The Mosquito Coast is a TV series based on the novel by Paul Theroux and the 1986 film of the same name. It stars Justin Theroux (Paul's nephew), Melissa George, Gabriel Bateman, and Logan Polish.
Alexander "Allie" Fox, his wife Margot, and their teenage children appear to be an ordinary, unassuming middle class family in suburban California. But secretly, they are off the grid fugitives, wanted by the government for some unspecified crime. When the Feds close in on them again, the Foxes are forced to uproot themselves and Run for the Border in an attempt to start a new life in Latin America.
The seven episode first season premiered on Apple TV+ on April 2021. It was renewed for a second season the following June.
The series provides examples of:
- Adaptational Backstory Change: In the novel and the film, Allie was an inventor who felt his genius was not appreciated. Here, he is an activist who is implied to have worked for the NSA before he went rogue.
- Adaptational Heroism: While he is still a deeply flawed man who is more than capable of venturing into Captain Ahab territory, Allie is generally less of a Jerkass than his film and novel counterparts.
- Adaptational Name Change: Allie's daughter is named Dina here. In the novel, there were two daughters named Jerry and April.
- Adaptational Villainy: While Allie is generally nicer than his film and book counterparts, he and Margot still cross a line their literary and cinematic counterparts never did, as they kidnapped Dina from her biological mother.
- Age Lift: In the novel and film, Charlie was the oldest of the Fox children. Here, he is Dina's younger brother.
- Almighty Janitor: Despite his scientific background, Allie tends to work as a janitor or repairperson to stay under the radar.
- The Cartel: The Foxes run afoul of one after they get south of the border.
- Composite Character: Dina is one to Allie and Margot's twin daughters.
- The Dragon: William Lee, the primary hitman and enforcer for Queenpin Lucretia Salazar.
- The Fagin: Mr. Lee uses street children as spies to track the movement of his targets.
- Killed Off for Real: Jones and Voorhees are killed by Mr. Lee at the end of the season.
- Rip Tailoring: As the Foxes head farther south toward warmer, more tropical climates, Dina turns her jeans into cutoffs.
- Shirtless Scene: Charlie while playing soccer in "Talk About the Weather."
- Sympathetic Inspector Antagonist: Estelle Jones and Donald Voorhees, federal agents pursuing the Foxes.
- Troubling Unchildlike Behavior: While in Mexico, Charlie smokes weed with some college-aged backpackers. Given his young age, it only takes a couple hits to get him stoned out of his gourd. He then channels Doctor Gonzo by menacingly pointing a gun at them.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Allie gets this from at least one family member in each episode.
