Spoiler-Free Review of “Shadow and Bone” Season 2 on Netflix: The Crows Steal the Show…

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

“They’re not nightmares…it’s really happening…”

Shadow and Bone season two premiered on Netflix on March 16th 2023. The second season features eight episodes available to stream now. It stars Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Ben Barnes, Freddy Carter, and Amita Suman. Each episode runs for approximately 55-60 minutes.

Based on the popular Grisha book series, Shadow and Bone follows a Sun Summoner named Alina Starkov, who must battle against General Kirigan and his powerful army in order to protect the world.

Here is the trailer:

Shadow and Bone season two is visually stunning to watch on screen, but overstuffed to the brim with sub-plots. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A sexy villain and characters to root for against all odds…

Sure, you can put scars on his face, but General Kirigan is still very easy on the eyes and a wickedly entertaining villain. I loved him even more in season two. Alina embraced her destiny as a chosen one and wasn’t so wishy-washy this season, but my attention was stolen by the Crows, who were the most entertaining characters of the bunch and deserve their own series…

Intense battle/action sequences.

We had to sit through a lot of fluff to get to them, but this series had some worthy scenes for sure. I loved the action, but I just wanted more of it. The visuals were stunning once again and the costumes were on point. 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Way too much going on…

I thought season one was jam-packed, but season two pushed the limit even further. I get that the series was trying to borrow from several of the books, but I felt like I needed to take notes to keep up with all of the sub-plots and extra characters. Honestly, it was a lot of work and I’m not sure that it was worth the effort…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in about 75 percent…

There’s plenty of moments to enjoy and lots of characters to root for, but sometimes less is more…

I preferred the first season, but I still think there’s enough here for fans of the book series to enjoy.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Shadow and Bone season two 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…

Main promo smaller

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!

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “We Have a Ghost” on Netflix: By the Numbers Family-Friendly Ghost Flick

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

“This place is a dump…”

We Have a Ghost released on Netflix on February 24th 2023. The supernatural horror-comedy film stars David Harbour, Anthony Mackie, Tig Nataro, Jahi Di’Allo Winston, and Jennifer Coolidge. It runs for approximately two hours and seven minutes.

After moving into a new home, a boy and his family discover a ghost named Ernest already residing there.

Here is the trailer:

We Have a Ghost has some cute and heartfelt moments, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fun idea.

Similar to Casper, this film takes on a family-friendly approach to the haunted house/ghost genre with some magical and sweet moments. I was super hyped about this film because it was directed by Christopher Landon, who brought us films like Freaky and Happy Death Day.

Landon’s films sometimes channel past films in a new and effective way while bringing us moments of pure brilliance in the horror comedy genre. I was all for a slightly different approach with the family-friendly entry here, but I’m not sure that it ever quite found its way despite having a cute plot.

Great cast!

I couldn’t have been more pleased with this cast although I’m still scratching my head over the decision to bench their star player…

There will be no spoilers in this review, but you’ll see what I mean.

Jennifer Coolidge’s part also seemed silly and pointless…

Either way, it was fun to see some familiar faces and I thought that Jahi Di’Allo Winston did a great job with his role.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Jam-packed with too much…

I think that this film would have been better if it had just focused on the main plot and stuck with it. It had some heartfelt moments, but these would have translated better without all the excess fluff.

This movie was way too long and a lot of the humor felt forced and exhausting. There was nothing original about this film and while it was certainly watchable, it wasn’t anything special, which is a shame.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in about 75 percent…

Some spooky fun moments and an entertaining cast, but I just wanted so much more from this film.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on We Have a Ghost 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 “The Strays” on Netflix: The Past Can’t Always Be Forgotten

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

“Is it wrong to want more?”

The Strays released on Netflix on February 22nd 2023. The social horror-thriller film stars Ashley Madekwe, Justin Salinger, Bukky Bakray, and Jorden Myrie . It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

A woman’s life is turned upside down when two strangers show up in her suburban town.

Here is the trailer:

The Strays has an eerie start with a fantastic lead, but does it try to do too much? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Strays no spoilers 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Ashley Madekwe puts forth a valiant effort.

I was already a fan of hers and I thought she really portrayed this character with everything she had. She elevated this film in a lot of ways and didn’t hold back. She was very convincing and I believed her performance. 

The rest of the cast did a solid job as well with what they were given.

The Strays no spoilers 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

Eerie first half.

I was drawn in right away and wanted to know more. The first half of this movie was disturbing and uncomfortable, but it kept me intrigued. The film was clearly inspired by Get Out in a lot of ways and tried to dip into the social horror genre with its plot. It was heading in the right direction for me, but then things went off the rails once we got to the second half…

The Cons:

The Strays no spoilers 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

Tries to do way too much…

Just when I thought I was completely hooked, the film took a step back and presented things from another perspective, which didn’t transition seamlessly in my opinion. It broke the eerie tone and took on a lot with its reveal. I was still interested in what was going on, but things continued to spiral out of control from here. This film was guilty of trying to jam-pack in elements from every genre, which made this a confusing watch for me.

I appreciate what it was trying to accomplish, but I’m not sure that it translated that well.

I also wasn’t a fan of the ending. Sure, it was shocking and out there, but it left me wondering what I had just really watched and if it was worth it…

So am I in or out?

The Strays no spoilers 4

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I’m in for Ashley Madekwe, but this film was really confusing and left me wanting more. I was actually really disappointed by the time I got to the end because it had so much potential in the first half, but the ultimate resolution didn’t leave me completely satisfied.

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

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Unlocked” on Netflix: Throw your phone out the window!

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

“This could happen to any one of us…”

Unlocked premiered on February 17th 2023 on Netflix. The South Korean thriller film stars Chun Woo-Hee, Im Si-wan, Park Ho-san, and Kim Hee-won. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty-seven minutes.

A young woman’s life is put in immediate danger when a man steals her lost phone and uses it to track her every move.

Here is the trailer:

Unlocked is a well-paced thriller with a terrifying and realistic premise that may have you rethinking using your phone for everything. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Takes on a relevant fear…

It seems like our whole lives are on our phones and this film definitely reveals just how dangerous that can be if your phone ends up in the wrong hands. I thought that this was such a compelling plot with a few twists I didn’t see coming. If you enjoy edge-of-your-seat thrillers, you’ll find plenty here to latch on to.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Characters to root for!

It may seem like Na-mi is kind of routine and boring at first, but I actually think this enhanced the plot that much more. This can happen to ANYONE and the perpetrator may have a million random reasons for targeting you, which is that much more terrifying.

I did like Na-mi as a character and was rooting for her by the time we got to the end of the film, which was SO INTENSE! I could not stop watching it!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Some sub-plot confusion going on.

I think I might have liked this one a little better if it had focused more on the main plot. Sure, the sub-plots made sense by the time we got to the end, but it did split my focus at times. Overall, this film had solid pacing, but I think I wanted more of a straight-forward thriller to prevent my attention from wavering. Either way, this wasn’t a major con.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

A thriller that will make you think twice about leaving your devices unattended!

Suspenseful and engrossing!

If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers, you’re in the right place!

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

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Red Rose” on Netflix: YA Horror Series Delivers with Chilling Moments and a Chase Scene to Die For!

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

“Welcome to the new you…”

Red Rose originally aired on BBC Three back in August 2022, but has now released in the US on Netflix as of February 15th 2023. The series features eight episodes in total that are all currently available to stream. The British YA horror series stars Amelia Clarkson, Isis Hainsworth, Ashna Rabheru, Harry Redding, and Ellis Howard. Each episode runs for approximately 42-48 minutes.

A dangerous app threatens a group of friends and targets them one by one, as they try to uncover the mystery surrounding it before it’s too late.

Here is the trailer:

Red Rose channels films like The Ring and Unfriended in an effective way, creating a consuming mystery while presenting us with some solid YA horror content. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Not afraid to take big risks…

At first, I thought I was watching your average YA horror series, but I was pleasantly surprised by the time I got to the end of episode two. This series was not afraid to kill off main characters. It presented us with some truly twisted reveals that I absolutely loved and it did a good job of providing us with some genuinely disturbing content. 

After all, this is a horror series…

While I wouldn’t necessarily say that anything was really that terrifying, it made the YA horror genre proud and created an addicting mystery that will keep you coming back for more. 

That chase scene though…

Truly exceptional!!!!

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fun group of Scoobies to root for!

It took me a few episodes to warm up to them, but I really liked this group of friends and it was very easy to cheer for them. There were enough layers presented for each of the main characters and some heartwarming connections as well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A plot I’ve seen before…

This series was far from original, but it was definitely aware of that and it even made a joke later on talking about The Ring, so I can’t fault it too much here. That being said, I’ve seen plenty of films involving killer apps/technology, but I think the series did a good job trying to branch things out past this theme.

The music soundtrack was really odd for me. I personally LOVED it because those are my jams, but it seemed ill-fitting for a show set during the current time. There were also some moments that dragged a little. I wanted things to happen and loved when they did, but maybe we only really needed six episodes here…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

A solid entry to the YA horror genre with a disturbing mystery at its core.

This series wasn’t perfect, but I really enjoyed it and found it very easy to binge-watch. If you’re looking for a new horror/mystery to indulge in, you’ve found it!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Red Rose 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 “Kaleidoscope” on Netflix: A Unique Concept

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

“The longer you’re in the game, the more you know what really matters…”

Kaleidoscobe premiered on Netflix on January 1st 2023 with all eight episodes. The action-heist series stars Giancarlo Esposito, Tati Gabrielle, Rufus Sewell, Rosaline Elbay, and Peter Mark Kendall. Each episode runs for approximately 46-52 minutes, but each viewer will be given a different order to watch the episodes in, leading up to the finale episode, making this a new and interesting viewing experience.

A master thief and his crew attempt a dangerous heist worth $7 billion dollars as they deal with obstacles and threats to their plan along the way.

Here is the trailer:

Kaliedoscope takes a risk with its unique viewing experience, but does it pay off? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Tries something different…

I’m all for new and unique ideas when it comes to watching television series. Netflix markets this particular show by letting the viewers know that they will each be given a scrambled order of episodes to watch, which is a bold and unique way of doing things. 

It does make things slightly challenging if you are trying to discuss episodes with other viewers; however, but I guess if you have binge-watched them all in a day, you’re good to go. Viewers are already googling the best order to watch the episodes in for things to make sense so I’m not sure that everyone will want to immerse themselves into the experience.

Either way, I appreciate that Netflix tried to do something different here and even though I’m not sure it was all executed perfectly, it did provide a unique hook worth exploring.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fun cast.

There were a lot of familiar faces in this one and plenty of characters to root for. Each episode takes place during a different time, featuring a set of characters and what’s going on with them. This helped me connect to some characters earlier than others (depending on what order you watch the episodes in), but I think that the overall cast put forth a valiant effort.

They’re no Ocean’s Eleven, but they still gave us some entertaining moments.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Super confusing at times…

Because of the scrambled order, the timeline got really confusing at times and I felt like I had to work too hard to piece together what was going on. It also bothered me that I would connect to a particular scene or character and then I lost that character development by the time I got to the next presented episode.

Even though the idea was a lot of fun, the execution didn’t bring things together the way I wanted. I felt like I sat through a bunch of fluff (even though some of it was a lot of fun during certain stand-out episodes) leading up to the heist I was waiting for during the finale.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in about 75 percent…

Kaleidoscope gives viewers a unique experience with its approach, but the idea outshines the execution at times. Either way, if you enjoy heist films and series, there’s plenty of entertaining moments sprinkled into this one.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island 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 Wonder” on Netflix: Florence Pugh does it again!

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

“Believe in their stories with complete devotion…”

The Wonder released on Netflix on November 16th 2022. The psychological period drama stars Florence Pugh, Kíla Lord Cassidy, and Tom Burke. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-nine minutes.

A nurse travels to Ireland during the late 1800’s to investigate a girl who has stopped eating for four months and miraculously still lives.

Here is the trailer:

The Wonder is chilling and powerful featuring another stellar performance by Florence Pugh. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Florence Pugh is out of this world…

She is quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses and really gave a powerful and captivating performance in The Wonder. She is the main reason why I tuned into this one and she did not disappoint. Even during the quiet moments, her presence was electric, creating a character with so many layers and dimensions.

Images courtesy of Netflix

An eerie mystery.

From the odd soundtrack to the quiet setting, this film was filled to the brim with an overall chilling quality that only amplified the mystery surrounding Anna. The story was unique and strange, but it also created an interesting conversation connecting what women faced in the past and the present. I can honestly say that I haven’t seen anything like this before and I don’t even have a film to compare it to. 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Pacing issues at times…

Things did move at a slower pace at times and I needed to stay alert during my watch so that I wouldn’t miss anything. That being said, Florence Pugh did enough to keep me invested from start to finish. If you’re looking for a film with a lot going on, you won’t find that here. This film had a more simplistic approach, but it was still just as effective (maybe even more so) than other films that might have handled this mystery in a different way.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

A captivating, unique watch with a brilliant performance by Florence Pugh.

The Wonder is like nothing I have seen before and it was such an experience watching it.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island 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 “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” in Theaters: An Entertaining Mystery

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

“I need a great case…”

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery released in theaters on November 23rd 2022 and will be available to stream on Netflix on December 23rd 2022. The whodunnit mystery film stars Daniel Craig, Kate Hudson, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, and Leslie Odom Jr. It runs for approximately two hours and nineteen minutes.

Detective Benoit Blanc returns when he gets mysteriously invited to a billionaire’s private murder mystery party on a remote island in Greece. 

Here is the trailer:

Glass Onion is a delightful sequel with the perfect blend of humor and mystery to keep you entertained until the very end. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Glass Onion no spoilers 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Talented cast.

The first Knives Out film had an all-star cast and the sequel does not disappoint in this department. I loved all of the characters and I thought the performances were top-notch. Kate Hudson was a scene-stealer!

Daniel Craig was fantastic as always as the quirky Benoit Blanc and Janelle Monáe was absolutely incredible in this. 

Glass Onion no spoilers 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

Perfect balance of humor and mystery.

I loved the quirky dynamic between the group, which added to the humor. This was such a clever and entertaining mystery with an Agatha Christie feel. The sequel felt different from the original film, but that actually worked in its favor. The sequel was fresh and fun, even though some reveals were slightly predictable.

There were also plenty of well-placed twists to throw you off your detective game so you may not have it all figured out…

The Cons:

Glass Onion no spoilers 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

Takes a little while to get going…

I get that we needed some set-up to get to know each of our suspects, but I would have liked for everyone to have gathered at the island a little bit sooner. That being said, I still enjoyed all of the extra fluff.

So am I in or out?

Glass Onion no spoilers 4

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

A captivating mystery stuffed with entertaining moments.

Mystery fans will thoroughly enjoy the sequel, which cleverly finds a voice of its own, separating itself from the original film in the best way possible.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island 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 “Wednesday” on Netflix: Jenna Ortega is Fantastic

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

“Emotion equals weakness…”

Wednesday premiered on November 23rd on Netflix with eight episodes available to stream now. The supernatural drama series stars Jenna Ortega, Christina Ricci, Gwendoline Christie, Emma Myers, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Each episode is approximately 48-50 minutes.

While attending Nevermore Academy, Wednesday Addams finds herself caught up in a mystery involving her parents from twenty-five years ago.

Here is the trailer:

Wednesday is addicting in all the right ways with an interesting mystery and wickedly fun premise. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

All hail, Jenna Ortega!

I expected her to be really good in this role, but she was even better than I could have hoped for. She was the BEST part of the series. This may be my favorite role by her yet. She does a fantastic job of paying tribute to the character while really putting her own spin on her as well.

I enjoyed the other characters as well and it was so wonderful seeing Christina Ricci in this one too for obvious reasons.

Emma Myers was a scene-stealer as Wednesday’s roommate along with Thing. Even though a lot of the characters fit into tropes, they were still a lot of fun to watch and I enjoyed the supporting characters more in this one than I typically do with other teen supernatural dramas.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Easy to binge-watch with very entertaining moments.

I enjoyed the sleuth-mystery approach to this series and even though we got to see some of the iconic characters from the Addams family, this was clearly Wednesday’s show and we stayed true to that, which I appreciated.

I loved each episode and the typical teen moments were actually really entertaining because of Wednesday’s reaction to them. The pacing was a little slow at first, but it improved significantly as the episodes continued. By the time I got to episode three, I was completely hooked.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Predictable at times with your typical teen drama.

I saw the ending reveal coming and I thought some things were easy to figure out, but I still enjoyed everything. There was also some typical teen drama in this series with another love interest triangle. In a lot of ways, this show was like a mashup of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Nancy Drew. I love both of those series so that’s not really a con, but some of the moments of drama could have easily appeared in any show on The CW.

That being said, the drama wasn’t overdone so it didn’t take away from the series that much at all.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

Jenna Ortega is perfection!

This show was so entertaining and really put a unique spin on The Addams Family, allowing Wednesday to truly shine.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Wednesday 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 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 “1899” on Netflix: Eerie and Bizarre

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

“The brain is deeper than the sea…”

1899 premiered on Netflix on November 17th 2022 with all eight episodes available to stream now.  The German horror-mystery series (from the creators of Dark) stars Emily Beecham, Andreas Pietschmann, Aneurin Barnard, and Mathilde Ollivier. Each episode is approximately 50-58 minutes.

Passengers on a ship heading to New York get caught up in a mystery after finding an abandoned ship in the middle of the open sea.

Here is the trailer:

1899 is chilling and intriguing with a compelling mystery at its core, but does it jam-pack in too much? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

1899 no spoilers 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Does enough at the end of each episode to keep you coming back for more…

At the end of each episode, there was another piece of the puzzle unlocked. Of course it created more questions, but I think the series did a good enough job hooking its audience with a unique mystery.

In a lot of ways, this series reminded me of a mashup of Ghost Ship, LOST, and The Terror. Unlocking the mystery was the best part of the series for me even though I had mixed thoughts on the ending.

Decent main character.

I had a little bit of trouble connecting to a lot of the characters, even though this series adapted a LOST style with character-centric episodes and flashbacks. However, the character of Maura had the most layers and kept me invested. I think she was a strong lead with a sympathetic story.

The Cons:

1899 no spoilers 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

This series dragged…

The pacing did not do this show any favors. The episodes were on the long side and the pacing felt so slow. I drifted off a few times because of this.

The series was able to bounce back at the end of each episode, but wow was this slow at times.

I also think there was way too much overstuffed into this show. The main mystery was interesting, but there were so many other parts and a lot of characters to focus on. This is not one of those shows you can tune in and out of. I felt like I needed to take notes the entire time to keep up and even then, I still had a lot of questions and was not thoroughly excited by the ending reveal…

So am I in or out?

1899 no spoilers 3

I’m 50/50 on this one…

This series had an interesting hook and a solid mystery, but the pacing really worked against it and I wasn’t a fan of the ending.

I have a feeling that some people will absolutely love this show because it is unique and I can see why, but it was a bit of an exhausting watch overall for me personally.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on 1899 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

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