Spoiler-Free Review of “Stay Close” on Netflix: Harlan Coben does it again!

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

“Do they know who you were in your previous life?”

Harlan Coben’s Stay Close premiered on Netflix on December 31st 2021. The mystery thriller series features eight episodes available to stream now. It stars Cush Jumbo, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Sarah Parish and Bethany Antonia. Each episode runs for approximately 42-48 minutes.

As Megan prepares for her upcoming wedding, her dangerous past comes back to haunt her, connecting her to a mysterious murder while threatening her new life and family.

Here is the trailer:

Stay Close follows Harlan Coben’s compelling and addicting formula perfectly, but does this series do enough to keep up with The Stranger and The Innocent? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

An engrossing mystery…

I’ve come to expect this from the Harlan Coben mysteries, but this series is no exception. I was immediately pulled in right from the start and each episode did plenty to bring me back for more. This show was so much fun to binge-watch. It kept me guessing the entire time and did a great job of revealing just enough to keep the audience fully invested.

Images courtesy of Netflix

A final twist I didn’t see coming!

I’ve gotten pretty good at piecing together Harlan Coben mysteries, but there is always one final twist that throws me for a loop and this may be the best twist I have seen so far! I am still in shock over it!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A lot to keep track of…

If you’re used to Harlan Coben mysteries, then you already know that there will be plenty of sub-plots to make your head spin, but everything eventually connects in the end. I wouldn’t really say this is a con, but you need to pay attention to everything and even if some characters seem slightly ridiculous, they’ll start to grow on you…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!!!

Stay Close is a fantastic mystery that will keep you guessing. I loved every second of it! I think it absolutely kept up with The Stranger and The Innocent, but it did something new and different as well! The mystery will keep you coming back for more, but this series has so much going for it and it is beyond worthy of your next watch!

Start the year off with an addicting thriller that will make you binge-watch to your heart’s content!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Stay Close 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 supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen 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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Wheel of Time” on Prime Video: Lord of the Rings-esque Fantasy is actually pretty Addicting

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

“The world is broken…”

The Wheel of Time premiered on November 19th 2021 on Prime Video. There will be eight episodes in total. The first three are available to stream now and the remaining ones will air weekly. The fantasy action series stars Rosamund Pike, Madeleine Madden, Josha Stradowski, Barney Harris, Zoe Robins and Marcus Rutherford. Each episode runs for approximately 55-60 minutes.

A powerful magical woman named Moiraine tracks down a group of five teens, revealing that one of them is destined to become the reincarnation of the Dragon, which could ultimately save or destroy the world.

Here is the trailer:

The Wheel of Time may initially seem like a placeholder for shows like The Witcher and Shadow and Bone, but it manages to find its own identity. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Rosamund Pike lights up the screen.

Even though we get plenty of characters to focus on, Rosamund Pike is the best part of the show. There is a lot of talk about the power of women and she really embodies that completely. More please!

There is potential with some of the other characters as well, which is promising, but I’m all for a strong female lead and so far she is delivering.

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Stunning visuals and worthy fight sequences.

The setting and visuals in this show are really so well done. I lost myself within the setting and I thought that it channeled Lord of the Rings in a good way. The fight sequences were actually really great too. I was worried that I was going to fall asleep watching this show and somehow I found myself binge-watching the first three episodes back-to-back.

Each episode has a fantastic ending that will leave you hitting play immediately. I honestly can’t wait to find out what happens next!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

The supporting characters need some work…

I didn’t read the book series, but I would like these characters to be fleshed out a lot more. We’ve gotten some glimmers of their purpose and potential, but I need to actually care about what happens to them. I’m hopeful that we will get there within the next few episodes, but I don’t want to gloss over character development because it’s important.

I also think this show could benefit from some well-placed humor here and there. Shows like GOT and The Witcher understood how to lighten up the mood sometimes and even though I was thoroughly entertained with The Wheel of Time, it felt a little heavy at times and some of the dialogue was borderline atrocious.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in!

I went into this show thinking I was going to get a Game of Thrones rip-off and instead I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this show. It has a lot going on and it needs some improvements, but so far it has managed to captivate my undivided attention and I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

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 new 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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Just Beyond” on Disney+: Kid Friendly Horror Comedy

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

“What is this place?”

Just Beyond is a new horror comedy anthology series inspired by the works of R.L. Stine. The series premiered on October 13th 2021 on Disney+ with all eight episodes available to stream now. Just Beyond stars McKenna Grace, Lexi Underwood, Cedric Joe, Henry Thomas and Nasim Pedrad. Each episode runs for approximately 25-30 minutes.

Each episode explores a different phenomenon as our characters are immersed into a world filled with aliens, witches and ghosts.

Here is the trailer:

Just Beyond attempts to bring us more kids friendly horror with some fun and spooky premises, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Disney+

Stand-out episodes.

I really loved episodes one and four in particular. Each episode had its own unique story, but I almost thought some of these episodes could have actually branched off into their own shows. They were really intriguing and I loved the characters!

They also found just the right balance of creepy fun for both kids and adults.

A new entry for kids horror.

Kids horror has been releasing some solid entries lately and I liked that this series took a different approach. The series could have easily attempted to channel Goosebumps or even the new Are You Afraid of the Dark? reboot, but the horror comedy angle was different and I think it worked in a lot of ways.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Disney+

A disconnect at times and slightly repetitive.

Since I really liked some episodes more than others, it was difficult binge-watching all of the episodes in this anthology series because it lost some of its magic with each episode.

I also thought that a lot of the themes were similar and maybe this show would have benefited from releasing its episodes weekly to prevent things from becoming too stale.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Disney+

I’m in about 75 percent…

This series is fun for the whole family (although you probably want to monitor the content of each episode for your kids) and it gave us another welcomed entry into the kids horror genre.

Overall, it was a fun watch with lots of potential.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Just Beyond 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!

**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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “My Name” on Netflix: Fierce Revenge Story

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

“If I find him, then I will kill him…”

My Name premiered on October 15th 2021 on Netflix with eight episodes available to stream now. The South Korean revenge action series (originally called Undercover) stars Han So Hee, Ahn Bo-hyun and Hee-Soon Park. Each episode runs for approximately 45-50 minutes.

After a young girl’s father is murdered, she devotes her life to revenge, training under a powerful crime boss who agrees to help her find the person responsible.

Here is the trailer:

My Name delivers with a powerful female lead and some killer fight scenes, but does it do enough to separate itself from other revenge plots? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fantastic fight scenes!

There was so much action in this series and I loved it! Ji-Woo kicked some ass and the fight scenes were intense, bloody, and really inventive at times. The series was smart to have a jam-packed fight scene at the end of every episode to leave you wanting more. My adrenaline was pumping during this show.

I haven’t been this excited about fight scenes since Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

Images courtesy of Netflix

A character to root for.

Ji-Woo really was such a fantastic character. She had so many layers and my heart broke for her again and again. She’s just one of those characters you find yourself automatically rooting for. The actress did an amazing job with her portrayal. I really believed all of her emotions. It’s difficult balancing emotion with edge and somehow she seamlessly connected the two.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A revenge plot I’ve seen before…

I’ve seen this type of plot before and while I enjoyed it thoroughly, it didn’t stray from this popular formula too much. I think that it had a real intensity and edge to it with a few reveals that were worth sticking around for, but other aspects were predictable.

I still loved this series, but I would have liked a little bit more originality here.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

This series really put the audience on an emotional roller coaster ride. The fight scenes were out of this world and Ji-Woo was such an incredible character to watch. I loved this series and while the ending was bitter sweet in a lot of ways, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to this show because it really did a great job of reeling me in!

Intense, brutal, and a worthy character to root for against all odds!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

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 new 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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Girl in the Woods” on Peacock: Can another Chosen One make an impact?

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

“Deep in the woods lies a secret door…”

The Girl in the Woods released on October 21st 2021 on Peacock with all eight episodes available to stream now. The supernatural drama series stars Stefanie Scott, Sofia Bryant, Misha Osherovich, Will Yun Lee and Leonard Roberts. Each episode runs for approximately 25-30 minutes.

A young runaway flees a cult destined to protect the world from the monsters beyond the door when she crosses paths with two new friends in West Pine, Oregon, as their two worlds collide.

Here is the trailer:

The Girl in the Woods has a familiar formula that has worked for shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the more recent Warrior Nun, but does this show do enough to find its own identity? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Girl in the Woods spoiler free 1

Images courtesy of Peacock

Creepy flickers here and there.

The door that Carrie is sworn to protect can unleash monsters from our nightmares and some of the ones we see are actually kind of terrifying and creepy in a good way. I think that the premise is a decent one and the woods can be terrifying on their own, creating a supernatural mystery that has some potential.

The Cons:

The Girl in the Woods spoiler free 2

Images courtesy of Peacock

A chosen one without any edge.

Shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Stranger Things, and even Warrior Nun understood the importance of having an empowering chosen one to really light up the screen. Unfortunately I didn’t really connect with our chosen one in this series…at all.

The acting wasn’t horrible, but there was just no personality and even though we are supposed to understand that she grew up away from society, I needed more layers to truly care about her.

I actually connected more with the two friends who had some redeeming qualities. We form another type of Scooby gang (which had its moments), but it wasn’t enough to spark any real interest here.

Really predictable…

I really made a valiant effort to connect to the mystery even with the bland chosen one, but a lot of the reveals were just so predictable and uninspiring. There were moments meant to create some kind of emotional response in the audience and yet I found myself frustrated and really bored unfortunately.

There was no real humor in this show either and the lighting was so dreary. The episodes are only about twenty-five minutes each, which should make this easy to binge-watch, and yet I found myself checking the time, which is never a good sign in terms of pacing.

So am I in or out?

The Girl in the Woods spoiler free 3

Images courtesy of Peacock

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

If you are going to use a popular formula, you need to really make sure it delivers and this one just felt extremely forgettable. I needed so much more from this show and even though there were some glimmers of potential sprinkled in, the creepy vibe was stifled by the uninspiring main character and the overall predictable and bland feel of the show.

I’d recommend re-watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer instead.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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

Girl Number Thirteen 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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (2021) on Prime Video: A Re-imagining Done Right

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

“You can never really know anyone…least of all yourself.”

I Know What You Did Last Summer premiered on Prime Video on October 15th 2021. The teen horror drama series (based on the Lois Duncan novel and the iconic film series) stars Madison Iseman, Brianne Tju, Ezekiel Goodman, Ashley Moore and Bill Heck. There are four episodes in season one available to stream now. The remaining four episodes will air weekly. Each episode runs for approximately 45-48 minutes.

After a fatal accident, a group of friends are stalked by a killer one year later, causing secrets to emerge and friendships to be tested.

Here is the trailer:

I Know What You Did Last Summer is the series I have been waiting for. It gives us some welcomed nostalgia for the original film series while finding a voice of its own, but is it worthy of YOUR next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

A solid twist on the original.

I’ve seen plenty of reboots and adaptations of films and I didn’t really know what I was going to get with this series, but I was pleasantly surprised by the twist thrown our way. There will be no spoilers in this review, but I thought that this show channeled the original vibe of one of my favorite films while finding a unique voice of its own.

You don’t mess with the original and this series understands that. Rather, it takes a new approach and a new setting to keep us entertained and it was the right call.

I also love that the series sprinkles in some Cruel Intentions and Cruel Summer vibes as well to give this series an edge.

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Plenty of gore to satisfy the slasher fans.

The teen series takes a page out of Slasher’s book and presents us with plenty of gore and nudity galore. I’m not sure it needed all of that, but the gory kills are pretty solid and it helps balance out a lot of the teen melodrama you can expect in this type of show.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

The killer needs to toy with them more…

I appreciate that this series is finding its own way with a different story, but if we are going to put up a message on a mirror, then I would also like to see the killer really mess with the group more. So far we have seen some horrific kills and some text messages pop up, but I want more.

Part of what made the original film so terrifying for me was the way that the killer lurked around and made the characters question everything and everyone around them. Someone already chopped off their hair without the killer’s help and while the pilot episode makes an attempt at this, I think that it could really add to the vibe of the show without copying the original film too much.

I also think that the characters seem to cope really easily with the death of those around them. I want to connect to all of them and it sometimes makes them come off as completely heartless, but I think that some of them are going to end up showing true remorse so I’ll see how this plays out in the next four episodes.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in!

I was genuinely impressed at how well this show executed everything. The twist worked and it really helped me connect to this show. It balanced the perfect amount of nostalgia from the original film while presenting us with something new and really addicting!

There are some rough edges to work through, but overall this is a really entertaining series and it is delivering with plenty of gore, twists, and reveals. 

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on I Know What You Did Last Summer 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 new 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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “One of Us Is Lying” on Peacock: Everyone is a Suspect

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

“Everybody has secrets…right?”

One of Us Is Lying is a new teen mystery drama series based on the best-selling book of the same name. It premiered on October 7th 2021, featuring six episodes available to stream now on Peacock (approximately 45-48 minutes in length). The remaining two episodes will air on October 21st 2021. The show stars Marianly Tejada, Cooper van Grootel, Annalisa Cochrane, Chibuikem Uche, and Mark McKenna.

One of Us Is Lying introduces us to five teens who wind up with detention, but things get interesting when one of them doesn’t make it out alive, involving them all within the mystery surrounding the death. The remaining characters try to cope with the aftermath, as we soon learn that they all have motives to murder their classmate, but who is the killer?

Here is the trailer:

One of Us Is Lying is very much Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars, but does it do enough to step away from the teenage clichés it wants to comment on? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

One of Us Is Lying Spoiler Free 1

Images courtesy of Peacock

A solid mystery to keep you coming back for more.

Sure, I’ve seen this type of show before and I actually recently read this book as well, but I do think this mystery is decent enough to keep you hitting play on the next episode. It keeps you guessing and it reels the audience in that much more to keep you invested from start to finish.

Uses the gossip app in a more strategic way than some of its predecessors.

I was pretty disappointed with the Gossip Girl reboot and it’s hard to be relevant and original when so many of these shows overlap with similar premises, but I actually thought that this show used the gossip app more effectively.

The secrets that were exposed added to the mystery and I liked that we knew the author of the app immediately to prevent things from feeling too much like the original Gossip Girl.

The Cons:

One of Us Is Lying Spoiler Free 2

Images courtesy of Peacock

Fits neatly into the tropes it comments on…

The narrator in the opening episode talks about the clicks and clichés in your typical high school setting, but the show doesn’t actually do anything to set itself apart from this. Making a comment on it is not enough for me.

All of the characters fit neatly into tropes we have seen before in these types of high school mysteries and while the characters have some redeeming qualities, I wanted something a little bit deeper here.

So am I in or out?

One of Us Is Lying Spoiler Free 3

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in about 75 percent…

I like this type of show and I enjoyed the book for the most part. So far I am invested during my watch and I think that the mystery is good enough to keep you coming back for more. I would have liked to see this show take a few more risks and step out of its comfort zone so that it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle of other teen mystery dramas, but it still is entertaining enough and the quick release of the episodes makes it easy to binge-watch.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on One of Us Is Lying 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…

Unmask killer promo

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!

**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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Chucky” on USA Network: Creepy Start!

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

“Wanna play?”

Chucky premiered on USA Network and SyFy on October 12th 2021. The horror series adaptation is based on the Child’s Play franchise. The series stars Zackary Arthur, Devon Lopez, Teo Briones, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Devon Sawa, Christine Elise, and Jennifer Tilly. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly. 

After a vintage doll shows up in a yard sale, Jake Webber quickly learns that it will be far from easy for him to end his friendship with the latest addition to his collection…

Here is the trailer:

Chucky is giving us some killer fun in October, but can it make an impact as a television series? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Chucky spoiler free 1

Images courtesy of USA Network

Good pacing and creepy vibes!

I was worried that we would get a lot of set-up in the pilot episode, but I was pleasantly surprised by the pacing. There was a good balance of character introduction and creepy elements to remind us why we are watching this show in the first place.

I initially had some reservations about this airing on basic cable, but I didn’t need a lot of gore to be completely freaked out by what I was watching. I think that the writers and director were smart about how they approached this and there is enough content to keep you entertained so far.

Familiar faces and more to the story…

Fans will be pleased to see some familiar faces pop up throughout the series, which is another reason to tune in. We are also getting to explore some more elements involving Charles Lee Ray and his past, which gives us another side of the story so that things don’t become too stale.

The Cons:

Chucky spoiler free 2

Images courtesy of USA Network

Not too sure on the series format yet.

While I like the idea and the premise, I’m worried that we might run out of things to cover in eight episodes. Things could easily lose steam and the creepy factor can sizzle out over time. I’m keeping an open mind but this could be problematic.

So am I in or out?

Chucky Spoiler Free 3

Images courtesy of USA Network

I’m in!

I thoroughly enjoyed my watch of the pilot episode and I’m curious to see what happens next. I’m excited to see some familiar faces show up and I think we will get plenty of creepy scares to keep us on our toes!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

HAVE A KILLER HALLOWEEN…

Scream Hunt Promo window

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 new 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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Clickbait” on Netflix: I Could Not Stop Watching this Show!

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

“At five million views I die…”

Clickbait premiered on August 25th 2021 on Netflix. The limited series features eight episodes available to stream now. The show stars Adrian Grenier, Zoe Kazan, Betty Gabriel, Cameron Engels and Abraham Lim. Each episode runs for approximately 45-48 minutes.

Clickbait focuses on a man named Nick Brewer who has been kidnapped. After an online video is leaked, he is set to die for his supposed crimes if the video hits five million views, as his family and friends race against the clock to figure out the truth.

Here is the trailer:

Clickbait has an intriguing premise that pulls you in right away, making you contemplate everything and everyone. Is this series your next binge-watch obsession? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Hooks you from the start.

The series didn’t really waste any time. We were presented with minimal set-up and dove right into everything as a viral video begins making news, threatening a man’s life. The pacing was done extremely well in this show and I lost complete track of time watching this.

It is a binge-watcher’s dream and it will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Clever story-telling.

I really liked the way this story unfolded. Each episode focused on a different character as we were presented with new potential suspects and secrets that added to the puzzle. I thought this worked well because it allowed the viewer to become a participant in the show.

We weren’t just watching the plot. We were almost a part of it as we tried to tackle the case the way anyone would. This helped the show stand out from the Harlan Coben mysteries and Hit & Run. I love these shows and I was worried that Clickbait would pale in comparison, but this show managed to find its own identity by presenting the story this way and I thought it worked extremely well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Slightly outrageous at times…

There were several plot points that had me scratching my head a little. I started to wonder how the police missed so many clues and I thought some reveals were a little bit over-the-top, but everything was still very entertaining so I can’t really fault it too much.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!

I finished this show really quickly and it kept me guessing until the end. I thought I had everything figured out and it threw me for a loop. 

This show was intense, fast-paced, and beyond addicting.

Your next obsession has arrived!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Clickbait 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 supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen 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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Nine Perfect Strangers” on Hulu: Is Wellness truly worth it?

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

“Wellness here I come!”

Nine Perfect Strangers is a new mini-series from David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies, Big Sky) based on the bestselling novel by Liane Moriarty. The show premiered on August 18th 2021, featuring three episodes available to stream now on Hulu (approximately 45-50 minutes in length). The remaining five episodes will air weekly. The show stars Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Samara Weaving, Luke Evans, Regina Hall, and Bobby Canavale.

Nine Perfect Strangers introduces us to nine people who have been invited to an exclusive wellness retreat with extreme measures. As they all come searching for “transformation” and a wellness of sorts, they quickly learn that they are signing up for a lot more with their eccentric guru, Masha (Kidman), who may be hiding a few secrets as well.

Here is the trailer:

Nine Perfect Strangers has an amazing cast and an interesting premise, but does it do enough to hold our attention? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

A cast to be excited about.

I’m always thrilled to see Nicole Kidman in pretty much anything, but wow this cast is truly fantastic. I am a huge fan of Samara Weaving and I love how she always immerses herself completely in whatever role comes her way. While I have mostly seen her in horror films, she has quite a bit of range and I almost didn’t recognize her at first because this character was so different.

Melissa McCarthy is so funny and while her films are usually hit or miss for me, I am finding her to be the best part of the show right now and she is helping balance out a lot of the heavy emotional parts.

The rest of the cast is very talented and I’m interested to explore each character more (including the staff at the Wellness retreat).

A plot that draws you in.

There is a lot left to be revealed here, but I already have so many questions and theories and that’s usually what happens whenever I watch a David E. Kelley show. There are a lot of secrets embedded within the walls of this wellness retreat and I want to know more about Nicole Kidman’s character and what her true motivation is.

The show is doing a good job at bringing me back for more and I’m excited to find out where it’s going to lead us.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Not my favorite role for Nicole Kidman.

Nicole Kidman is so talented, but I’m not really feeling this new role for her. Some of the other characters are a lot more interesting, but she does have a lot of mystery surrounding her own character.

I think my biggest issue is her Russian accent. I’m not really buying it and it’s throwing me off a little. I think her character is serving as more of a plot device right now, which is slightly disappointing but I’m hoping that we can explore some more layers soon.

Wavering in its identity.

After watching the first three episodes, I’m not really sure what this show wants to be. Is it an emotional drama? Is it a show about self-discovery? Is it a mystery? I’m not really sure and it’s starting to go off in many directions.

That being said, it’s still reeling me in enough with each episode to keep me coming back for more and I tend to always feel slightly unsure of David E. Kelley’s shows initially, but once all of the reveals begin to unravel, things get a lot more interesting.

I’m hoping that happens here too because I would hate to see this show get lost in the void especially since it has such an amazing cast.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in about 75 percent…

I’m intrigued by this show and I think that it has a lot of potential. I’m already reading a lot of comparisons to The White Lotus (I still have to watch this) which makes the timing of this release seem slightly problematic.

That being said, I think that the cast is really wonderful and there is a great dynamic between all of the characters. There is a lot left to discover and I think the show has done enough to keep me invested. I’m confident that the reveals will be worth it, but I hope we start to learn more about the mystery behind everything in the next few episodes.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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