Spoiler-Free Review of “First Kill” on Netflix: Watered-down True Blood is a Delightful Distraction

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“Young love is a powerful thing…”

First Kill premiered on Netflix on June 10th 2022 with eight episodes available to stream now. The YA teen vampire series from executive producer, Emma Roberts, stars Sarah Catherine Hook, Imani Lewis, Elizabeth Mitchell, Gracie Dzienny, and Will Swenson. Each episode runs for approximately 46-52 minutes.

Juliette and Calliope begin to fall for one another, but soon realize that one of them is a vampire and the other is a vampire hunter, causing a feud between their families.

Here is the trailer:

First Kill features a LGBTQ+ power couple in this modern interpretation of Romeo and Juliet, but does it have enough bite? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Undeniable chemistry.

I really felt such an electric charge between these two from the very first moment we saw them interact with one another. I was super excited to see a LGBTQ+ couple shine on a vampire series and it was easy to root for these two against all odds. More please!

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fantastic cast and stand-out characters!

I am a huge Elizabeth Mitchell fan and I was so beyond thrilled to see her on this show! She does a fabulous job and I really liked the majority of the characters.

Gracie Dzienny is a scene-stealer as Elinor! Wow, what a character. I’d love to see her have her own show because she is deliciously wicked.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Contrived at times with painful dialogue…

Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed this series, but I couldn’t take it too seriously. It’s more of a guilty pleasure watch. I’m already seeing a lot of comparisons to Buffy, but this series felt more like a PG-rated version of True Blood to me.

The dialogue was really bad at times (“You bit me. You staked me!”). This made it harder to connect even though I genuinely liked the characters. The plot wasn’t bad, but there were too many characters involved, which over-complicated things. I also could have done without the overdone and overused voice-over narration. There were just so many elements that felt really contrived and I wanted some more edge, even though we saw glimmers of it at times.

It will be interesting to see where we go from here if we get a second season, especially since we got a few cliffhangers at the end.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!!

Love at first bite!

This series is really entertaining as long as you don’t take it too seriously. If you enjoy vampire series, you’ll find enough to be excited about with this one and a new ship to swoon over!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on First Kill in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A Halloween they’ll never forget…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Welcome to Eden” on Netflix: The Price of Exclusivity

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“I can help you be happy…”

Welcome to Eden (Bienvenidos a Edén) premiered on Netflix on May 6th 2022 with eight episodes available to stream now. The Spanish thriller series stars Amaia Aberasturi, Belinda, Amaia Salamanca, and Sergio Momo. Each episode runs for approximately 40-45 minutes.

After being invited to an exclusive party on a remote island, Zoa and four others are left behind, as they soon start to realize that this may have been intentional.

Here is the trailer:

Welcome to Eden has a killer premise and an attractive cast, but does it do enough to find its own identity separate from shows like The Wilds? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Guilty pleasure worthy.

This series was a lot of fun. I loved the party in the beginning and even though it’s a plot I’ve seen before, there was still enough happening to draw me in. The next time you get some mystery invite to a remote island, you may want to think twice…

Twists and reveals worth sticking around for.

I didn’t start to really connect to this series until about episode four. Once I got there, I was completely hooked and I had to know what happened next. It was fun figuring out who I could trust and who was a potential villain.

The Cons:

The characters needed more development…

This series reminded me a lot of The Wilds and Nine Perfect Strangers except it was missing some real character development. We got some sprinkles of it here and there, but a lot of it felt really superficial.

I also thought that the thrilling moments needed to be coated with more edge. I wanted this series to be a little bit more brutal and dangerous than it was. It was still an enjoyable guilty pleasure watch, but it had the potential to be a lot more.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!!

This series was so addicting and a lot of fun. It may have been a bit outrageous and silly at times, but if you enjoy guilty pleasure thrillers, then you’re in the right place!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Welcome to Eden in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Staircase” on HBO Max: Colin Firth and Toni Collette star in the latest true crime dramatization

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“She fell down the stairs…”

The Staircase premiered on HBO Max on May 5th 2022 with the first three episodes available to stream now. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly. The crime drama series stars Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Sophie Turner, Parker Posey, Olivia DeJonge and Patrick Schwarzenegger. Each episode runs for approximately 60-65 minutes.

Based on the true story of Michael Peterson and the suspicious death of his wife, this true crime dramatization presents us with different angles of the story.

Here is the trailer:

The Staircase has an all-star cast, but is there enough new content here to keep its audience captivated? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Top-notch ensemble.

I expected Colin Firth and Toni Collette to be brilliant. They are pretty much brilliant in everything so that’s a given but I was really impressed by some of the other performances. The siblings really gave believable performances and I thought that everyone added something necessary and meaningful with their roles.

Solid mystery.

If you’re familiar with the crime and the original documentary series of the same name, then you know what to expect here. However, if you’re coming into this one with fresh eyes, you may get a lot more out of it because the mystery is a decent one.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Slow moving and stale at times…

The performances definitely helped matters, but I struggled through these episodes. The opening was pretty strong, but then things started to move at a much slower pace. The episodes are super long so it was difficult to hold my attention at times.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in about 75 percent…

The Staircase delivers with wonderful performances, but it has some serious pacing issues and I’m not sure it will be able to give us the satisfying ending we are looking for based on the outcome of the case. If you’re familiar with the original documentary series, you can probably skip it, although there are some decent moments sprinkled in.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Staircase in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Wilds” Season 2 on Prime Video: “We’re not the only people on this island and we all know it!”

**This is a spoiler-free review for season 2 so feel free to read on!**

“I don’t want to give up…”

The Wilds season 2 premiered on Prime Video on May 6th 2022 with eight episodes available to stream now. The series stars Sarah Pidgeon, Mia Healey, Sophia Ali, Reign Edwards, and Rachel Griffiths. Each episode runs for approximately 50-55 minutes.

The show is about a group of teenage girls who end up stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes. After a major discovery in that season 1 finale cliffhanger, the audience discovers that the girls are not alone on the island, which introduces us to a new group of survivors with plenty more twists and reveals along the way.

Here is the trailer:

The Wilds season 1 was such a fantastic surprise. I expected to see a LOST rip-off and instead I was transported into a compelling and intense watch with incredible characters. Season 2 splits its focus between the girls and the boys, but does it still do enough to keep up with the magic of the first season? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Just as addicting as the first season.

It took a little while to get going, but I was completely hooked for season 2 and the reveals were even more extreme this time around. I didn’t think it was possible to top that season 1 finale, but rest assured that you will get plenty more outrageous plot twists to keep you coming back for more.

Character relationships flourish.

Part of what made The Wilds so amazing was the incredible characters. These girls had layers and then some. We witnessed some heartwarming and heartbreaking moments between them and season 2 allowed some of the new relationships a chance to grow and change, really bringing these characters together in an unexpected way.

The Cons:

The boys split our focus…

Look, I think the boys got a bad rep. Even though it was a slower start for me, there was some real potential here and some characters who absolutely deserved some screen time. My only issue was that the balance between the two groups never felt that seamless. The boys also had a harder time gaining our affection and attention because we already knew what was happening here…

We didn’t peel back as many layers with the boys and things felt rushed and chaotic at times because there is only so much you can jam-pack into each episode.

That being said, I think that things started to really work together in a more cohesive way once we got to the final episodes…

Oh yeah and another cliffhanger. Let’s not wait 18 months to get season 3 please!

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Addicting and intense with layered characters worth our time!

Season 2 may not be as good as season 1, but there is plenty to be excited about, making it worthy of your next binge-watch.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Wilds in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Baby” on HBO Max: A new horror comedy with potential

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“It’s a lot all the time…forever…”

The Baby premiered on HBO and HBO Max on April 24th 2022 with its first episode. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly. The horror comedy series stars Michelle de Swarte, Amira Ghazalla, Shvorne Marks, Patrice Naiambana and Isy Suttie. Each episode runs for approximately 30 minutes.

Natasha starts to feel isolated and frustrated when all of her closest friends begin having babies. Soon after, she gets an unexpected bundle of joy thrown her way, which may be completely evil.

Here is the trailer:

The Baby introduces us to a child that is far from innocent while tackling the very real issues of motherhood. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A likable female lead.

Natasha is quirky and sarcastic. She doesn’t get the obsession over babies, which makes her latest circumstances that much more amusing. Already I am really liking her as a character and I’m looking forward to watching her on this horror filled journey.

The balance between horror comedy and the frightening aspects of motherhood works…

Much like Starz’s horror comedy, Shining Vale (which I absolutely loved), The Baby also balances out its horror comedy with something real and relatable. It prevents the horror content from becoming stale because this is obviously a recycled plot, but it’s bringing something new to the table with its approach.

The Cons:

Do we have enough content for eight episodes?

I like the idea and so far it’s a lot of fun, but I don’t know if there is enough here for eight episodes yet. That being said, I’m all for giving it a chance because I really liked the premiere and I think we have a lot of potential here.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

I love that we’re seeing more horror comedies in the mix and I think this series has some real potential. I’m looking forward to the remaining episodes and hopefully we’ll get some delightfully wicked surprises along the way!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Baby in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Flight Attendant” Season 2 on HBO Max: Cassie is back and better than ever!

**This is a spoiler-free review for season two so feel free to read on!**

“Hi, I’m Cassie…I’m still a flight attendant…”

The Flight Attendant season two premiered on HBO Max on April 21st 2022 with two new episodes. Season two will feature 8 episodes (airing weekly) in total. It stars Kaley Cuoco, Rosie Perez, and Zosia Mamet. Each episode runs for approximately 45-48 minutes.

Cassie is still a flight attendant, but a lot has changed for her. She has given up drinking and found a new love interest, but she is now also working as a CIA asset when she winds up in the middle of another horrific crime…

Here is the trailer:

The Flight Attendant quickly became one of my favorite series after season one aired and I have been anxiously waiting for season two to arrive. Will it live up to the hype? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Flight Attendant season 2 spoiler free 1 — Images courtesy of HBO Max

Kaley Cuoco’s character is still a lovable wacky mess!

Even though our girl seems to have her life in order, she’s still Cassie. The quirky charm is there and we get tons of hilarious moments already. I think this is Kaley Cuoco’s best performance to date and she is shining on the screen once again in the best way possible. Plus, I think I may have to change my ringtone to match hers…

More please!

The mystery is a good one!

I was really worried that season two would not be able to match season one and even though I still have six episodes to go, I’m already completely hooked! The new mystery will have you suspecting everyone and I already have an outrageous theory that I’m holding on to for now. We’ll see how it plays out…

Returning faves and some new characters with potential!

I was super psyched to see some of my favorite characters from season one return for season two and hopefully they will get some more screen time because everyone on this show is fantastic.

We also get introduced to some new characters that have potential, but I’m not sure who to trust just yet…

Either way, I’m intrigued!

The Cons:

Starts off a little slow…

Don’t get me wrong, I was completely hooked by the time we got to the end of the first episode, but it took a little while to get there. I was slightly worried that the show had run out of steam during the first twenty minutes or so, but things took a drastic turn for greatness so hang in there if you’re unsure!

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!

Season two is already living up to my expectations and then some! Cassie is such a fun character and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

If you haven’t started watching this show yet, now’s your chance!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Flight Attendant in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

My new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Outer Range” on Prime Video: A Unique Mashup of Genres

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“The world has been waiting for something like this…”

Outer Range premiered on Prime Video on April 15th 2022 with the first two episodes available to stream now. There will be eight episodes in total. The supernatural mystery series stars Josh Brolin, Imogen Poots, Tom Pelphrey and Noah Reid. Each episode runs for approximately 55-58 minutes.

Two families feud over ranch land when a mysterious black void emerges in the middle of their pasture.

Here is the trailer:

Outer Range has a Yellowstone feel mixed in with Twin Peaks, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

A combo of genres I didn’t know I needed…

A western/sci-fi mystery may seem really far-fetched and it kind of is, but it somehow works here. I thought the mashup was the show’s strongest point. It really sets it apart from other shows that it would normally pale in comparison to. I think this gives it an edge of originality which will allow it to branch off into whatever story it wants to tell.

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Josh Brolin…

I mean, I pretty much love him in anything so it works in the show’s favor that he is the main star. So far he is stealing the show for me but there are some other characters that are really interesting as well and the acting is pretty solid.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Really really slow moving…

At one point I thought I had been watching Josh Brolin’s character walk back to the farm for over twenty minutes. The pacing really drags and it takes way too long for things to happen. This needs to improve drastically to hold my interest.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in about 75 percent…

There is an interesting mystery here worth exploring and of course I want to know more about it, but the pacing needs to improve drastically so that I can stay awake for the rest of the episodes. Either way, I’m in for now…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Outer Range in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Tokyo Vice” on HBO Max: A Noir Crime Drama to be Excited About!

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“I want to report on what really happens…”

Tokyo Vice is a new crime drama series inspired by the true story of journalist, Jake Adelstein. The series premiered on April 7th 2022 on HBO Max with the first three episodes available to stream now. There will be eight episodes in total. Tokyo Vice stars Ansel Elgort, Ken Watanabe, Rachel Keller and Shô Kasamatsu. Each episode runs for approximately 58-60 minutes.

An American journalist living in Japan attempts to find his big story when he finds himself working undercover with the Tokyo Vice squad to expose the yakuza.

Here is the trailer:

Tokyo Vice effortlessly blends a stylish crime noir with a riveting tale of self-discovery, but is it worthty of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Top notch performances!

I love Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe is perfection. I thought that all of the performances were really extraordinary. This type of slow burn crime drama can become dull, but the little moments in between and the portrayals shown to the audience make it anything but. The performances elevate the series that much more, giving us characters to root for.

An incredible story.

I didn’t really know what to expect with this series going into it, but it surprised me in the best way possible. This is such a gripping story and it pulls you in right from the start. The pilot episode was really strong and the other episodes have been doing a decent job of keeping my attention. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

The Cons:

Some character development needed.

I think that we will get there soon and we have seen some flickers of it already, but I want to know a lot more about some of the characters. I also want to know more about certain things but I need to wait for the events to catch up. This isn’t necessarily a con but I’m hoping that the pacing keeps up because this show is really incredible so far.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

A stylish gripping crime series that I can’t stop watching!

I highly recommend that you give this series a try even if it doesn’t seem like your cup of tea. The performances are incredible and the story is actually really interesting!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Tokyo Vice in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now! I hope you enjoy!

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Girl From Plainville” on Hulu: Another Dramatized True Crime Entry

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“I love you forever…”

The Girl From Plainville premiered on Hulu on March 29th 2022 with three episodes available to stream now. The remaining five episodes will air weekly. The drama series stars Elle Fanning, Colton Ryan, Chloë Sevigny, Cara Buono, and Kai Lennox. Each episode runs for approximately 44-49 minutes.

Based on the true story of Michelle Carter’s “texting-suicide” case, we learn about the relationship between Michelle and Conrad and the events leading up to his death.

Here is the trailer:

The Girl From Plainville brings us another dramatized true crime entry, which seems to be the latest trend on streaming services, but does this one do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Moving performances by Fanning and Ryan.

Much like some of the other dramatized true crime stories I have been watching, this one features incredible portrayals and performances. Everything just seemed real and believable. It’s not always easy showing the audience this side when dealing with a story that the whole world is familiar with, but I thought the actors really gave it their all.

An interesting story.

Even though I know about this case, I was still intrigued while watching this series. I think the show did a good job of pulling the audience in with important moments and details that were worth exploring.

The Cons:

Super heavy content…

Viewers should absolutely pay attention to the advisory warnings at the beginning of each episode. There is a lot of sensitive content and the show could be emotionally draining at times. This slowed down the pace a little bit. The time jumps were also a little bit confusing. A documentary was released back in 2019 dealing with the same case so I’m not sure you’ll find anything that new in this dramatized version, but it still has its moments and the pacing improved for me as the episodes continued.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

The series is highlighting an interesting story and the performances are truly moving. I’m not sure that the show is showing us anything truly new or different from the actual events but there is enough content here to keep me coming back for more.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Girl From Plainville in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

My new young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Pieces of Her” on Netflix: A Thriller with Heart

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“If someone threatens your child, you do anything to protect them…”

Pieces of Her premiered on March 4th 2022 on Netflix with eight episodes available to stream now. The mystery-thriller series stars Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, Omari Hardwick and Jacob Scipio. Each episode runs for approximately 45-55 minutes.

After an attack in a small town, a mother desperately tries to protect her daughter against dangerous threats as secrets surrounding her own dark past are revealed.

Here is the trailer:

Pieces of Her hooks its audience with a compelling mystery and plenty of twists and reveals to keep you coming back for more, but is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Toni Collette is as brilliant as ever!

Wow, she was so good in this! She really manages to fully embrace whatever role she is given and I am always drawn in that much more because of her performances. I thought she was fantastic in this series and she actually elevated it a lot when the plot went down the rabbit hole a few times.

An intriguing mystery.

I thought the mystery at the core of the series was a good one and I actually really liked that this show revealed a lot about this mother-daughter relationship, giving it a more emotional tone which worked in the show’s favor. Although some of the reveals were predictable, there were a lot that I didn’t see coming and I thought that this show was very easy to binge-watch.

The Cons:

Wishy-washy female lead.

I didn’t mind the character of Andy but she started to make some really dumb decisions as the show continued. This was frustrating at times because I want to really care about the characters to remain invested and I had a hard time connecting to her. I don’t think the performance was bad and there were some redeeming moments here and there, but I wanted a lot more from her as a character.

I also thought that the first half of the series was a lot stronger than the second half. Things started to lose steam after a while and we went off on several tangents before we got to the conclusion. That being said, I still think there was enough happening to keep me entertained.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

This show really kept me on the edge of my seat. With each new episode, I needed to know more! If you enjoy mystery thrillers, you will feel right at home with this one.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Pieces of Her in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

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