Mare of Easttown fans dismayed after HBO Max hit by technical error right before finale airs

Viewers joked mystery drama had more influence than last week’s Friends reunion

American fans of Kate Winslet’s show Mare of Easttown were devastated after HBO’s stream of the finale was disrupted by a technical error.

Viewers tuning in joked that the servers may have been brought down due to the show’s popularity, claiming it had more influence than HBO Max’s Friends reunion.

Others simply shared their reactions to the show being interrupted just as they were waiting to learn whether Winslet’s detective, Mare Sheehan, will discover who murdered a local teenage mother.

Since debuting in April, the show has garnered critical acclaim and a huge fanbase both in the US and the UK.

Among the series’ more famous fans is horror writer Stephen King, who said he had a “suspect in mind” after the penultimate episode aired.

“Kate Winslet is killing it,” he added in a tweet.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, series creator Brad Ingelsby said he was unsure if there was potential for a second series.

“If we could crack a story that we were really proud of and felt like it was a deserving second chapter in Mare’s journey, then maybe,” he said.

“I haven’t cracked that yet; I don’t know what that is, honestly. But if there was a world in which we were convinced, this is a continuation of the story that honours the first chapter and does things and audience will appreciate, then maybe. But as of right now, I have no idea what that could be.”

The Mare of Easttown finale airs in the UK tonight at 9pm on Sky Atlantic.