Spoiler-Free Review of “Inventing Anna” on Netflix: Juicy and Intriguing Premise

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

“Everyone here wants something…”

Inventing Anna premiered on Netflix on February 11th 2022 with nine episodes available to stream now. The drama series based on a true story stars Julia Garner, Anna Chlumsky, Arian Moayed, Anders Holm and Laverne Cox. Each episode runs for approximately 60-70 minutes.

A journalist looks into the case of Anna Delvey, who stole money from New York elites while pretending to be a wealthy German heiress.

Here is the trailer:

Inventing Anna takes a true story and shows the audience different angles on how Anna Delvey became a well-known name. Is it worthy of your next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Showcases gorgeous fashion and settings.

There was so much fashion embedded in this series and I loved it! We also got to be transported to different places, focusing primarily on New York City. The series did a good job of capturing the vibe and feel of each setting, which really helped elevate this series in a lot of ways for me.

Worthy flashbacks.

Julia Garner put forth a valiant effort here and I thought the flashbacks were the strongest part of the series. It was really interesting seeing how Anna did what she did over time, connecting with different people throughout her journey. This probably could have been the main focus of the series because it was that intriguing.

The Cons:

The journalist angle didn’t work…

I just couldn’t connect to this part of the show and I think it forced each episode to run longer than needed. Vivian was not likable at all for me as a character and I think that we spent way too much time focusing on her life rather than the interesting story we actually came to see…

That accent…

I thought I might get used to it after a while, but Julia Garner’s impersonation of Anna Delvey’s accent was so strange and off-putting. I’m sure she put a lot of thought and effort into it and I don’t want to knock her because I think she’s a great actress but it was really distracting.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

This series highlights an intriguing story worth watching and the fashion pieces alone are definitely worth your time. I personally would have preferred the series to just focus on the flashbacks more because they were really interesting. The episodes are super long and it took me a little while to get through this one, but I’d recommend giving it a whirl because it does have its moments.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Inventing Anna 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 “In From the Cold” on Netflix: Spy Series with lots of welcomed twists!

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

“I’m no longer that person…”

In From the Cold premiered on January 28th 2022 on Netflix with eight episodes available to stream now. The sci-fi action series stars Margarita Levieva, Cillian O’Sullivan, Charles Brice and Lydia Fleming. Each episode runs for approximately 45-52 minutes.

After starting over a new life as a mother, Jenny Franklin’s past catches up to her when she is recruited once again as a deadly secret agent.

Here is the trailer:

In From the Cold has an Alias vibe with a sci-fi edge. While the premise may seem ridiculous at times, we get plenty of bloody fight scenes and fantastic twists to keep us on our toes. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A kick-ass female lead to root for.

I remember Margarita Levieva on Revenge and I loved her then and I loved her even more now! If you’re looking for an action series with a strong female lead, you’re in the right place. Sure, I’ve seen plenty of female spy films and series before, but I really appreciated the fact that Jenny was a mom in her forties. It just made her more relatable and I liked that she was a little rough around the edges, which gave this series a little bit more originality.

Plenty of action with lots of twists and turns.

Even at the end of the first episode, we got this crazy reveal. At first, I didn’t really know what to think about it but it actually made me like this series even more. The twists kept coming our way which really kept me invested from start to finish.

There were also plenty of action and fight scenes in each episode to indulge in. More please!

The Cons:

The flashbacks took up a lot of screen time.

I didn’t mind the flashbacks and I thought they provided the audience with important information and reveals, but sometimes the transition was a little jarring. The episodes were on the long side so maybe if these were shortened slightly, it would have worked better.

Even though we got a lot of answers to our questions, there was a lot that still didn’t make any sense and was really outrageous. That being said, if you just go with the flow, you’ll enjoy the series more.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

Kick-ass series with fantastic twists and a unique sci-fi edge!

This was such a guilty-pleasure watch for me in a lot of ways, but it just worked somehow, even though it was slightly outrageous. I highly recommend it if you are looking for something a little bit different without having to overthink things too much.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on In From the Cold 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 “Candyman” (2021) in Theaters: A Solid Direct Sequel

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

“Say it…I dare you.”

Candyman (2021) released in theaters on August 27th 2021. The film stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Colman Domingo, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Vanessa Williams and Tony Todd. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty minutes.

In present day, Anthony and Brianna move into the now gentrified Cabrini-Green. Anthony is trying to make a name for himself as an artist when he comes across the legend of Candyman, which inspires his latest work. He encourages others around him to summon Candyman, which unleashes something sinister into the world once again.

Here is the trailer:

Candyman attempts to make itself relevant in today’s world while still recognizing the original film in the process. Is it worth a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Visually stunning.

The visual effects in this movie were really so well done. The art, the use of light, the focus on the reflections and even the body horror was done in such an interesting way. I really loved the elevator scene in particular and I thought that the visual choices really gave the film a genuine chilling quality.

A continuation of the original story that made sense!

I’ve seen so many different reboots, remakes, and re-imaginings over the years and I was wondering what we were going to get to witness with the new Candyman. Well, I was pleasantly surprised by how well it continued the original story.

The film still branched off into something new, but it kept the story going in an effective way. It truly felt like a direct sequel and it worked.

The Cons:

I wanted more from our main characters.

The acting was well done and I genuinely liked all of the performances, but I wanted a little bit more. I didn’t really believe the chemistry between Brianna and Anthony, which impacted the reveal later on.

I also thought that we could have expanded on some of the flashbacks a bit more and Colman Domingo was so fantastic, but I wanted to see him in more scenes. I also think him randomly showing up seemed a bit out of place, but I’ll just go with it…

Attempted to do A LOT.

The film was not very long and it really tried to cram so much in. I think it created several discussions worth having but I also found myself being bounced around a little bit too much. I didn’t want to lose focus in this film because there were so many things that were so well done, but this could have been tightened up a little bit in my opinion.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

This movie was a worthy direct sequel.

It was chilling, unique, and visually stunning. While it did attempt to do a lot in one film, there was still enough substance here to keep me entertained.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Candyman (2021) 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 “Jupiter’s Legacy” on Netflix: Standard Super Hero Show

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

“We have these powers for a reason…”

Jupiter’s Legacy is a superhero action series that premiered on Netflix on May 7th 2021. There are eight episodes for part one that are available to stream now. The show stars Josh Duhamel, Leslie Bibb, Matt Lanter, Andrew Horton and Elena Kampouris. Each episode runs for approximately 40-45 minutes.

Based on the comic series of the same name, the show follows a group of superheroes who attempt to hand over their responsibilities to the new generation, but a dangerous threat gets in the way of their moral code.

Here is the trailer:

Jupiter’s Legacy is the latest series to bring a comic book to life for a new audience, but is there enough substance here to keep you coming back for more? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Familiar faces.

Josh Duhamel and Leslie Bibb make a pretty good team although some of Josh’s acting left a lot to be desired and what was with that wig? I was also really glad to see Matt Lanter on this series as well and I think that the rest of the cast did a decent enough job with what they were given.

Interesting flashbacks.

I actually preferred the flashbacks with the origin story more than the present day events. The time period itself was more interesting and I thought that the writers paid more attention here to keep the audience invested. While some of the flashbacks seemed forced, there was enough going on here to make them connect to the overall story without overdoing it.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Mediocre plot.

I got halfway through the series and started to ask myself if I even liked what I was watching. That tells me that the series is decent enough, but there is nothing truly spectacular going on to make you have to watch this.

This show could very easily fit into The CW’s lineup and I gave up on those superhero shows after wasting too much time on Arrow after it went off the deep end.

Much like the DC shows on The CW, there’s enough superhero action and drama going on here, but it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.

No humor.

One thing I really needed in this show was some well placed humor. Since the plot was already so mediocre, it needed something to prevent the series from feeling too heavy and melodramatic.

Much like Walker and October Faction, this show tried to focus on a balance between family drama and action, but it just felt dull and uninspiring.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m 50/50 on this one.

The show is watchable and if you really enjoy superhero action series, you will feel right at home with this one. There were some moments sprinkled in and a couple of stand-out performances, but the show just felt like a standard superhero show to me that will most likely become very forgettable in the long run.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Jupiter’s Legacy 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 “Who Killed Sara?” on Netflix: A Steamy Murder Mystery

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

Revenge can be a powerful motivator.

Who Killed Sara? premiered on Netflix on March 24th 2021 with ten episodes available to stream now. The series stars Manola Cardona, Alejandro Nones, Carolina Miranda, Ximena Lamadrid and Eugenio Siller. Each episode runs for approximately 40 minutes.

The Mexican crime series, ¿Quién mató a Sara? centers around Alex, who was wrongfully framed for his sister’s murder. Eighteen years later, he is determined to get revenge and expose the real killer, as family secrets are exposed and new alliances are formed.

Here is the trailer:

Who Killed Sara? may initially seem like a soapy guilty pleasure drama and there is plenty of that to go around, but does the murder mystery measure up? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

The murder mystery is a good one.

The series starts off with a bang. We are immediately brought into the center of the horrific flashback, which presents us with a horrible crime, setting up the motivation for our main character to get justice for the murder of his sister.

The murder mystery kept me invested the entire time. There are plenty of twists thrown our way to keep us guessing and I thought that the show did a good job of presenting us with multiple suspects without giving too much away.

The overall pacing of the show worked really well. The episodes are short and the flashbacks were actually relevant and furthered the plot along.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Characters to root for.

There are some really awful characters in this show, but the main characters have complex stories and layers. I felt the chemistry between them and I also wanted to know more about each and every one of them. As secrets and dark pasts are revealed, you start to piece together the mystery at the center of it all, which worked well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Unnecessary and outrageous subplots.

There are a lot of characters and a lot of subplots to keep up with. Plus, we get a lot of unnecessary and extra sex scenes that pushed this thriller over to the soap opera side, but I thought we were reeled in enough by the mystery to prevent this from overpowering the show.

However, I thought some of the dialogue and references seemed outdated and ridiculous. If we start to map together how our main character is figuring this all out and how others are getting away with things, everything starts to become a bit silly, but as long as we manage our expectations, the guilty pleasure mystery is enough to keep us entertained.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

Yes, the show can be borderline outrageous and ridiculous, but it also delivers a well thought out mystery that keeps you wanting more. This show is the definition of a guilty pleasure binge-watch. If you enjoy the UK Harlan Coben mysteries and shows like The Undoing, you will feel right at home.

Who Killed Sara? was thoroughly entertaining and it kept me guessing until that cliffhanger ending. Wow! Luckily, Netflix has already confirmed that we can expect to see a second season in the future. Phew!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Clarice” on CBS: The Silence is Over…kinda

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

“To be a survivor, you have to be a victim…”

Clarice premiered on CBS on February 11th 2021. Episodes will air weekly and are also available to stream on CBS All Access. The series stars Rebecca Breeds, Michael Cudlitz, Nick Sandow, and Kal Penn. Each episode runs for approximately 52 minutes.

The series takes place one year after the events that occurred in the iconic film, The Silence of the Lambs. We follow the untold story of Clarice, as she tries to piece her life back together again while taking on some new disturbing cases.

Here is the trailer:

Clarice has the potential to bring us back into this world while telling a unique story. However, it is difficult to find the perfect balance between the films and a new show. Hannibal was very effective at doing this, but can Clarice accomplish the same? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of CBS

Rebecca Breeds is fantastic as Clarice.

It’s not easy stepping into a role like this and Rebecca Breeds certainly has some big shoes to fill. I was already a fan of hers and remember her from Pretty Little Liars and The Originals. I think that she is doing enough to honor the original performance while branching out and creating a more layered identity.

There are a lot of familiar faces in this cast. We have TWD’s Michael Cudlitz, Orange Is the New Black’s Nick Sandow, and Houses’s Kal Penn, which should give us a good character dynamic.

Good balance between past and present events.

The flashbacks bring us back to the film, but they don’t overwhelm the show. It looks like we will be following a weekly case formula, which could be very effective with a show like this. I thought that the new mystery was disturbing enough and Clarice stepped into her new assignment well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of CBS

Nothing truly unique going on here.

While I thought that the pacing worked well for the opening episode, this show can quickly become stale and forgettable. The problem with it airing on a network like this, is that it becomes lost in the shuffle of every other crime show. I have seen plenty of television series premieres based on films and eventually, they run out of steam.

I think that Clarice has to pick up the pace and do something really different to keep us invested or it could find its way on the cancellation chopping block…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of CBS

I’m in about 75 percent…

This show was really not bad at all. I think that some critics are being a little hard on it. The pacing worked and I thought that the moody flashbacks were necessary to remind us about the actual premise of this show.

I really want to like this show because I like Rebecca Breeds and I think it has the potential to do well, but it needs to step away from the crime drama formula and give us a lot more. I’m invested for now, but that could quickly change if nothing too drastic happens. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we will get there!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Sister” on Hulu: Bone-Chilling Twists

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

“Things that go bump in the night…”

The Sister premiered on January 22nd 2021 on Hulu. The limited series originally was released on ITV back in October. There are four episodes in total for the mini-series. The show stars Russell Tovey, Bertie Carvel, Amrita Acharia,and Nina Toussaint-White. Each episode runs for approximately 45 minutes.

Based on the Neil Cross novel, Burial, this mystery crime thriller follows Nathan, who gets an unwelcomed blast from his past when Bob shows up on his doorstep, as past secrets unravel and dangerous decisions are made.

Here is the trailer:

The Sister presents us with a premise that initially seems quite easy to solve, but the slow burn approach and jumbled pieces of the puzzle present us with chilling reveals that will continue to haunt you after the show is over. Neil Cross is the creator of the show, Luther, but does he also deliver with The Sister? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Edge of your seat thrills and reveals.

Similar to some of the Harlan Coben series I enjoy, The Sister was very strategic at creating a slow burn approach to revealing the mystery weaved into Nathan and Holly’s lives. While it took a while to get there, once the pieces of the puzzle came together, I was on the edge of my seat and I could not stop watching, which is what I wanted to get out of this series.

Images courtesy of Hulu

Bob is one of the creepiest characters I have seen in a long time.

From the voice, to his demeanor and then oh yeah…he’s an expert on all things paranormal and researches them. At first, I almost didn’t buy the fact that Nathan would partner up with him at all, but as the reveals were presented to us in past flashbacks, things started to make more sense.

Bob’s character may seem jarring and off-putting initially, but he quickly transforms into someone who is beyond creepy. The performances were really great in this show, but it’s not easy nailing this vibe without overdoing it.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Slow moving at first.

The first episode was intriguing, but I almost felt slightly frustrated because I wanted to know more right away. There are only four episodes and you may be wondering if the reveals are actually worth it from the first episode.

Well, they are! While I admit that I was kind of on the fence during the first episode and slightly worried, I quickly changed my tune as the rest of the mystery unraveled. The reveals are rewarding, but if slow burn thrillers aren’t your cup of tea, then you might want to move on.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in!

This show was so chilling and well done. I could not stop watching it and the final scene still has me on edge. The slow burn approach really worked, presenting us with a mystery that will have you questioning everything. I highly recommend this show if you enjoy mystery thrillers.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Wilds” on Prime Video: So Much More than a “LOST” Rip-Off

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

“We should have died, but we didn’t…”

The Wilds premiered on Amazon Prime Video on December 11th 2020 with ten episodes available to stream now. The series stars Sarah Pidgeon, Mia Healey, Sophia Ali, Reign Edwards, and Rachel Griffiths. Each episode runs for approximately 50-55 minutes.

The show is about a group of teenage girls who end up stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes.

Sound familiar? Well, it certainly screams LOST with its premise, but the twists and reveals lead us down a unique path that begs to be explored.

Here is the trailer:

The Wilds attempts to find a balance between mystery and survival while exploring the past of each stranded girl with flashbacks. While I can’t dismiss the similarities between both shows, does The Wilds do enough to stand apart from LOST? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Believable characters with layers.

When I first started watching this show, I was worried that these girls would quickly blend into uninspiring stock characters. The party girl, the Christian girl, the athlete, the outcast…

The list seemed to be all there and yet each and every one of these characters took that stereotype and stomped on it completely, revealing what truly makes them tick. Each character has struggled in some way or another, but their journey really helped shape them into characters to root for, which is important in a show like this.

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Quickly forms its own identity with addicting and intense reveals.

While the first episode will really make you think of LOST and Lord of the Flies, the show quickly finds its footing and actually lures us into an enticing mystery that is very different. The twists were well placed and each reveal pulled me in that much more, which made this binge-watch friendly.

The episodes were almost an hour and I didn’t even mind because I was so hooked.

And that ending…wow!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

The trailer doesn’t do this show justice…

From the trailer, I thought that I was going to watch a LOST rip-off with a lot of teenage melodrama. Instead, I got a thought-provoking emotional thrill ride that may have been one of the best things I have watched in a long time.

This show could have easily gone a different way and instead it really surprised me. If you were thinking about skipping the show from the trailer alone, you should give it a try because it exceeded my expectations and then some.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in 100 percent!

This series was so addicting, but it also really dived deep into some emotionally stirring moments that created important layers for the show. Similar to why I love LOST so much, this show was about so much more than being stranded on an island after a plane crash. It was about character connections and moments of both strength and weakness colliding.

I loved this show so much and I am beyond excited that it already got picked up for season two because I need to know what happens next after that major cliffhanger!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Walking Dead: World Beyond” on AMC: Walkers are now Empties

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

“We’re monuments to the past…but we are the future.”

The Walking Dead: World Beyond is the latest series in TWD universe. It will run for a limited time with two seasons, featuring 20 episodes in total. World Beyond stars Aliyah Royale, Nico Tortorella, and Alexa Mansour.

This series centers around a live-in compound where two sisters decide to explore life outside the walls in order to track down their long lost father, introducing them to threats and reveals along the way.

Here is the trailer:

If you are a fan of TWD, then you may be super excited to get another series added to the lineup of TWD (now approaching its 11th final season) and Fear TWD, which just started its sixth season, but we also know that there is a Rick Grimes film series coming our way and apparently a Daryl and Carol spin-off, so it may seem like the zombie apocalypse is never-ending.

The Walking Dead: World Beyond presents us with a young-adult centered cast, but does it do enough to keep you coming back for more? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of AMC

Connection to the three circles.

If you have been watching TWD, then you know there are a lot of questions and theories surrounding the mysterious three circle symbol. We get this talk about someone being an “A” or a “B” on TWD and Fear TWD has also featured a full episode devoted to this symbol so it is coming up again in World Beyond, which might give us more information and reveals to connect the dots.

Compelling flashbacks.

The flashbacks we witness are violent, raw, and emotional. I thought that they had the most action and deserved even more screen time. Sometimes you can learn everything you need to know about a character from them and we also get this somewhat interesting link between two of the main characters.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of AMC

Having a young-adult focus is not enough.

There are certain shows that have really nailed the young adult vibe. Teenagers are thrown into the apocalypse and have to deal with this threat while handling their own issues. Shows that have done this well are Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Stranger Things.

But why were they so successful? It’s because they balanced the far-fetched supernatural components with everyday problems while allowing us to see all sides of the characters. The characters were far from perfect, but it worked and it gave the premise an authentic quality even in the midst of fantasy.

While this show has the set-up to follow this same formula, it is not connecting. Sending a group of teens on a mission needs more. Think of classic films like The Goonies and Stand by Me. There is humor and incredible bonds that form along the journey.

I’m not saying that World Beyond can’t get there, but it’s off to a slow start…

Images courtesy of AMC

Uninspiring characters.

The acting isn’t bad on this show. In fact, I’m a big fan of Nico Tortorella (Younger, Scream 4, The Following). However, the characters are just kind of blah. The sister bond isn’t grabbing me the way it should and even when Nico’s character starts having an emotional dialogue during episode 2, it was a snooze fest.

If I don’t care about the characters, I don’t care if the “empties” snack on them.

There’s still room for character growth, but I am losing interest.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of AMC

Unfortunately I’m out on this one.

I am a long-time devoted fan of TWD franchise and I have watched every single season of TWD and Fear TWD even through its ups and downs, but I don’t want this to feel like a chore and so far it has felt that way.

Connecting the three circle mystery is not enough to keep this show going. While I appreciate that it will only run for a limited amount of time, there just isn’t enough going on to bring me in.

When I think back to the earlier seasons and even the pilot episodes of both TWD and Fear TWD, I remember being on the edge of my seat and completely shocked. That didn’t happen here. I think that perhaps the show should have started off with the earlier flashback to lure the viewer in, but there was not enough going on in either of the first two episodes to hold my attention.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

READ IF YOU DARE…

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Spoiler-Free Review of Harlan Coben’s “The Woods” on Netflix

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

If you thoroughly enjoyed your watches of The Stranger and Safe, Harlan Coben’s latest crime thriller series is out for you to binge-watch now.

The Woods is a Polish series that premiered on Netflix on June 12th 2020. It features 6 episodes (45-50 minutes in length) and it stars Grzegorz Damiecki, Agnieszka Grochowska, Hubert Milkowski, and Wiktoria Filus. The series is available with subtitles or dubbed in English.

Like the addicting and binge-watch worthy The Stranger and Safe, The Woods is also brought to us from author and creator, Harlan Coben. It is a mystery thriller that centers around Pawel Kopinski. Twenty-five years ago, Pawel’s sister went missing, along with three other teens from their summer camp, but new evidence comes to light, suggesting that the case may not be shut just yet.

This show has the potential to fulfill your craving for a new mystery thriller, but does The Woods measure up to The Stranger and Safe? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Woods Netflix 1 — Images courtesy of Netflix

A mystery that immediately pulls you in.

Much like with The Stranger and Safe, Harlan Coben is a genius at bringing us into a crime filled world with secrets and reveals at every corner. The mystery surrounding Pawel’s missing sister is a compelling one. It hooks you onto the show and keeps you guessing until the very end, which is what I expect these shows to do.

The Woods Netflix 2 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Ship-worthy chemistry.

Don’t get me wrong, the series is a crime thriller mystery, but I absolutely loved the chemistry between Pawel and Laura. They fell in love twenty-five years ago and when they meet up in the present, you could just feel the passion between them once again. Sure, they don’t really have too much time to dwell on this, but it helped me connect with the characters more and I thought their performances were believable and well done.

The Woods Netflix 3 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Seamless flashbacks.

It’s not easy pulling off flashbacks that advance the plot, but I thought that they worked extremely well in this particular series. I was actually more interested in the flashbacks than present day events and I thought that they freed us up from the slower pace at times. The character dynamics were great and you really felt the terror and anxiety rushing through each character as secrets were revealed.

The Cons:

The Woods Netflix 4 — Images courtesy of Netflix

Slow pace.

The series is only six episodes and each episode isn’t terribly long, but the series had a tendency to drag in many places. The monotonous music and dull lighting didn’t help at times as I had to keep forcing myself to pay attention. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of moments where you will focus on what is going on completely, but I was just hoping for a faster pace like with The Stranger and Safe and I didn’t really get that here.

Too many sub-plots.

If you have read my reviews on The Stranger and Safe, then you know that I often comment on the multiple sub-plots throughout these series. However, they seemed to stick out even more in The Woods because of the slower pace.

We get this present day case that Pawel is working on and I’m not even sure what actually happened with it because it steered off course too much. While many of the sub-plots make sense later on and add to the mystery, they could be extremely overwhelming and unnecessary at times.

So am I in or out?

The Woods Netflix 6 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m about 50/50 on this one. The series is only six episodes long so it does make a good weekend binge-watch, but I wouldn’t necessarily move it up to the top of your list just yet.

Perhaps I set my expectations a little bit too high here. I adored both The Stranger and Safe and I was counting the days up until the release of this series. While The Woods does deliver as a compelling mystery that will keep you guessing, it lacks in a lot of other areas and is just kind of OK overall.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Woods in the comments section below. You can check out my review of The Stranger here! Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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