Spoiler-Free Review of “FUBAR” on Netflix: Spy Series Falls Flat

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

“My daughter’s in the CIA?!”

FUBAR premiered on May 25th 2023 on Netflix with eight episodes available to stream now. The comedy-action series stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Monica Barbaro, Fabiana Udenio, Fortune Feimster, and Travis Van Winkle. Each episode runs for approximately 45-55 minutes.

After announcing his retirement, a CIA operative gets dragged in for one last mission that involves a family secret.

Here is the trailer:

FUBAR has a True Lies vibe and a star that can carry almost anything, but does this series do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fun cast and premise.

It’s always fantastic seeing Arnold on screen and I was thrilled that he was getting his own series that seemed like it could be the perfect balance of comedy and action. Arnold basically played another version of his characters from other movies so there’s that. We also got a familiar, but fun premise to work with.

The father/daughter relationship was strange, but developed over the series and had its share of heartwarming moments and there was an effort to bring us some comedy along with the action so that the series wouldn’t feel that heavy. 

The pros stop there, however…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Ridiculous one-liners and cringe-worthy dialogue and exchanges…

You can basically download an entire soundboard filled with Arnold quotes from his movies over the years, but this series failed to deliver any noteworthy ones, which was extremely disappointing. The dialogue was boring and forced. Many of the exchanges between the father and daughter seemed unrealistic and a lot of the humor just didn’t land for me personally.

Well, maybe there’s some good action…

Watered down action.

No…the fight scenes felt flat and boring. I get that Arnold is 75 years old now, but this film was seriously lacking in this department and tried to rely too much on tropes I have seen before in similar series and films.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

This series was watchable at times, but it played it safe and relied on humor that did not work. It’s always fun seeing Arnold on screen, but he deserved a lot more here and overall I was disappointed with my watch.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Clearing” on Hulu: Teresa Palmer stars in a Dark and Disturbing Cult Mystery

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

“I’m not supposed to be here…”

The Clearing released on Hulu on May 24th 2023 with two episodes available to stream now. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly. The Australian crime drama series (loosely based on a real story) stars Teresa Palmer, Miranda Otto, and Guy Pearce. Each episode runs for approximately 47-49 minutes.

A mother must face her troubled past in order to stop a cult from kidnapping innocent children.

Here is the trailer:

The Clearing is eerie and chilling with a talented cast and a layered mystery that pulls you in. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Some solid twists already with a twisted mystery at its core.

I’ve seen my fair share of cult thrillers and mysteries, but this series is already more disturbing to me since it focuses on young children. There have already been a few twists that grabbed my full attention and I’m invested in what happens next. This is not an easy watch at all because of the content, but so far I’ve been given enough pieces of the puzzle to reel me in.

Images courtesy of Hulu

Talented cast.

With Teresa Palmer (A Discovery of Witches), Miranda Otto (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), and Guy Pearce (Memento) on the same show, it seems like a dream come true and it is for the most part.

Teresa Palmer is always so convincing with her wide eyed stares and emotional reactions. She is very believable in this role and the main reason why I tuned in. Miranda Otto is absolutely CHILLING in her role and I can’t wait to see more.

I’m hoping Guy Pearce gets more of a chance to shine as well.

Either way, this cast is bringing a lot to this series and I’m confident they will continue to do so in the remaining episodes.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Confusing timelines and sluggish pacing.

The transitions between the different timelines are not as seamless as I’d like them to be. Both timelines are interesting enough, but it also seems like this series is trying to stuff in quite a lot, which can be overwhelming at times.

The pacing needs some improvement, but I think that each episode has done enough to bring me in for more. I just want things to speed up a little bit…

As I mentioned earlier, some of these moments can be emotionally triggering and disturbing so please be mindful of that.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in about 75 percent…

This series has some serious potential with an unsettling cult mystery at its core, but it needs to pick up the pace and allow its stars to truly shine. I’m intrigued to find out more; however, and I’m willing to stick around for the remaining episodes.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Face your fear…

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

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

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

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Fatal Attraction” on Paramount+: Less than Sizzling…

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

“I chose to lose control…”

Fatal Attraction is a new erotic thriller series based on the iconic film of the same name. It released on April 30th 2023 with the first three episodes available to stream now. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly. The series stars Joshua Jackson, Lizzy Caplan, Amanda Peet, and Alyssa Jirrels. Each episode runs for approximately 53-59 minutes.

A toxic affair damages the family and reputation of Dan Gallagher in this re-imagining of the 1987 film.

Here is the trailer:

Fatal Attraction attempts to provide some layers and background for these familiar characters, but does it translate well on the small screen? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Solid cast.

Joshua Jackson is no stranger to steamy love affairs and played one of my favorite characters on Showtime’s The Affair and Lizzy Caplan starred in Masters of Sex…so these two seem perfect to get this erotic thriller off and running. I like both of them as actors individually and they were the main reason why I tuned in. I’m a fan of the original film and I don’t think that anyone can come close to those performances, but it certainly helped having some familiar faces on the screen.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Slow, dull, and NO chemistry!

Where do I start? The episodes were on the long side already and I felt like it took three hours just to get through one. The pilot was excruciatingly slow and boring. We randomly skip back and forth between timelines and I was so confused at times.

While I like both Joshua Jackson and Lizzy Caplan, I just didn’t feel the chemistry between them. It felt so formulaic and forced. There was no charge between them. It just felt like two actors going through the motions.

I’m sure the series will pick up, but I’m already so bored out of my mind and I feel like I honestly wasted my time with this one.

This film should have been left alone and I don’t think that the series is doing anything that new or unique even though it promises to.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

Not everything needs a re-imagining or remake and this is the perfect example. I’d recommend re-watching the film instead. 

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Fatal Attraction 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.

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Saint X” on Hulu: Alycia Debnam-Carey Stars in a Layered Murder Mystery

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

“Sometimes it feels like the whole world knows more than I do…”

Saint X premiered on Hulu on April 26th 2023 with the first three episodes available to stream now. There will be eight episodes in total. The mystery-drama series stars Alycia Debnam-Carey, West Duchovny, Josh Bonzie, and Betsy Brandt. Each episode is approximately 44-48 minutes.

Emily searches for answers about her sister’s death years later when she comes face-to-face with a person of interest from the crime.

Here is the trailer:

Saint X has an intriguing premise told through different perspectives and timelines, but does it do enough to hold our attention? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Saint X no spoilers 1

Images courtesy of Hulu

Alycia Debnam-Carey gives it her all.

Alycia Debnam-Carey stepped into this role after Victoria Pedretti left the project, but I have to admit that she is the main reason why I am watching this series. I am a big fan of hers and I think she is really putting forth a lot of emotions, but I’m hoping her character gets a chance to grow with more screen time in the remainder of the episodes. She’s very talented and has elevated a lot of flat moments so far.

A solid mystery at its core.

This is one of those series where we’ll have to wait until the end to understand what truly happened to Emily’s sister and I’m hoping it pays off. I love the resort setting and I appreciate that this series is trying to step away from the typical murder mystery formula to focus on aspects of class, race, and relationships. It may be taking on a bit too much, but the effort is there.

The Cons:

Saint X no spoilers 2

Images courtesy of Hulu

Slow and exhausting at times…

The premise is so interesting to me, but I haven’t been hooked just yet and I’ve already watched three episodes, which is usually my limit. I’m going to give the series a chance because I’m hopeful that the payoff will be rewarding enough, but the pacing needs a lot of improvement. The constant jumps between timelines are really confusing at times and the transitions are choppy.

Doing way too much.

I know that this series is trying to step away from the typical mystery-crime series we see airing nearly every week, but I personally feel that it needs to take a step back and just focus on the main story, which is interesting enough. I’m all for developing characters and learning more about them, but it’s not translating well yet and a lot of the content has been dull and uninspiring, which is disappointing.

So am I in or out?

Saint X no spoilers 3

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I’m going to give it a few more episodes for Alycia, but the pacing really needs to pick up drastically to keep me invested.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Saint X 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 “Welcome to Eden” Season 2 on Netflix: The Twists and Betrayals are far from over!

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

“Paradise is on hold…”

Welcome to Eden (Bienvenidos a Edén) season 2 premiered on Netflix on April 21st 2023 with eight episodes available to stream now. The Spanish thriller series stars Amaia Aberasturi, Belinda, Amaia Salamanca, and Sergio Momo. Each episode runs for approximately 42-52 minutes.

Zoa and her friends continue to fight for survival on the island, but things get more complicated when some new arrivals shake things up.

Here is the trailer:

Welcome to Eden season 2 picks up right where it left off with soapy thrills, insane twists, and a crazy cult that may have you rethinking your next vacation. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

The intense twists continue!

Season 1 did a fantastic job with this and I wasn’t sure if season 2 would be able to keep up, but it really goes all out and throws in some edge-of-your-seat moments that had me holding my breath!

This show is not afraid to kill off characters and it’s far from predictable, giving the audience plenty of guilty pleasure thrills to keep them binge-watching until the very end. 

Images courtesy of Netflix

Couples to root for.

The character dynamics and relationships on this show really keep you invested. You care about what happens to these characters and there are some ships that will really make you swoon and then some. 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A LOT to keep track of!

I highly recommend re-watching the first season prior to watching this or at least watching the recaps. I was a little lost in the first episode, but luckily everything started to come back to me by the time we got to episode 2.

That being said, there are a lot of sub-plots and tons of characters to keep track of. While I have come to expect the soapy and steamy fluff in this series, I thought they went a little overboard here at times. The episodes could have been a little bit shorter to keep the pacing going. 

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!!

While not as strong as season 1, season 2 doesn’t hold back and gives us plenty of shocking and steamy moments to enjoy. Fingers crossed that we get a season 3!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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 “Yellowjackets” Season 2 Premiere on Showtime: Trippy Goodness

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

“Nobody can help you…”

Yellowjackets season 2 premiered on March 24th 2023 on Showtime. This season will feature eight weekly episodes. It stars Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Sammi Hanratty. Each episode runs for approximately 53-55 minutes.

After surviving a plane crash in the middle of the wilderness, a high school girls soccer team attempts to keep going with no hope of rescue. Years later, they try to cope with the horrific events that took place after the crash as new characters emerge from their past.

Here is the trailer:

Yellowjackets instantly became one of my favorite shows, providing us with two compelling timelines and characters to root for in the midst of some trippy madness that somehow just works. Does season 2 deserve a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Showtime

Dives back into darkness without holding back…

Season 2 jumps right back into things and quickly submerges us into some disturbing dark content. It’s clearly not afraid to unleash something twisted and outrageous, making the season 2 premiere such a compelling watch. I dropped my jaw at several moments and this is only the beginning!

Images courtesy of Showtime

Introduces new faces.

We already have our fair share of characters, but one of the most interesting characters of season 1 makes her first appearance in the present day timeline, which should shake things up for some of our other survivors.

We also get another timeline thrown into the mix and I hope we get to explore it more without overdoing things.

Either way, I’m intrigued!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Showtime

A lot to keep track of…

I highly recommend that you watch the recap at the beginning of the episode to stay up to speed. But you still need to pay attention to a lot of different characters and timelines, which can be slightly overwhelming.

Similar to LOST, this series is branching off into several unique stories and I just hope that each character gets enough screen time because they all deserve it!

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Showtime

I’m in 100 percent!

Season 2 starts off with a bang and is not holding back!

I can’t wait to see what happens next and it’s safe to say that Yellowjackets is still just as fantastic as ever!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Yellowjackets 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 “Class of ’07” on Prime Video: An Absolute Gem!

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

“Is this our reunion?!”

Class of ’07 premiered on Prime Video on March 17th 2023 with eight episodes available to stream now. The Australian comedy-drama series stars Emily Browning, Megan Smart, Caitlin Stasey, Steph Tisdell, and Sana’a Shaik. Each episode runs for approximately 30-35 minutes.

After tempers flare at a ten year reunion at an all-girls high school, a global catastrophe strikes, leaving them stranded together on an island as they must figure out a way to survive.

Here is the trailer:

Class of ’07 is the perfect mix of The Wilds and Mean Girls, making this a binge-watcher’s dream. Does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Fantastic characters with layers.

I was worried that a lot of the characters would fit neatly into tropes and while some did, others broke through barriers with charm. These girls were hilarious, fierce, and such a pleasure to watch on screen. The chemistry between them was so believable and I really thought I was witnessing former frenemies at a high school reunion under the worst possible circumstances ever!

Stand out performances go to Emily Browning as Zoe and Caitlin Stasey as Saskia, who could give Regina George a run for her money! I loved them!

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Short episodes.

If you’re looking for a lighter take on shows like The Wilds and Yellowjackets, Class of ’07 finds a happy medium and is a lot of fun! The episodes are short, which made this perfect to binge-watch over the weekend. There wasn’t too much fluff to sit through, which allowed the audience a chance to connect to these characters while enjoying all of the end-of-the-world outrageous fun.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Gross-out humor…

This series was really close to perfection for me and exactly the kind of show I love, but the crude/gross-out humor wasn’t my cup of tea. I would have been fine with just a little bit of it, but it really kept pushing the envelope in this department when it could have taken more time to flesh out some of the other characters instead.

Either way, by the time I got to the end of the series, I wanted more! I hope this series gets picked up because it really is a lot of fun.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in!!!

Class of ’07 is a delightful treat with incredible characters and an addicting premise that doesn’t disappoint!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Class of ’07 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 “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!

**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 “School Spirits” on Paramount+: A Charming YA Supernatural Mystery

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

“Welcome to the club…”

School Spirits released on March 9th 2023 on Paramount+ with the first three episodes available to stream now. The remaining five episodes will air weekly. The YA supernatural mystery series stars Peyton List, Kiara Pichardo, Kristian Flores, and Spencer MacPherson. Each episode runs for approximately 44-48 minutes.

Maddie winds up stuck in limbo in her high school as she attempts to investigate her own mysterious disappearance with the help of other ghosts who reside there.

Here is the trailer:

School Spirits is a delightful mix of Ghosts and Nancy Drew with a mystery that really pulls you in. Is this YA series worth your time? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Light and fun.

This series could have easily overdone it with teen drama and excess fluff, but it already managed to find the perfect balance of mystery and fun from the very start, which is not always easy to do. 

The show is filled with likable characters and I really like Maddie, which has kept me more invested in the mystery revolving around her own disappearance.

The episodes aren’t super long and the pacing has been on point for the most part, knowing just how to hook the audience at the end of each episode, reeling us back in for more.

Images courtesy of Paramount+

A solid mystery.

Sure, it may not be that original, but I’m already forming my own list of suspects and I really want to know what happened to Maddie. The time jumps were a little jarring at first, but I started to get used to them as the series progressed, giving us more clues to ponder over. I’m hoping for a shocking reveal, but it’s too early to tell how this mystery will unfold. 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Weekly episodes…

I watched the first three episodes in one sitting and was ready for more, but we’ll have to wait for the rest of the episodes to release each week, which is a bummer. This is one of those shows where you get really wrapped up in the story so I’m just afraid that viewers may forget to tune back in or could lose interest without the binge-watching option available. You may be better off waiting until all the episodes drop before watching this one…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Paramount+

I’m in!!!

School Spirits has a super cute premise and a charming cast with an addicting mystery at its core.

This series has been a pleasant surprise so far and I can’t wait to watch more episodes!

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

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