Spoiler-Free Review of “Devil in Ohio” on Netflix: YA Cult Mystery with a Strong Lead

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

“She tries to save everyone…”

Devil in Ohio released on Netflix on September 2nd 2022 with eight episodes available to stream now. Based on the novel of the same name, the mystery thriller limited series stars Emily Deschanel, Madeleine Arthur, Sam Jaeger, Xaria Dotson, and Gerardo Celasco. Each episode runs for approximately 42-46 minutes.

A psychiatrist tries to help a young girl who has escaped from a cult, putting herself and her family in great danger.

Here is the trailer:

Devil in Ohio creates a chilling tone throughout the series as it draws you deeper into its mystery, but does it do enough to be worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Great to see Emily Deschanel on the small screen again!

The former star of Bones really shined in this series and gave a believable and heartfelt performance. The rest of the cast was great as well and I liked that each character had enough layers. I would have liked to have seen a little more from both Mae and Suzanne’s past, but it’s not always easy adapting a series from a novel and perhaps I’ll go back and read that to learn more about them.

A mystery that lures you in…

I was drawn in right away on this one and I thought that each episode did enough to hook the audience more and more. The story was a good one and I thought it had a decent balance of YA and family drama along with the cult mystery behind it.

The Cons:

Needed a darker edge at times…

Since this was based on a YA novel, it glazed over a lot of the darker cult aspects that I actually wanted to explore more. We definitely got sprinkles of just how twisted and disturbing the cult was, but I wanted to witness something even more shocking and terrifying. It just needed to dig a little bit deeper.

The pacing was also a little slow at times, but I still thought there was enough going on to bring me back with each episode.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

The series had a lot of potential and the mystery was genuinely unsettling and creepy. I liked the characters for the most part, but I just wanted this series to transform into something a little bit more mature and dark to fully captivate my attention. Overall, I enjoyed my watch, however.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Devil in Ohio 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!

**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 “Keep Breathing” on Netflix: Melissa Barrera’s Survival Drama has its Moments

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

“I don’t give up…”

Keep Breathing premiered on Netflix on July 28th 2022. All six episodes are available to stream now. The survival drama limited series stars Melissa Barrera, Austin Stowell, Jeff Wilbusch, and Juan Pablo Espinosa. Each episode runs for approximately 32-35 minutes.

After her private plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness, Liv must find a way to survive as she copes with her past personal traumas during her journey.

Here is the trailer:

Keep Breathing has plenty of intense moments built in with a believable performance from Melissa Barrera, but does it do enough to earn a a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Melissa Barrera gives an emotional performance.

I’ve seen a lot of survival dramas and thrillers and it’s far from easy to carry an entire film or series when you’re basically on your own. Melissa Barrera manages to captivate her audience with a heartfelt performance that redeemed this series in a lot of ways. Even the quiet moments felt real and made an impact. I enjoyed her in Scream (2022), but she took things to another level and really showed her range in this series.

I hope to see her in more things soon!

Images courtesy of Netflix

The survival moments were really intense.

The episodes were on the shorter side which helped things, but I thoroughly enjoyed the survival moments during this series. I was actually on the edge of my seat quite a few times (especially in the beginning) and I thought the series really captured the trial and error parts of survival effectively. This was the most interesting part of the series for me and I was rooting for Liv the entire time.

The setting was also really beautiful and I think the series captured it well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

The flashbacks made the series drag at times…

I totally understand the point of the flashbacks. Liv is trying to survive in a scenario that seems almost impossible and starts to think about her past and why she is trying to stay alive now. Even though the episodes were short, I often felt like I was watching this series for a long time.

Things just moved way too slow, which was really frustrating. The content was also really heavy and emotional. That’s not necessarily a con, but it didn’t help the pace when I was connecting more to other parts of the series.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in about 75 percent…

I enjoyed my watch for the most part and was genuinely moved. I thought Melissa Barrera did a great job, but I don’t think that all the pieces came together seamlessly to make this into the entertaining watch I really wanted it to be.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

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

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Angelyne” on Peacock: Emmy Rossum is Mesmerizing!

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

“I am not a woman…I am an icon.”

Angelyne premiered on Peacock on May 19th 2022 with five episodes available to stream now. The drama series based on a true story stars Emmy Rossum, Max Allen, Martin Freeman, and Hamish Linklater. Each episode runs for approximately 45-48 minutes.

We learn about the mysterious Angelyne and how she rose to fame by appearing on billboards in the 1980’s.

Here is the trailer:

Angelyne uses a fake documentary style to tell the story of this female icon with a talented lead and a fascinating story. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

All hail Emmy Rossum!

I am already a huge fan of Emmy Rossum and she is the main reason why I tuned into this series, but wow did she surprise me with her performance! She completely transformed herself. She was so convincing and captivating on screen. The rest of the cast did a decent job as well, but she was the star for good reason and she did such a brilliant job with her portrayal. I think she honestly deserves an Emmy nomination.

Stunning!

Fun vignette style.

I really loved the way the episodes were done. Each episode told a different part of the story with someone who was a part of Angelyne’s life at one point or another. It was interesting seeing different perspectives. The episodes were light and fun, but they also covered some emotional content as well. I liked that the episodes didn’t reveal too much and let the audience decide who was telling the truth. It paid respect to the real Angelyne, maintaining her mysterious allure.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

I wanted more!

Normally I like seeing only five or six episodes in a series so that I can get through it quickly. However, when this limited series ended, I immediately wanted more! I became a fan and now I want to see more adventures involving Angelyne!

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in!

A stylish and captivating watch from start to finish! Emmy Rossum is perfection!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

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

Scream Hunt is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Anatomy of a Scandal” on Netflix: A Guilty Pleasure Binge-Watch with a Twist

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

“It meant nothing…”

Anatomy of a Scandal is a new limited series drama from Big Little Lies creator, David E. Kelley. It released on April 15th 2022 on Netflix with all six episodes available to watch now. The series stars Sienna Miller, Rupert Friend, Naomi Scott, and Michelle Dockery. Each episode runs for approximately 44-48 minutes.

When a scandalous secret comes to light, Parliamentary Minister, James Whitehouse is put on trial, as he risks losing his job, his family, and the respect of the people.

Here is the trailer:

Anatomy of a Scandal will remind you of shows like The Undoing and Big Little Lies, but it manages to tell a new story of its own with powerful performances. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Addicting with a twist I did not see coming!

I love David E. Kelley shows, but I didn’t know if I would like this one based on the premise. I started the series Saturday morning and quickly finished it within one day because it was very easy to binge-watch and I had to know what happened next with each episode.

We also got this twist that I did not see coming. If you’re looking for your next guilty-pleasure binge-watch, you’re in the right place.

Fantastic cast.

I thought that everyone really played their part well. I liked all of the actors in this series and I was drawn in more because of their performances. Some of the scenes were a little over-the-top but I sort of expected that with this type of series. Plus, Sienna Miller’s wardrobe was incredible!

The Cons:

Weird slow-motion camera views and silly dialogue at times…

I didn’t really get the slow-motion falls throughout this series. I think that they almost glossed over the real reactions and emotions we were seeing, which wasn’t really necessary in my opinion. Some of the dialogue was painful to get through (especially in the earlier episodes) but I think this improved over the episodes or perhaps I just got used to it. The flashbacks were also done in a chaotic way and I would have liked a more seamless transition during certain ones.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

Addicting with an insane twist worth sticking around for!

If you enjoy David E. Kelley and Harlan Coben-esque series, you’ll enjoy this one as well.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Anatomy of a Scandal 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 releases on November 12th 2020! Available for pre-order! 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 “The Girl Before” on HBO Max: Erotic Thriller that will keep you Guessing

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

“It feels like it’s waiting for someone…”

The Girl Before originally premiered back in December 2021 on BBC One, but released on HBO Max on February 10th 2022. The limited series based on the book of the same name stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jessica Plummer, David Oyelowo and Ben Hardy. There are four episodes in total, which are all available to stream on HBO Max. Each episode runs for approximately 58-60 minutes.

A woman moves into a modern day dream home with an interesting set of rules, as she soon begins to unlock secrets from the past that may put her life in immediate danger.

Here is the trailer:

The Girl Before presents us with a stunning setting and a thrilling mystery that will keep you guessing. Is it worthy of your next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

An apartment to die for…

I love when a mystery/thriller series has a setting that is just as interesting and layered as the characters. The modern apartment is stunning and sleek, but it has so many interesting features and rules, which really helped generate such an unsettling vibe throughout the series.

Believable performances.

I thought that Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jessica Plummer were both so electric on screen. I felt their pain and rooted for them whenever possible. They portrayed real women in a type of thriller that didn’t stray too much from the ordinary, which made this series that much more horrifying and powerful for me.

Unpredictable.

Just when I thought I had everything figured out, this show threw me for a complete loop in the best possible way. If you’re looking for a steamy thriller that you can easily binge-watch, you’re in the right place.

I also really loved the way the story unfolded between the past and the present, which is not always easy to nail. This can sometimes become confusing, but the different timelines worked seamlessly, luring me in that much more.

The Cons:

Pacing issues at times…

The show took a little while to get going for me and had some pacing issues here and there. After a while, I was completely hooked, but I’m wondering if this might have been better suited as a movie to remove some of the excess fluff.

That being said, I think the pace picks up enough to make this very easy to binge-watch over the weekend.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

If you’re looking for your next guilty-pleasure thriller, you’ve found it! The past and present story-lines centered around the stunning piece of architecture are really intriguing and there are plenty of moments and reveals that will shock you in the best possible way.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

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

Scream Hunt is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Anxious People” on Netflix: Whodunnit Mystery with Heart

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

“Appearances can be deceptive…”

Anxious People released on December 29th 2021 on Netflix. The Swedish dramedy mystery series stars Alfred Svensson, Dan Ekborg, Carla Sehn, Marika Lagercrantz and Sascha Zacharias. The limited series features six episodes available to stream now. Each episode is approximately 25-30 minutes long.

A bank robber holds a group of strangers hostage at an open house event and then vanishes from the scene, as a father and son cop duo try to figure out what really happened.

Here is the trailer:

Anxious People has a quirky charm creating an interesting mashup of Only Murders in the Building and Nine Perfect Strangers, but is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Good balance of humor and drama.

It’s not easy nailing a dramedy and somehow Anxious People makes it look easy. There is a lot of emotional and heartfelt content here, but there is also a really fun mystery and tons of light humor similar to Hot Fuzz in a lot of ways to keep things light. I personally loved the balance and I was surprised by how much I actually liked this show.

Short episodes.

If you are looking for something quick to binge-watch, you’re in the right place. Each episode is just under a half hour and the pacing works really well. We focus on a different witness in each episode, weaving the pieces of the mystery together for us in a compelling way.

The Cons:

Takes a little while to get going…

Even though I was entertained during the first two episodes, I was also really confused and I think that the series was attempting to find its way. I wasn’t really sure what type of show I was watching, but once I got to episode three, I felt right at home and I thought the show found its groove, reeling me in for more and more.

Since there were only six episodes, I would have liked to have been brought in right from the start, but I think it managed to find its way in the end.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

This show really had a great balance and presented us with a fun mystery at its core, but it was also about the characters and their interactions, which made this such a heartwarming watch. I genuinely loved the vibe and I thought that it had a satisfactory conclusion, making it an easy binge-watch to enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Anxious People 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!

**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 “Clickbait” on Netflix: I Could Not Stop Watching this Show!

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

“At five million views I die…”

Clickbait premiered on August 25th 2021 on Netflix. The limited series features eight episodes available to stream now. The show stars Adrian Grenier, Zoe Kazan, Betty Gabriel, Cameron Engels and Abraham Lim. Each episode runs for approximately 45-48 minutes.

Clickbait focuses on a man named Nick Brewer who has been kidnapped. After an online video is leaked, he is set to die for his supposed crimes if the video hits five million views, as his family and friends race against the clock to figure out the truth.

Here is the trailer:

Clickbait has an intriguing premise that pulls you in right away, making you contemplate everything and everyone. Is this series your next binge-watch obsession? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Hooks you from the start.

The series didn’t really waste any time. We were presented with minimal set-up and dove right into everything as a viral video begins making news, threatening a man’s life. The pacing was done extremely well in this show and I lost complete track of time watching this.

It is a binge-watcher’s dream and it will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

Clever story-telling.

I really liked the way this story unfolded. Each episode focused on a different character as we were presented with new potential suspects and secrets that added to the puzzle. I thought this worked well because it allowed the viewer to become a participant in the show.

We weren’t just watching the plot. We were almost a part of it as we tried to tackle the case the way anyone would. This helped the show stand out from the Harlan Coben mysteries and Hit & Run. I love these shows and I was worried that Clickbait would pale in comparison, but this show managed to find its own identity by presenting the story this way and I thought it worked extremely well.

The Cons:

Slightly outrageous at times…

There were several plot points that had me scratching my head a little. I started to wonder how the police missed so many clues and I thought some reveals were a little bit over-the-top, but everything was still very entertaining so I can’t really fault it too much.

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!

I finished this show really quickly and it kept me guessing until the end. I thought I had everything figured out and it threw me for a loop.

This show was intense, fast-paced, and beyond addicting.

Your next obsession has arrived!

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

**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 “Brand New Cherry Flavor” on Netflix: Freaky and Bizarre

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

“There’s only one you…so who are you?”

Brand New Cherry Flavor premiered on Netflix on August 13th 2021 with eight episodes available to stream now. The limited revenge horror series stars Rosa Salazar, Catherine Keener, Eric Lange, Jeff Ward, and Manny Jacinto. Each episode runs for approximately 40-45 minutes.

The show centers around a young filmmaker named Lisa Nova, who has recently moved to L.A. to try and make her directorial debut with her eccentric short film. After being wronged by a rich movie producer, she makes a deal with a dangerous witch to get her revenge.

Here is the trailer:

Brand New Cherry Flavor initially feels like a dream come true with its talented lead actress and dark premise, but this may be the strangest show I have seen yet. Is it worth a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Strong female leads.

Rosa Salazar and Catherine Keener are electric on screen. They both reel you in with their character portrayals. They are more than just believable. They are the best part of the show and they really committed to their roles and then some.

I’d love to see Rosa Salazar in more because she was truly fantastic!

Images courtesy of Netflix

Intriguing start.

I was immediately pulled into this show with the first few episodes. The plot gives off a dark noir vibe with some extreme body horror thrown in for shock value. There is a mystery surrounding the witch and what the consequences will be if Lisa makes a deal with her.

But things start to get really weird after that…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Extremely gross and weird…

This show is not for those with a weak stomach. Do not watch this show while eating. You’ll thank me later. I’ve seen a lot of weird shows before, but this one may take the cake. Things were weird from the start and really disgusting, but as the show continued, things got even stranger.

I mean, really strange.

The plot goes off the rails.

Even with all of the extreme body horror and weird things going on, I was initially drawn into the plot and the performances made it worthwhile to stick around. However, as things continued, the plot started to really fall apart for me. I thought that the extreme gross moments started to become the center of the series as the plot lost its way.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m 50/50 on this one…

The performances of Salazar and Keener were honestly the best part of the series. I think that this show would have worked better as a movie rather than a limited series. It started off strong for me, but it almost felt like it ran out of ideas and just started to throw in disgusting nonsense to keep the audience there until the end reveal, which was just all right for me.

I really enjoyed watching Rosa Salazar on screen and I think that if anyone else had played this part, I probably would have tuned out much sooner.

This show will most likely get a lot of viewers because it is quickly getting a reputation for being the grossest thing that Netflix has ever released. They may be on to something here because I’m not sure if I will be able to keep my lunch down after watching this…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Brand New Cherry Flavor 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!

**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 “Behind Her Eyes” on Netflix: What did I just watch?

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

“You can never know everything about a person…”

Behind Her Eyes premiered on Netflix on February 17th 2021 with six episodes available to stream now. The limited series stars Simona Brown, Eve Hewson, and Tom Bateman. Each episode runs for approximately 50 minutes.

Based on the book of the same name, the series follows a single mother named Louise who meets a handsome stranger at a bar. Later on, she discovers that he is actually her new boss and married. Louise ends up also befriending his wife as this love triangle thriller begins.

Here is the trailer:

Behind Her Eyes initially feels like a typical Lifetime-esque thriller, but it branches out into an unpredictable mystery with many twists and turns. However, is the final reveal worth the wait? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Sympathetic characters.

I’ve seen plenty of thrillers where the crazy woman gets obsessed with a girl or a guy and becomes completely unhinged throughout the movie. While I was initially expecting to get that here, I was surprised at how normal Louise was. Yes, she makes mistakes and continues to do so throughout the series, but you see that she is a good person and is just really lonely.

Adele has her own set of issues and we’re not really quite sure what to make of her just yet, but there is this magnetic quality to her.

Louise’s son, Adam, is my favorite character and actually brought us some warmth and humor along the way.

David is just…eye candy, but we wouldn’t really have a show without that, would we?

Images courtesy of Netflix

The suspense builds and those twists…

I couldn’t figure out what was going on in this show and I was initially confused by the trippy dream sequences and some of the connections, but the show did enough to build suspense in each episode to keep you coming back for more.

Netflix was advertising this thriller as having a major twist and they were right about that. I’m still not sure how I feel about either of the twists, but I will admit that they had me stumped and shocked so that’s something noteworthy.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Slow moving at first.

The first three episodes really dragged for me and the episodes felt super long. I stuck around because I was hoping that the reveals would pay off, but I hate it when it feels like a chore to watch something. Even the sex scenes were just kind of meh…

The acting also left something to be desired, but I kind of expected that.

Switching genres with no warning.

There will be no spoilers here, but I honestly thought the change in genre felt jarring and out of place. I’m sure that the book did a much better job of executing this, but I almost felt like I had changed the channel and started watching a different kind of show.

Yeah, there were major twists, which I appreciated, but I’m still not sure if I even liked them…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I am honestly really torn on this show. I feel like I put in a lot of work to get to the reveals and when we got there, I had this moment where I literally said out loud: what did I just watch?

Yes, there are twists and if you are looking for something unexpected, you will get that here. The show kept me invested and once I got to episode four, the pacing was much better and held my interest.

But then after the weird reveal, we also got another reveal on top of that. Was it shocking?

Yes!

Did I like it?

I still don’t know and I think that is why I am so torn on this one. The show effectively created a conversation; however, and many fans are reacting to the ending, which is a good thing, but I just don’t know if I liked the show after putting in all that effort.

Is it worth a watch? I wouldn’t say you need to move this to the top of your list, but it does fulfill that Lifetime thriller guilty pleasure binge-watch while throwing you for a complete loop.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Behind Her Eyes 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!

**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 “The Queen’s Gambit” on Netflix: Your Move

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

“Chess isn’t the only thing in life…”

The Queen’s Gambit is a limited series that premiered on Netflix on October 23rd 2020 with seven episodes. The series stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Harry Melling, Moses Ingram, and Marielle Heller. Each episode is approximately 50-60 minutes in length.

Based on the 1983 novel of the same name, The Queen’s Gambit follows the journey of chess prodigy orphan, Beth Harmon, who embarks on a quest to be the world’s greatest chess player. Over the years, Beth deals with addiction and grief while struggling to prove her worth in the male dominated game to earn her rightful place. The series takes place during the 1960’s.

Here is the trailer:

The Queen’s Gambit has so many defining layers that draw you into this world immediately. While female empowerment automatically comes to mind, the story that is told extends well beyond that, reminding us that even those of us with extraordinary talents can damage everything with the choices we make.

The Queen’s Gambit is filled with aesthetic appeal, a talented cast, and an inspiring story, but is it worthy of your next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Anya Taylor-Joy is perfection.

I was already a fan of hers, but she blew me away in her portrayal of Beth Harmon. She was magnetic on screen and so convincing down to the tiniest detail. Her wardrobe was fantastic and her emotions were so raw and convincing. I think she absolutely deserves some awards in the future for this role.

A story that pulls you in from the very start.

I didn’t immediately add this show to my watch-list and it’s not normally something that I would select on my own. However, I am beyond thrilled that I took this recommendation and I quickly found myself lost in the story.

There’s something about this story that transcends its premise. It has a lot of heart and inspiration embedded in its core, but it also doesn’t hold back when it comes to the mistakes and hardships either, which made me connect to it even more.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Important lessons that really strike a chord.

While I loved the female empowerment elements in this series, I thought that the struggle with addiction was even more vital. Spiraling out of control into addiction isn’t usually defined in one moment. It’s slow and develops over time. Perhaps it stems from a past event or something beyond our control, but when it starts to cripple and destroy the extraordinary talent that so many of us would love to covet, it’s absolutely heartbreaking to witness.

The series could have really hit us over the head with a lot of this and I thought that its approach was simple, but effective. I think that there were a lot of really important messages throughout this series that should not be ignored and when we talk about overcoming something in life, we are the only ones with the power to change it.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

I don’t have a single con to mention…check.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 1000 percent! Checkmate!

I honestly went into this show without knowing what to expect. I thought that it might be somewhat interesting, but I was worried that I would lose interest quickly. Well, I was completely wrong and I am so glad that I started watching this show.

It was one of the best shows I have watched all year and it truly resonated with me. I recommend that you move this to the top of your watch-list even if it doesn’t seem like your cup of tea…trust me, you’ll love it!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Queen’s Gambit 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 releases on November 12th 2020! Available for pre-order! 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!