Abhiroop Das
Created by Megan Gallagher, Peacock’s ‘All Her Fault‘ chronicles the story of Marissa Irvine, whose life turns upside down when she comes to pick up her son, Milo, from his first playdate, only to realize that he was never there. As the search intensifies, news of the kidnapping spreads through the city, and accusations are hurled in every direction. In the process, the Irvine family is forced to confront the secrets it has safely kept buried for so long, and the question of who is to blame becomes increasingly harder to answer. At the same time, the story also touches on the life of Jenny Kaminski, a publishing agent and the mother of Milo’s best friend, as she grows close to Marissa and becomes her anchor in times of crisis. Over time, however, it becomes apparent that their connection is not merely coincidental, and Mo’s Malted Milkshake brings yet another mystery waiting to be solved in this psychological thriller series.
Mo’s Malted Milkshake is a Fictional Shop With Deep Ties to the Story
Mo’s Malted Milkshake is a fictional shop created solely for the narrative of ‘All Her Fault,’ by writer Megan Gallagher. While the show is based on the eponymous novel by Andrea Mara, the milkshake outlet is noticeably absent in the original story, which further adds to its creative relevance in the television version of events. The shop comes to Marissa and Jenny’s attention due to its signature malted flavour, something which is new for both Milo and Jacob. The fact that they both like its taste suggests that they shared milkshakes together, and this leads to the discovery that their nannies, Ana Garcia and Carrie, respectively, were friends all along. As such, Mo’s Malted Milkshake stands out from most of the locations in the series, serving as both a part of the backdrop and a key piece in the puzzle. However, there appears to be no particular real-life antecedent that inspired its creation.
Malted milk, which uses a mixture of plain milk, malted barley, and other ingredients, is not an uncommon base for milkshakes, but the specific name of the shop gives it a creative flair of its own. In real life, the closest equivalent to Mo’s Malted Milkshake is an ice-cream product known as Malted Moo Shake Ice Cream, which is created by the Tillamook County Creamery Association in Oregon. Despite the vague overlaps in the two names, the connection is superficial at best and probably coincidental in nature. Instead, it is more likely that the name is designed to appeal to children, with the sonic connection between the word “Mo” and milkshakes. Given that this shop becomes Milo and Jacob’s favourite spot to hang out, the idea gains further credence.
Mo’s Malted Milkshake Adds to the Worldbuilding of All Her Fault
In the novel, instead of Mo’s Malted Milkshake, the two kids, along with their nannies, routinely meet at the park. As such, the entire sequence from the show where Jenny and Marissa compare transaction histories with respect to the shop’s menu is a show-original feature. It is possible that the new location was invented as part of the creative team’s larger initiative to add more to the story’s setting. In an interview with Hot Press, Andrea Mara explained that her choice of setting was based on her experience of driving through wealthy urban lanes, which makes it possible that Mo’s Malted Milkshake is designed to add to that worldbuilding. In the show, the shop goes from a source of children’s joy to the site of potential grooming, and the emotional whiplash is likely intended to match the story’s twists and turns.
Given that the television show is set in the village of Wilmette, located in Cook County, Illinois, it is possible that some popular milkshake shops and parlors in and around the region might have served as a reference point for the creation of Mo’s Malted Milkshake. Homer’s Ice Cream, located at 1237 Green Bay Road, and Glenview Dairy Bar, situated at 1015 Lehigh Avenue, are both potential sources of inspiration. While the latter has a similar design to Mo’s, the linkages end there. Notably, though the narrative is set in The Prairie State, much of the filming process was done in Australia, with the cities of Melbourne and the towns of Red Hill South and Carlsruhe doubling as core shooting locations. To that end, it is possible that Mo’s Malted Milkshake is based on an establishment in those cities, with clever set-work helping create a new identity for the milkshake outlet.
Read More: Is All Her Fault Based on a True Story?
