time in the novel.
The miniseries debuted in the United States on November 2, 2014, on the American premium TV network HBO, which aired the show's first two episodes back-to-back that evening; the third and fourth episodes aired back-to-back the following evening. It was shown in a similar format in the United Kingdom on Sky Atlantic, on December 14 and December 15, 2014. It premiered in Australia on Showcase from 13 January 2015. At the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards, the miniseries won eight awards, including Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Lead Actress for McDormand, and Outstanding Lead Actor for Jenkins.

## Premise

Olive Kitteridge is a misanthropic and strict, but well-meaning, retired schoolteacher who lives in the fictional seaside town of Crosby, Maine. She is married to Henry Kitteridge, a kind, considerate man who runs a pharmacy downtown, and has a troubled son named Christopher, who grows up to be a podiatrist. For 25 years, Olive has experienced problems of depression, bereavement, jealousy, and friction with family members and friends.

## Cast

* Frances McDormand as Olive Kitteridge
* Richard Jenkins as Henry Kitteridge
* Zoe Kazan as Denise Thibodeau
* Rosemarie DeWitt as Rachel Coulson
* Martha Wainwright as Angela O'Meara
* Ann Dowd as Bonnie Newton
* Jesse Plemons as Jerry McCarthy
* Bill Murray as Jack Kennison
* John Gallagher Jr. as Christopher Kitteridge (adult)
* Devin Druid as Christopher Kitteridge (age 13)
* John Mullen as Kevin Coulson (age 13)
* Cory Michael Smith as Kevin Coulson (adult)
* Peter Mullan as Jim O'Casey
* Rachel Brosnahan as Patty Howe
* Brady Corbet as Henry Thibodeau
* Maryann Urbano as Linda Kennison
* Libby Winters as Suzanne
* Patricia Kalember as Joyce
* Audrey Marie Anderson as Ann
* Donna Mitchell as Louise Larkin
* Frank L. Ridley as Mr. Thibodeau

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "Pharmacy" | Lisa Cholodenko | Jane Anderson | November 2, 2014 (2014-11-02) |
| Maine, 1980. Olive Kitteridge is a no-nonsense high school math teacher who doesn't suffer fools and never hesitates to express an opinion, no matter how much hurt she might cause. She treats her husband Henry with indifference and is strict with her son Christopher, who struggles to please her. Henry is the local pharmacist and after his long-time assistant dies from a stroke, he hires a young woman, Denise Thibodeau, whose husband is also named Henry. The two Henrys go hunting with a third man, and the younger Henry is killed in a freak accident. The older Henry grows close to Denise after her husband's death, teaching her how to drive and gifting her an adopted kitten. Olive harbors an attraction to an English teacher at her school and takes an interest in Kevin Coulson, one of her students. Kevin's mother Rachel suffers from bipolar disorder. |||||
| 2 | "Incoming Tide" | Lisa Cholodenko | Jane Anderson | November 2, 2014 (2014-11-02) |
| Years have passed and Kevin Coulson, now studying in New York City to be a psychiatrist, returns to town. He struggles with the effects of his mother Rachel's suicide and experiences symptoms of schizophrenia, including vivid hallucinations. Kevin is contemplating suicide himself, but is interrupted by Olive, who engages him in conversation about the town and notices a gun in the back seat of his car. Kevin also saves a former classmate from drowning. Christopher is about to marry, and Olive invites Kevin to attend the rehearsal dinner. Olive dislikes her future daughter-in-law, Suzanne, as well as her prospective in-laws. She invites Kevin to stay with them and to the wedding the next day. On the day of the wedding, Olive acts coldly to those around her, including her new in-laws and members of Suzanne's family. |||||
| 3 | "A Different Road" | Lisa Cholodenko | Jane Anderson | November 3, 2014 (2014-11-03) |
| Olive and Henry are saddened when they receive a call from Christopher, now living in California and working as a podiatrist, to say that he and Suzanne are getting a divorce. Christopher appears content with his divorce and explains that he is in therapy. He also tells his parents that he will not be coming to Maine for a visit. Returning home from a dinner out, Olive and Henry stop at a hospital to use the bathroom. Two gun-toting addicts arrive looking for drugs, taking patients and staff members hostage. While held captive, Olive and Henry argue, blaming each other for Christopher's unwillingness to visit. Olive also reveals that she planned to leave him for her former colleague. After the ordeal, Christopher suggests that his parents should enter counseling, but Olive won't hear of it. Henry suffers a stroke and loses his ability to communicate. |||||
| 4 | "Security" | Lisa Cholodenko | Jane Anderson | November 3, 2014 (2014-11-03) |
| Olive visits Christopher and his new wife Ann in New York City, but relations between them continue to be strained. Olive likes Ann more than she liked Christopher's first wife but is critical about how Ann parents her two children from previous relationships and her housekeeping skills. The tension culminates in a fight between Olive and Christopher, who argues that she was harsh and uncaring to him as a child. Olive returns from her trip early, learning that her husband has died. Six months later, Olive befriends a wealthy widower, Jack Kenison, and the two enter a relationship despite their initial disagreements. |||||

## Reception
### Critical response

Olive Kitteridge received widespread critical acclaim for its writing, directing, cinematography, and Frances McDormand's central performance as well as those of Jenkins, Murray and Gallagher. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the show has an approval rating of 95% based on 63 reviews, with an average rating of 8.68/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Olive Kitteridge's narrative slow burn enhances fascinating performances – and a story worthy of its source material." On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 89 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 2014 | Venice Film Festival | Silver Mouse | Lisa Cholodenko | Won |
| 2015 | American Cinema Editors Awards | Best Edited Miniseries or Motion Picture for Television | Jeffrey M. Werner (for "A Different Road") | Nominated |
| 2015 | Costume Designers Guild Awards | Outstanding Made for Television Movie or Miniseries | Jenny Eagan | Nominated |
| 2015 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Limited Series | Best Limited Series | Won |
| 2015 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Actor in a Movie or Limited Series | Richard Jenkins | Nominated |
| 2015 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Actress in a Movie or Limited Series | Frances McDormand | Won |
| 2015 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Limited Series | Bill Murray | Won |
| 2015 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Limited Series | Cory Michael Smith | Nominated |
| 2015 | Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Miniseries | Lisa Cholodenko | Won |
| 2015 | Dorian Awards | TV Performance of the Year – Actress | Frances McDormand | Nominated |
| 2015 | Dorian Awards | TV Director of the Year | Lisa Cholodenko | Nominated |
| 2015 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Miniseries or Television Film | Best Miniseries or Television Film | Nominated |
| 2015 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television | Frances McDormand | Nominated |
| 2015 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Bill Murray | Nominated |
| 2015 | Gracie Awards | Outstanding Producer – Entertainment | Jane Anderson | Won |
| 2015 | Hollywood Post Alliance Awards | Outstanding Color Grading – Television | Pankaj Bajpai | Nominated |
| 2015 | Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards | Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling – Television Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television | Cydney Cornell | Nominated |
| 2015 | Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards | Best Period and/or Character Makeup – Television Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television | Christien Tinsley, Gerald Quist, and Liz Bernstrom | Nominated |
| 2015 | Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards | Best Special Makeup Effects – Television Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television | Christien Tinsley, Gerald Quist, and Hiro Yada | Nominated |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Miniseries | Best Miniseries | Nominated |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Richard Jenkins | Nominated |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Frances McDormand | Won |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | John Gallagher Jr. | Nominated |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Bill Murray | Won |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Rosemarie DeWitt | Nominated |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Lisa Cholodenko | Won |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Jane Anderson | Won |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Won |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Cinematography in a Non-Series | Best Cinematography in a Non-Series | Won |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Costume Design in a Non-Series | Best Costume Design in a Non-Series | Nominated |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Editing in a Non-Series | Best Editing in a Non-Series | Won |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Non-Series | Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Non-Series | Nominated |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Music in a Non-Series | Best Music in a Non-Series | Nominated |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best New Theme Song in a Series | Best New Theme Song in a Series | Nominated |
| 2015 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Production Design in a Non-Series | Best Production Design in a Non-Series | Nominated |
| 2015 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Limited Series | Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks, Jane Anderson, Frances McDormand, Steven Shareshian, and David Coatsworth | Won |
| 2015 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie | Richard Jenkins | Won |
| 2015 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie | Frances McDormand | Won |
| 2015 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie | Bill Murray | Won |
| 2015 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie | Zoe Kazan | Nominated |
| 2015 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special | Lisa Cholodenko | Won |
| 2015 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special | Jane Anderson | Won |
| 2015 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie or a Special | Laura Rosenthal and Carolyn Pickman | Won |
| 2015 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or a Movie | Cydney Cornell | Nominated |
| 2015 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Main Title Design | Garson Yu, Synderela Peng, Michael Lane Parks, Alex Pollini, and John Robson | Nominated |
| 2015 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Costumes for a Contemporary Series, Limited Series or Movie | Jenny Eagan and Debbie Holbrook (for "Incoming Tide") | Nominated |
| 2015 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series or a Movie (Non-Prosthetic) | Christien Tinsley, Gerald Quist, and Liz Bernstrom | Nominated |
| 2015 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or a Movie | Jeffrey M. Werner (for "Security") | Won |
| 2015 | Satellite Awards | Best Miniseries Made for Television | Best Miniseries Made for Television | Won |
| 2015 | Satellite Awards | Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television | Richard Jenkins | Nominated |
| 2015 | Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television | Frances McDormand | Won |
| 2015 | Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Zoe Kazan | Nominated |
| 2015 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries | Richard Jenkins | Nominated |
| 2015 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries | Frances McDormand | Won |
| 2015 | Television Critics Association Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials | Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials | Nominated |
| 2015 | Writers Guild of America Awards | Long Form – Adapted | Jane Anderson; Based on the novel by Elizabeth Strout | Won |
| 2016 | Artios Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Television Movie or Mini Series | Laura Rosenthal, Carolyn Pickman, Maribeth Fox, and Jodi Angstreich | Won |

## Home media

Olive Kitteridge was released by HBO on DVD and Blu-ray on February 10, 2015.