Spoiler-Free Review of “Crystal Lake” on Peacock: Linda Cardellini is Bloody Fantastic!

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

“Some of us are meant to wear masks…”

Crystal Lake premiered on October 15th 2026 with all eight episodes available to stream on Peacock.

The slasher prequel series (based on the Friday the 13th franchise) stars Linda Cardellini, Will Catlett, Gwendolyn Sundstrom, Devin Kessler, and Nick Cordileone. Each episode runs for approximately forty-three to fifty minutes.

After a traumatic accident involving her son, Pam Voorhees attempts to deal with her grief at Camp Crystal Lake, but holds on to the hope that her son is still alive since they haven’t recovered a body. Her grief shifts to confusion and anger as she begins to unleash a rage within her connected to her dark past.

Here is the trailer:

Crystal Lake has plenty of gory kills to be excited about while giving fans the backstory of the legendary Pamela Voorhees, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock and A24

Guts and gore galore!

When I think about the Friday the 13th franchise, I associate it with fantastic bloody kills and lots of sex. This series understood the assignment here and did not hold back in these departments. The kills were extremely gory. They pushed the envelope a number of times, but that’s what I expected and hoped for with this series.

I was initially worried that they would water everything down, but they embraced the slasher aspects of the films and delivered some bloody great moments here.

Images courtesy of Peacock and A24

Linda Cardellini delivers!

She really embraced the role of Pamela Voorhees and made it her own while still paying respect to the original performance by Betsy Palmer. Some of her facial expressions were spot on! There were so many layers explored in this prequel series and I thought she embraced them all well, giving the audience the chance to sympathize with her while still being afraid of what she was truly capable of. The journey of descent into madness and rage was very well done and a lot of that was because of Cardellini’s portrayal.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock and A24

Dragged things out too long.

I think this series should have been six episodes max. There were some standout episodes that were very well done, but a lot of them felt forced, as if they were stretching things out with unnecessary fluff just to fill the eight episode goal. This created a few pacing issues but I did still manage to make it through all eight episodes very quickly.

I also thought they made a few odd choices that strayed from the story of the franchise, which had me scratching my head. I’m not sure how fans of the original series will feel about them. I preferred the nods at the original films instead.

Not every character needs a prequel and while I think Cardellini sold us on this with her incredible performance, I was left wanting a little bit more from the plot. I still thoroughly enjoyed my watch; however, and appreciate that we finally got another entry to the franchise.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock and A24

I’m in!!!

(3.5 out of 5 stars)

Crystal Lake delivers overall with plenty of gory kills and entertaining moments, elevated by an incredible performance by Linda Cardellini. 

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

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!

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Burbs” on Peacock: Keke Palmer Shines in this Quirky Mystery Reboot

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

“These people are CRAZY…”

The Burbs premiered on Peacock on February 8th 2026 with all eight episodes available to stream now. The mystery comedy series (based on the 1989 film, The Burbs) stars Keke Palmer, Jack Whitehall, Kapil Talwalkar, and Julia Duffy. Each episode runs for approximately 40 to 42 minutes.

Newlyweds, Rob and Samira relocate to his childhood home in the suburbs with their baby, but Samira begins to suspect that her new neighbor across the street may be hiding deadly secrets connected to her husband’s past.

Here is the trailer:

The Burbs has a solid cast and some fun moments sprinkled in, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Keke Palmer steals the show!

She is the BEST part of the series by far and the main reason I tuned into this one. I thought she was absolutely fantastic and I loved her character. Some of the other neighbors were fun as well, but without her, a lot of things probably wouldn’t have landed.

Images courtesy of Peacock

Solid second half.

In a lot of ways, this show reminded me of a mash-up of Desperate Housewives and Only Murders in the Building with a few Easter eggs and cameos thrown into the mix for fans of the original film starring Tom Hanks.

It took a while to find its way, but I thought the second half of the series was a lot of fun and a few of the twists caught me by surprise.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Longer than it needed to be.

There were definitely some pacing issues with this one. I thought the first half of the series was very slow and I almost tuned out a few times. Keke Palmer kept me invested, but there was a lot of fluff and extra stuff that slowed down everything surrounding the main mystery.

A lot of the humor didn’t land for me either, but I think this improved in the second half of the series. The first half just felt very unsure of itself, but we eventually got there.

We’re left with a cliffhanger at the end of season 1 so I will be annoyed if this doesn’t get picked up for a second season, but we’ll have to wait and see.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in about 75 percent…

The Burbs takes a while to get going, but there is a solid mystery at its core worth digging into.

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

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 “Poker Face” Season Two on Peacock: Natasha Lyonne is Back to Solve some more Quirky Mysteries

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

“You CANNOT lie to me…”

Poker Face season two released on May 8th 2025 on Peacock with the first three episodes available to stream now. There will be twelve episodes in total that will air weekly. The whodunnit mystery series stars Natasha Lyonne. Each episode runs for approximately 50-60 minutes.

Each week, Charlie ends up in the middle of a new murder mystery, as she uses her gift of reading people to help solve the case.

Here is the trailer:

Poker Face was such a fun surprise when it premiered over two years ago, giving us a carefree vignette case of the week style that actually worked. Is season two worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Natasha Lyonne brings on the charm once again!

She was terrific in season one and she’s been brilliant so far in season two. Her dry humor works very well with this character. Nothing ever feels too serious here, complimenting the case of the week style. In a lot of ways, this series would make a fun pairing with High Potential. I’d love to see those two team up on a major case! Crossover idea?

Images courtesy of Peacock

Great guest stars!

Season one featured some big names and so far season two is delivering as well with the guest stars, including Katie Holmes, Cynthia Erivo, and Giancarlo Esposito. Keep them coming! 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Sluggish pacing at times.

For some reason, the murder mystery setup for each episode felt a little sluggish for me. I’m hoping this improves as the episodes continue. The episodes are already on the longer side and I noticed this a lot more in season two than I did with season one.

That being said, once Charlie showed up to do her magic, everything improved and felt similar to season one, reeling me right back in.

I love the carefree approach to these mysteries, but I’m also hoping for some more edge. There were some glimmers of this already (especially at the end of episode two) so I’m positive we’ll see more of that. I just don’t want things to become stale because I do really enjoy this series.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in!!!

Poker Face season 2 brings on the murder mystery fun without over-complicating things, making this an effortless watch. Natasha Lyonne is beyond brilliant.

I’m excited to see more!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Poker Face season two 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 “Long Bright River” on Peacock: Amanda Seyfried Stars in this Emotional Crime Mystery Series

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

“Every single one of your actions is a choice…”

Long Bright River premiered on Peacock on March 13th 2025 with all eight episodes available to stream now. The limited crime drama series (based on the novel of the same name) stars Amanda Seyfried, Nicholas Pinnock, Ashleigh Cummings, and John Doman. Each episode runs for approximately 50-53 minutes.

When a series of murders involving young women occur in Philadelphia, a cop named Mickey suspects that there may be a connection to her own sister’s disappearance, leading her down a dangerous path to discover the truth.

Here is the trailer:


Long Bright River is very similar to Mare of Easttown with an emotional mystery at its core and a strong female lead. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

A layered mystery with emotional connections.

I thought the core mystery here was a solid one. I was invested more because of the believable bond between these sisters. Their relationship was far from perfect, but it made it more realistic and I truly felt Amanda Seyfried’s desperate struggle to find out the truth. I was engrossed until the very end and I thought the final reveal was a good one that kept me guessing.

Images courtesy of Peacock

Amanda Seyfried gives a note-worthy performance.

She’s the main reason why I tuned into this particular series and I thought she carried it in so many ways. She was believable, compelling, and very interesting to watch on screen. Her character was flawed in a lot of ways, but Seyfried clearly understood that with her portrayal.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Draining at times.

The episodes here were a little too long for my liking. The first two episodes felt extremely sluggish, but thankfully things turned around by the time I got to episode 3.

I also think this series tried to cover too much. This often happens when series attempt to bring over as many details as possible from a book, but I think it took away slightly from the main mystery, which was interesting enough on its own.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in about 75 percent…

Long Bright River is an emotional, gripping crime series with a solid performance by Amanda Seyfried.

There were some pacing issues to deal with, but I think the series got better and better with each episode.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Long Bright River 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 rule…they 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 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 “Based on a True Story” Season 2 on Peacock: A Bloody Good Time!

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

“I knew we’d never get away with it…”

Based on a True Story season two premiered on Peacock on November 21st 2024 with all eight episodes available to stream now. The comedy crime thriller stars Kaley Cuoco, Chris Messina, Tom Bateman, and Liana Liberato. Each episode runs for approximately 25-35 minutes.

Ava and Nathan adjust to life once their baby is born, but they soon learn that their connection with the Westside Ripper serial killer is not over when a copycat killer begins to make waves, luring them back into the world of true crime.

Here is the trailer:

Based On a True Story season two brings our favorite quirky trio back for more bloody fun, giving us plenty of twists and turns to indulge in. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Our favorite characters return!

I loved the chemistry between Ava and Nathan in season one and we got to witness more layers to their relationship in season two. Both of them got to shine more individually in this season and they also worked well as a team.

Once again, Tom Bateman stole the show and was absolutely FANTASTIC in this! I also love that Liana Liberato got more screen time in this season. We had a few new characters to shake things up as well, which was a welcomed change.

Images courtesy of Peacock

Fun twists!

Even though I predicted them, I loved the twists thrown our way. The second half of season two was so addicting and extremely easy to binge-watch (thanks to those short episodes). We were also left with another insane cliffhanger, opening the door to a possible season three. I really hope it gets picked up because this one is effortless fun!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Slow start.

It took a while for the second season to get going. Initially, it almost felt like they forgot they were renewed for a second season and threw things together last minute. I was struggling with the first few episodes and really thought about tuning out, but luckily things turned around in the right direction and the series finally found its way.

I also could have done without the overused daydream sequences. They seemed like unnecessary fluff to me and disturbed the natural flow of the episodes.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in!!!

Based on a True Story season 2 is addicting and entertaining, featuring bite-sized episodes that are very easy to binge-watch.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my watch and will continue to root for this unlikely trio against all odds!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Based on a True Story season two 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 Lurking Promo

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 “Hysteria!” on Peacock: Bruce Campbell and Julie Bowen Star in this Bizarre Series

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

“Let’s Be Satanists…”

Hysteria! premiered on October 18th 2024 on Peacock with all eight episodes available to stream now. The horror thriller series stars Bruce Campbell, Julie Bowen, Anna Camp, Emjay Anthony, Kezii Curtis, and Chiara Aurelia. Each episode runs for approximately 50-55 minutes.

When a football player goes missing, a small town begins to blame anyone influenced by the occult, including a Satanist rock band made up of teens.

Here is the trailer:

Hysteria! has a fun cast and a decent enough premise just in time for Halloween, but is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Starts off with lots of potential.

This series is set in the 1980’s and I loved the soundtrack. I thought the opening was really creepy and weird, drawing me in to another place and time. I also really liked how this show drew from other iconic movies in the horror genre. It paid tribute to this era in a fun way and I enjoyed the band’s songs!

Images courtesy of Peacock

Bruce Campbell and Julie Bowen…

They’re the reason I tuned in and the reason I stuck with this series as long as I did. I love both actors and it was great to see them together in this. Anna Camp is always fun as well (although I’ve seen her play this exact same character before in True Blood).

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Misused its best players…

As much as I love Bruce Campbell and Julie Bowen, I had mixed thoughts about their characters. I really missed Bruce Campbell’s sarcastic charm and humor and I think this series should have let him shine in that department. He did a solid job as the sheriff, but it also felt really flat at times. I liked Julie Bowen’s character, but even here I was searching for something more. It might have just been the content, but I was left feeling disappointed.

Extremely slow with too much fluff.

I hate when series do this. I think that this show was trying to be the next Stranger Things and it failed to reach anything close to that. There were some fun and dark moments, but it took long to get anywhere. I was fine with the ambiguous ending (although I have mixed thoughts on it), but I was completely drained of energy by the time I got there. The episodes were WAY too long and there were too many of them in my opinion, dragging things out unnecessarily.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m 50/50 on this one…

Hysteria! is a confusing watch, but it does have some darker fun moments sprinkled in if you’re looking for something to binge-watch during spooky season.

I really wanted to like this one, but it went in too many different directions without ever really hooking me.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Hysteria! 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 “Teacup” on Peacock: Creepy and Unsettling!

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

“Something is going on…”

Teacup premiered on Peacock on October 10th 2024 with its first two episodes. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly. The horror series (executively produced by James Wan) stars Yvonne Strahovski, Scott Speedman, Chaske Spencer, and Caleb Dolden. Each episode runs for approximately 32-35 minutes.

Trapped on a farm in Georgia, a group of neighbors must work together to survive against a mysterious threat.

Here is the trailer:

Teacup is both terrifying and disturbing, hooking its audience with its premiere episodes. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Recognizable cast!

Sign me up for anything starring the fabulous Yvonne Strahovski and Scott Speedman. As soon as I saw that they were both in this, I was all for it! They are both delivering (especially Yvonne) and I can’t wait to see more from them.

The rest of the cast is doing a solid job too and I think we have an interesting set of characters. We got some drama and backstory in the first two episodes, but it isn’t overpowering the plot, allowing the terrifying mystery to shine.

Images courtesy of Peacock

Freaky and weird in a very good way!

The first two episodes were done exceptionally well. The pacing was great and we got right into things. The mystery is really strange, but it is drawing me in completely. Those last few moments of the second episode were so shocking and disturbing. I’ve been waiting for a truly terrifying horror series to emerge this year and this one is delivering so far with spine-tingling moments.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Might be better suited as a film…

I love the shorter episodes, but I hate that I have to wait an entire week for the next one to drop. There is a lot going on and I want to keep watching it while everything is fresh in my mind. It’s fine to build up anticipation, but I think this might have translated a little better as a film.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in!!!

Teacup is a consuming watch that already has me anxiously waiting for more episodes to drop. If you’re a horror fan, I highly recommend this one. It’s off to a fantastic start!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Teacup 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 “Apples Never Fall” on Peacock: A Straightforward Mystery-Drama Series

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

“Thank you for opening your door…”

Apples Never Fall released on Peacock on March 14th 2024 with all seven episodes available to stream now. The limited mystery-drama series (based on the book of the same name) stars Annette Bening, Sam Neill, Alison Brie, Jake Lacy, Essie Randles, Conor Merrigan, and Georgia Flood. Each episode runs for approximately 45-50 minutes.

After their mother goes missing, the Delaney family works together and unlocks secrets involving the introduction of a stranger on their doorstep, hoping to find their mother before it is too late.

Here is the trailer:

Apples Never Fall is a quick and effortless watch with an addicting premise and decent performances. Is it worthy of your next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Great cast.

Similar to Big Little Lies (from the same author), this miniseries had quite a few familiar faces in it and I thought the performances were solid for the most part. Annette Bening and Alison Brie stood out the most for me.

Some of the other characters could have been fleshed out a little bit more (I’m assuming they were in the book), but I didn’t need this to go on for longer than it did.

Images courtesy of Peacock

A soapy and simple enough mystery to indulge in.

I appreciated that this series kept things simple and didn’t try to do too much. I’ve seen similar series with outrageous twists and complex sub-plots and while I often love them, it was refreshing to just sit back and enjoy this one without having to think too much.

I thought that the balance between the soapy family drama and the core mystery worked well enough, keeping me engaged until the end.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Not a fan of the constant time jumps.

I eventually got used to them, but it felt erratic jumping back and forth between timelines. Initially it was very confusing and I think they jam-packed way too many of these past and present scenes in the pilot episode, which made it slightly overwhelming.

As the episodes continued, the transitions worked a lot better, but they were disruptive at times still.

I also felt like the ending was kind of a letdown. I guess I wanted something more shocking and darker. It just felt like we were leading up to something extraordinary and then the end result was lukewarm at best.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in about 75 percent…

Apples Never Fall did enough to keep me engaged until the very end with an impressive cast and a layered mystery.

If you enjoy guilty-pleasure mystery-dramas, you’ll have a satisfying binge-watch overall.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Apples Never Fall 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 “Found” on Peacock: A Twist Worth Sticking Around For

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

“There will always be a need for what I do…”

Found premiered on NBC (next day streaming on Peacock) on October 3rd 2023 with its first episode. The series has been picked up for thirteen episodes (with the option for renewal) that will air weekly. The crime thriller series stars Shanola Hampton, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gabrielle Walsh, Brett Dalton, and Kelli Williams. Each episode runs for approximately 42-44 minutes.

A recovery specialist with a jaded past and her team work together to find missing people that the police are unable to.

Here is the trailer:

Found starts off like your standard crime drama-thriller with a recognizable cast, but its twist ending in the pilot episode has some juicy potential. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

A cast to elevate the mundane.

Shanola Hampton (Shameless) is effortlessly stepping into this role and is a force to be reckoned with so far. Her character appears to be strong on the outside, but she has some dark secrets as well that are worth exploring, giving us enough potential layers.

The rest of the cast is filled with familiar faces, but I was most excited to see Mark-Paul Gosselaar and I’m thrilled that he’s playing a character he doesn’t normally play. I’m intrigued to see where this goes…

Images courtesy of Peacock

A fantastic hook.

I’ll be honest…I wasn’t sure if I was going to stick around for more, but by the time I got to the end, I changed my tune. It wasn’t the most original twist, but it definitely livened things up and I think it could give this show the boost it needs. Fingers crossed!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

A show I’ve seen before…

This show follows a very familiar pattern…especially if you’ve seen your fair share of NBC crime dramas. The cases so far have been interesting and we have a strong enough cast to elevate things, but that could get stale fast…

Also, a lot of the dialogue felt very unbelievable. It seemed like the actors were using catch phrases rather than speaking organically, which was frustrating at times since we have a good enough cast to work with. Hopefully this will improve as the show continues.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in about 75 percent…

Found steps things up with a twist ending with loads of potential, setting up an intriguing character dynamic worth exploring.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Found 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 rule…they 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 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 “Based on a True Story” on Peacock: A Real Treat!

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

“Do we have to wake up to murder every morning?”

Based on a True Story premiered on Peacock on June 8th 2023 with all eight episodes available to stream now. The comedy crime thriller stars Kaley Cuoco, Chris Messina, Tom Bateman, Priscilla Quintana, Liana Liberato, and Natalia Dyer. Each episode runs for approximately 25-35 minutes.

Ava and Nathan are expecting a baby and feel like their marriage is becoming very mundane, but when Ava realizes that their plumber may be the Westside Ripper serial killer, she teams up with her husband to blackmail him into creating a true crime podcast with them from the killer’s perspective.

Here is the trailer:

Based On a True Story is the perfect mix of The Flight Attendant and Only Murders in the Building with a unique voice of its own. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Great chemistry between characters!

I honestly haven’t seen such good chemistry between a married couple on TV since Santa Clarita Diet. Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina are hilarious on screen, but also very believable as a couple. They are very relatable and the real moments between them give this series an edge.

I was worried that this series would feel like a rip-off of The Flight Attendant and Only Murders in the Building, but it channeled the quirky take on the true crime craze flawlessly while branching off into something truly exceptional of its own. 

Stand-out performance goes to Tom Bateman as Matt. Think Joe Goldberg from You without all of the whiny psychobabble. He is charming and entertaining and he absolutely steals the show!

Images courtesy of Peacock

Short episodes make it easy to binge-watch.

I got through this series very quickly. The episodes are super short and it’s so addicting! If you’re looking for a quick and easy binge-watch for the weekend, this is the show for you.

There are also some really fantastic blood-soaked moments for slasher fans. The series is more of a comedic thriller, but I personally liked that it wasn’t afraid to get a little bit messy here. After all, they are dealing with a serial killer…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Forced crude dialogue at times…

The opening episode felt a little awkward at times because of the forced and explicit dialogue. I don’t know if the series was trying to be extra shocking, but people in real life don’t talk like this and it just felt unnatural. This calmed down as the episodes continued, however. The show was a lot more entertaining when it wasn’t trying so hard.

I also wasn’t a fan of some of the trippy daydreams/hallucinations. They felt mostly filler to me.

What happened in episode 6 (no spoilers) was completely unnecessary. It almost ruined the entire show for me, but I tried to move past it…

I also wanted more of a pop from the ending. Sure, it left things open for a new season if it gets picked up, but I guess I was looking for something a little more jaw-dropping to seal the deal.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in!

Based on a True Story is a lot of fun and very easy to binge-watch. The chemistry between our three main leads is bloody magic and well worth your time.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Based on a True Story 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 Lurking Promo

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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