Spoiler-Free Review of “The Lake” Season Two on Prime Video: Julia Stiles Steals the Show!

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

“Let’s just throw caution to the wind…”

The Lake (season two) premiered on Prime Video on June 9th 2023. All eight episodes are available to stream now. The Canadian dramedy series stars Julia Stiles, Jordan Gavaris, Madison Shamoun, Lauren Holly, and Terry Chen. Each episode runs for approximately 28-35 minutes.

Billie returns to the lake for the summer to visit her biological father, who is dealing with figuring out the future of his relationship with Riley while Maisy tries to cope with her mother’s recent news.

Here is the trailer:

The Lake (season one) was a fun and quick summer series that flew under the radar, but does season two measure up? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

All hail, Julia Stiles!

She felt a little overbearing and over-the-top in season one, but season two actually allows the audience to get a glimpse into what makes Maisy tick and I thought she was a lot more fun and likable this time around. “Crazy May” is a scene stealer and had me crying from laughing so hard.

I’m a fan of Julia Stiles and I’d love to see her in more because she is so talented and she wasn’t afraid to go all out in this role and it paid off.

More please!

Adding in Lauren Holly as her mother (Mimsy) was a brilliant choice as well and the banter between them is pure gold.

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Allows supporting characters to get some layers and screen time.

Season one was primarily about Justin and Billie, but season two allowed each character a chance to shine. Even though this show is mostly silly and fun, it also has a lot of heartwarming moments in it as well, which helped me connect to all of the characters that much more.

Stand-out episodes.

Much like season one, I had a few episodes that I absolutely LOVED from season two and they were top-notch from start to finish. Don’t miss episodes 3, 6, and 8. They are so much fun and well worth a watch.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Missing some of the charm from the first season.

I actually really enjoyed season two and I think it did a good job of continuing the story for these characters, but the setting felt like it was more in the background this time. Season one really focused on what it meant to live at the lake for the summer and it made the vignette style episodes that much more fun. 

Season two still had glimmers of that, but it also shifted its focus a few times to a mystery that took up the entire season. The show felt more like a traditional dramedy this time around, which was fine, but I personally liked the quirky summer-camp feel of the first season a little more.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in about 75 percent…

The Lake season two welcomes us back to the summer season with lots of laughs and key moments for our beloved characters that shouldn’t be missed.

If you enjoyed season one, there is plenty to like about season two. This series isn’t perfect, but it still manages to keep us coming back to the lake for more.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

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

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

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 “Orphan: First Kill” on Paramount+: A Bloody Entertaining Prequel

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

“She is an exceptional con artist…”

Orphan: First Kill released in theaters and on Paramount+ on August 19th 2022. The horror film stars Isabelle Fuhrman, Julia Stiles, Matthew Finlan, and Rossif Sutherland. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-eight minutes.

In the prequel to the fantastic film, Orphan (2009), we discover what happened to Esther when she first traveled to America to impersonate the missing daughter of a wealthy family.

Here is the trailer:

Orphan: First Kill tells an origin story that is bloody and brutal, reminding us just how twisted Esther can be. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

All hail Isabelle Fuhrman!

She was absolutely fantastic in the original film (which I re-watched last weekend) and she was EXCEPTIONAL in the prequel. It couldn’t have been easy for her to reprise this role so many years later and there were some workarounds behind the scenes to execute this seamlessly, but I thought she was magnetic on screen and so twisted!

Julia Stiles was really great too and I’m so glad I am seeing her in more stuff lately. If you haven’t checked out The Lake on Prime yet, she’s very entertaining in that one too. I’ve missed her and I thought she was so much fun to watch in this one! 

 
Images courtesy of Paramount+

Bloodier this time around!

The opening scene was out of this world and I loved that this film felt more bloody and violent. I really enjoyed the first film, but it mostly built up around that intense twist. This one really allowed Esther to shine in such a diabolical way and it really worked, making this a fantastic prequel.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

The twist didn’t have the same punch…

Don’t get me wrong, it was a solid twist and I really thought that the writers made a valiant effort with it to keep us entertained and invested. I liked it and thought it worked just fine, but I don’t think that anything could have measured up to the twist in the first film, which almost caused me to fall out of my seat in shock.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Paramount+

I’m in!!!

Esther is back and better than ever in this clever and twisted prequel!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Orphan: First Kill 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!