Spoiler-Free Review of “Love & Death” on HBO Max: Candy Returns…

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

“I will drag you through this…”

Love & Death premiered on HBO Max on April 27th 2023 with three episodes available to stream now. There will be seven episodes in total that will air weekly. The limited drama series (based on the true story of Candy Montgomery) stars Elizabeth Olsen, Jesse Plemons, Krysten Ritter, Lily Rabe, and Tom Pelphrey. Each episode runs for approximately 54-58 minutes.

Just less than a year later, we get another rendition of the true crime story involving Candy Montgomery and her best friend, Betty Gore.

Here is the trailer:

Love & Death brings us another talented leading lady and a chilling case, but did we really need another series on this crime so soon? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Talented cast.

I’m a big fan of Elizabeth Olsen and the rest of the cast is very talented as well, which almost makes me want to re-watch a series that I’ve already seen again just to see their take on things.

Fantastic soundtrack and vibe.

The music may be the best part of this series. It has been transporting me back in time seamlessly. I love the fashion and overall vibe as well. Even though I’m familiar with the plot and the ultimate outcome, I think I have been enjoying these aspects more in this series over Candy.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m not sure we really need this series…

If you haven’t seen Candy yet on Hulu, you’ll probably get more out of this series. Since I did watch that series less than a year ago, I feel like I already know everything that’s going to happen and I’m not sure that this series is doing anything that new or different this time around.

Also, as much as I love Elizabeth Olsen, I think I preferred Jessica Biel’s grittier portrayal. Elizabeth Olsen still seems so elegant and charming so I’m not sure she was the perfect match for this particular role. That being said, she’s still absolutely wonderful and talented. I’d watch her in pretty much anything…

The pacing is really sluggish so far. Candy only had five episodes and I was weighed down by that pacing as well, so having more episodes this time around that are longer is already problematic for me…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in about 75 percent…

Elizabeth Olsen puts forth a valiant effort here and this is a fascinating case to see unfold on the screen, but the timing of this series seems odd and unnecessary. I’m in for now, but I’m hoping to see some drastic changes to keep me invested.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Love & Death 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 “The Last of Us” on HBO Max: A Solid Start

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

“You are all that matters…”

The Last of Us released on HBO Max on January 15th 2023 with the premiere episode. There will be nine episodes in total that will air weekly. Based on the video game of the same name, the post-apocalyptic drama stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Anna Torv. Each episode runs for approximately 45-80 minutes.

Joel embarks on a dangerous journey across post-outbreak America with a girl named Ellie.

Here is the trailer:

The Last of Us is a worthy video-game adaptation filled with dangerous threats and heart-wrenching emotions. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Exceptional cast.

I’m a fan of Pedro Pascal and already he is leading this show in such a powerful way. His character has plenty of layers and trauma to deal with, making him a character to root for and then some. His bond with other characters is also effective as well, bringing us plenty of emotional moments that were actually really believable in a series premiere, which is not always easy to do when the audience hasn’t fully connected to everything yet.

I was super excited to see Fringe’s Anna Torv in this, who is no stranger to playing a complete bad-ass so I’m excited to see more.

Bold start.

I love a series that is not afraid to do something unexpected and shocking (even though fans of the video game will understand what is going on from the start). Either way, I thought this was such a strong premiere and it did plenty to keep fans of the video game franchise happy, while still providing enough content for viewers who may not be as familiar with the plot.

The Cons:

Jam-packs in a lot.

From time jumps to new characters to everything in-between, the premiere is really overstuffed with so much and felt like more of a movie at times. The series needs to be careful otherwise it may start to feel like every other post-apocalyptic show that has aired already. I think that it has enough heart and content to separate itself for now, but we’ll have to see how this develops as the episodes continue.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

It’s been a while since I saw such a strong premiere episode for a television series and it’s safe to say that The Last of Us is heading in the right direction!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” on HBO Max: A Teen Slasher Series done right!

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

“You can’t ignore the past forever…”

Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin premiered on HBO Max on July 28th 2022. The teen mystery drama series (based on Pretty Little Liars) stars Bailee Madison, Chandler Kinney, Maia Reficco, Malia Pyles, and Mallory Bechtel. There are three episodes available to stream now. The remaining seven episodes will air weekly. Each episode runs for approximately 50-52 minutes.

After a tragic event twenty years ago, a group of friends are targeted by A, connecting the past to the present.

Here is the trailer:

Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin may be the most entertaining spin-off series yet, as it gives fans of the original show plenty to be excited about with a clever slasher spin. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

The slasher spin is genius!

I absolutely loved the original Pretty Little Liars series and looked forward to coming up with crazy theories about A every week. I watched both spin-off series after that and was really excited about this new series.

The other series all focused on a teen mystery and so does this one, but it has a slasher vibe that will remind you more of Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. A is still sneaky with the signature unknown texts and secret messages, but they are also a lot more brutal this time around and I am personally loving every second of it!

The past and present timelines are both interesting!

Similar to Yellowjackets, this new spin-off series does a good job of presenting us with an addicting mystery surrounding two timelines. Sometimes when shows go down this route, I prefer one timeline to the other, but so far I am invested in both and I am curious about how everything connects even though some parallels seem fairly obvious so far.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

The characters need some work…

I’m not really connecting to any of the characters yet, which is slightly disappointing. I loved the characters in the original series and we have some potential here, but I think that we need to learn more about everyone. So far we are spending a lot of time on two of the potential leads of the series, but I want to get to know everyone else too so that I care about what happens to them.

The forced pop culture and movie references are also a little nauseating at times. I get that the show is trying to be relevant, but it is a bit much so far.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in!

This show is really addicting and I am loving the slasher style! It’s not easy pulling off a reboot or spin-off, but so far this series is headed in the right direction and I can’t wait to watch more!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A Halloween they’ll never forget…

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 “Irma Vep” on HBO Max: Alicia Vikander is Mesmerizing on Screen

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

“I need a good movie…”

Irma Vep is a new limited series based on the 1996 film of the same name. The series premiered on June 6th 2022 on HBO Max with the first episode available to stream now. There will be eight episodes in total that will release weekly. Irma vep stars Alicia Vikander, Byron Bowers, Tom Sturridge, and Adria Arjona. Each episode runs for approximately 52-55 minutes.

An American actress lands a role in a modern remake of the series, “Les Vampires,” as she battles some of her own insecurities after a bad breakup.

Here is the trailer:

Irma Vep may be an unusual watch, but it is also a fascinating one with a captivating lead. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Alicia Vikander is incredible!

I already liked her as an actress, but she really pulls you in with this series. She commands the screen whenever she’s on it and this series is no exception. I think she was made for this role and the cat-suit looks phenomenal on her. I can’t wait to see what she does next. She is the best part of this series!

A unique watch.

This series is very different and I don’t even really know how to describe it. That being said, there are elements of humor blended in, along with some drama (on and off screen). The series also channels the vibe of a seductive crime thriller, which has the potential to be brilliant. The show takes a real look at movies behind the scenes and makes it relevant in the year 2022 to give this series a unique upgrade.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Confusing at times…

Even though I think there is an unusual charm to this one, I felt a bit lost at times. I am not too familiar with the 1996 film so perhaps I need to watch that first to get a better understanding, but there were a lot of moving pieces here and it was overwhelming.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in!

A stylish and unique series that reels you in for more and more.

Even though I was a bit lost at times, Alicia Vikander was striking on screen and there were enough interesting things happening to keep me intrigued for now.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Irma Vep 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 Time Traveler’s Wife” on HBO Max: Love is Complicated

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

“Why is love intensified by absence?”

The Time Traveler’s Wife premiered on HBO Max on May 15th 2022. There will be six episodes in total that will air weekly. Based on the novel and the film of the same name, the romantic drama series stars Rose Leslie, Theo James, Kate Siegel, and Everleigh McDonell. Each episode runs for approximately 53-56 minutes.

Clare and Henry are deeply in love, but their marriage becomes complicated due to time travel.

Here is the trailer:

The Time Traveler’s Wife has a likable cast and a romantic story, but does it do anything to set itself apart from the film? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Endearing leads…

I really like both of these actors and I think they are doing a good job with their portrayals so far. I’m lacking a little bit of chemistry but I think we’ll get there eventually. Hopefully sooner than later…

The Cons:

There’s nothing new here…

My biggest issue with this series is that it isn’t doing anything new or original to set itself apart from the film. I enjoyed the film and when I saw that this series was coming out I was a little skeptical because I don’t think we really need six episodes devoted to this same story.

I’m sure we will will develop things more in this series and the characters have potential, but I’m not invested just yet.

Complicated!

If you haven’t read the book or seen the film, you will feel completely lost watching this. The series jumps right into things and expects the audience to understand what’s going on. This is problematic and chaotic at times. My head was spinning just trying to keep track of which Clare and Henry we were watching.

So am I in or out?

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

There’s nothing really wrong with this series, but I just felt like I was re-watching the film with different actors. If we’re going to get a new series then I want it to explore something else to keep the audience entertained.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Time Traveler’s Wife 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 “The Staircase” on HBO Max: Colin Firth and Toni Collette star in the latest true crime dramatization

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

“She fell down the stairs…”

The Staircase premiered on HBO Max on May 5th 2022 with the first three episodes available to stream now. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly. The crime drama series stars Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Sophie Turner, Parker Posey, Olivia DeJonge and Patrick Schwarzenegger. Each episode runs for approximately 60-65 minutes.

Based on the true story of Michael Peterson and the suspicious death of his wife, this true crime dramatization presents us with different angles of the story.

Here is the trailer:

The Staircase has an all-star cast, but is there enough new content here to keep its audience captivated? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Top-notch ensemble.

I expected Colin Firth and Toni Collette to be brilliant. They are pretty much brilliant in everything so that’s a given but I was really impressed by some of the other performances. The siblings really gave believable performances and I thought that everyone added something necessary and meaningful with their roles.

Solid mystery.

If you’re familiar with the crime and the original documentary series of the same name, then you know what to expect here. However, if you’re coming into this one with fresh eyes, you may get a lot more out of it because the mystery is a decent one.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Slow moving and stale at times…

The performances definitely helped matters, but I struggled through these episodes. The opening was pretty strong, but then things started to move at a much slower pace. The episodes are super long so it was difficult to hold my attention at times.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in about 75 percent…

The Staircase delivers with wonderful performances, but it has some serious pacing issues and I’m not sure it will be able to give us the satisfying ending we are looking for based on the outcome of the case. If you’re familiar with the original documentary series, you can probably skip it, although there are some decent moments sprinkled in.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Staircase 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 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 Baby” on HBO Max: A new horror comedy with potential

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

“It’s a lot all the time…forever…”

The Baby premiered on HBO and HBO Max on April 24th 2022 with its first episode. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly. The horror comedy series stars Michelle de Swarte, Amira Ghazalla, Shvorne Marks, Patrice Naiambana and Isy Suttie. Each episode runs for approximately 30 minutes.

Natasha starts to feel isolated and frustrated when all of her closest friends begin having babies. Soon after, she gets an unexpected bundle of joy thrown her way, which may be completely evil.

Here is the trailer:

The Baby introduces us to a child that is far from innocent while tackling the very real issues of motherhood. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A likable female lead.

Natasha is quirky and sarcastic. She doesn’t get the obsession over babies, which makes her latest circumstances that much more amusing. Already I am really liking her as a character and I’m looking forward to watching her on this horror filled journey.

The balance between horror comedy and the frightening aspects of motherhood works…

Much like Starz’s horror comedy, Shining Vale (which I absolutely loved), The Baby also balances out its horror comedy with something real and relatable. It prevents the horror content from becoming stale because this is obviously a recycled plot, but it’s bringing something new to the table with its approach.

The Cons:

Do we have enough content for eight episodes?

I like the idea and so far it’s a lot of fun, but I don’t know if there is enough here for eight episodes yet. That being said, I’m all for giving it a chance because I really liked the premiere and I think we have a lot of potential here.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

I love that we’re seeing more horror comedies in the mix and I think this series has some real potential. I’m looking forward to the remaining episodes and hopefully we’ll get some delightfully wicked surprises along the way!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

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 “The Flight Attendant” Season 2 on HBO Max: Cassie is back and better than ever!

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

“Hi, I’m Cassie…I’m still a flight attendant…”

The Flight Attendant season two premiered on HBO Max on April 21st 2022 with two new episodes. Season two will feature 8 episodes (airing weekly) in total. It stars Kaley Cuoco, Rosie Perez, and Zosia Mamet. Each episode runs for approximately 45-48 minutes.

Cassie is still a flight attendant, but a lot has changed for her. She has given up drinking and found a new love interest, but she is now also working as a CIA asset when she winds up in the middle of another horrific crime…

Here is the trailer:

The Flight Attendant quickly became one of my favorite series after season one aired and I have been anxiously waiting for season two to arrive. Will it live up to the hype? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Flight Attendant season 2 spoiler free 1 — Images courtesy of HBO Max

Kaley Cuoco’s character is still a lovable wacky mess!

Even though our girl seems to have her life in order, she’s still Cassie. The quirky charm is there and we get tons of hilarious moments already. I think this is Kaley Cuoco’s best performance to date and she is shining on the screen once again in the best way possible. Plus, I think I may have to change my ringtone to match hers…

More please!

The mystery is a good one!

I was really worried that season two would not be able to match season one and even though I still have six episodes to go, I’m already completely hooked! The new mystery will have you suspecting everyone and I already have an outrageous theory that I’m holding on to for now. We’ll see how it plays out…

Returning faves and some new characters with potential!

I was super psyched to see some of my favorite characters from season one return for season two and hopefully they will get some more screen time because everyone on this show is fantastic.

We also get introduced to some new characters that have potential, but I’m not sure who to trust just yet…

Either way, I’m intrigued!

The Cons:

Starts off a little slow…

Don’t get me wrong, I was completely hooked by the time we got to the end of the first episode, but it took a little while to get there. I was slightly worried that the show had run out of steam during the first twenty minutes or so, but things took a drastic turn for greatness so hang in there if you’re unsure!

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!

Season two is already living up to my expectations and then some! Cassie is such a fun character and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

If you haven’t started watching this show yet, now’s your chance!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Flight Attendant 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 “Tokyo Vice” on HBO Max: A Noir Crime Drama to be Excited About!

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

“I want to report on what really happens…”

Tokyo Vice is a new crime drama series inspired by the true story of journalist, Jake Adelstein. The series premiered on April 7th 2022 on HBO Max with the first three episodes available to stream now. There will be eight episodes in total. Tokyo Vice stars Ansel Elgort, Ken Watanabe, Rachel Keller and Shô Kasamatsu. Each episode runs for approximately 58-60 minutes.

An American journalist living in Japan attempts to find his big story when he finds himself working undercover with the Tokyo Vice squad to expose the yakuza.

Here is the trailer:

Tokyo Vice effortlessly blends a stylish crime noir with a riveting tale of self-discovery, but is it worthty of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Top notch performances!

I love Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe is perfection. I thought that all of the performances were really extraordinary. This type of slow burn crime drama can become dull, but the little moments in between and the portrayals shown to the audience make it anything but. The performances elevate the series that much more, giving us characters to root for.

An incredible story.

I didn’t really know what to expect with this series going into it, but it surprised me in the best way possible. This is such a gripping story and it pulls you in right from the start. The pilot episode was really strong and the other episodes have been doing a decent job of keeping my attention. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

The Cons:

Some character development needed.

I think that we will get there soon and we have seen some flickers of it already, but I want to know a lot more about some of the characters. I also want to know more about certain things but I need to wait for the events to catch up. This isn’t necessarily a con but I’m hoping that the pacing keeps up because this show is really incredible so far.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

A stylish gripping crime series that I can’t stop watching!

I highly recommend that you give this series a try even if it doesn’t seem like your cup of tea. The performances are incredible and the story is actually really interesting!

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

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “DMZ” on HBO Max: Rosario Dawson takes on a Dystopian world

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

“People at their worst…”

DMZ premiered on March 17th 2022 on HBO Max with all four episodes available to stream now. Based on the graphic novel, the action-drama series stars Rosario Dawson, Benjamin Bratt, Hoon Lee, Mamie Gummer, and Freddy Miyares. Each episode runs for approximately 58-60 minutes.

After a civil war breaks out in the United States, a medic searches for her long-lost son in a very dangerous New York City.

Here is the trailer:

DMZ has a strong female lead and a story with heart, but is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Rosario Dawson puts forth a valiant effort.

I really like Rosario Dawson as an actress and she is probably the main reason why I tuned into this series. I thought that she was really believable and it was easy to root for her. Even though I have seen this type of story/journey before, I think that she brought a lot of layers to her character.

The personal angle worked.

I am not too familiar with the graphic novel, but I liked that there was a lot of heart in this series. The emotional journey kept me invested until the end and there were a lot of other characters with compelling backstories as well. It was a little depressing at times, but there were some real moments sprinkled in that worked.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Too many things going on…

This series felt really rushed. I understand that it had some setbacks during the pandemic, but it needed more episodes to really flesh things out. There were a lot of interesting concepts but we didn’t get enough time to explore things properly.

I also wanted to know more about the dystopian world, but there was so much jam-packed into four episodes, which was really overwhelming at times.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in about 75 percent…

I love Rosario Dawson in pretty much anything and I think she really elevated this series. There’s a lot of good content here, but it’s also a plot I’ve seen a hundred times before and I’m not sure it did anything that new or unique.

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

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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