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

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

“I chose to lose control…”

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

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

Here is the trailer:

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

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Solid cast.

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

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Slow, dull, and NO chemistry!

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

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

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

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

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

Girl Number Thirteen Lurking Promo

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

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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My performance of the week ending 12/14/19 on TV goes to…

Lizzy Caplan as Annie Wilkes on Hulu’s Castle Rock season 2.

As soon as I started season 2, I was completely mesmerized by Lizzy Caplan’s portrayal of Annie Wilkes.  Her performance was so real and compelling each week and she had this wild eyed stare that would certainly make Kathy Bates proud.

**Please note major spoilers have been left out for your convenience.

While this story of Annie Wilkes is not necessarily a prequel to Misery, it does provide us with some fun Easter Eggs throughout the season leading up to the season finale.  Lizzy Caplan is able to show off the psychotic sides of Annie with accuracy, but she also somehow makes this character real and sympathetic, as you start to root for her as an anti-hero on the show.

Annie’s darkness comes in and out, but her daughter, Joy, is her one shining light, constantly motivating her to be good and to be better.  While Annie may not be able to overcome the darkness within her ultimately, she continues to fight and struggle, which is no easy task, especially after we are introduced to a Salem’s Lot inspired group to shake things up.

I thought that from start to finish, Annie was such an intriguing character with many layers.  My favorite episode was “The Laughing Place” (season 2, episode 5).  I thought this particular episode was so interesting because we got to explore Annie’s past to understand her a little bit more, but her younger self was played by another actress, who somehow managed to be just as brilliant as Lizzy Caplan.  This really elevated her character that much more for me, as we continued with the rest of the season.

While the show started to get off track with some of the Salem’s Lot drama in later episodes, the end of the season was able to come full circle, allowing us to truly see Annie’s character development toward the character we all know in Misery, but the writers didn’t hit us over the head with this, which I appreciated.

Everything was subtle and well done, which really made me want to re-watch Misery that much more, but I also felt like I was introduced to a completely new side of Annie Wilkes, as her character came alive across the screen.

What’s next for Annie?  Well, it looks like we will be closing the book on her chapter for season 2, as we will most likely explore a new character/plot if Castle Rock is renewed for season 3, but I may have just become Lizzy Caplan’s “number one fan.”  She immersed herself into this role with disturbing perfection and I loved every minute of it!

Stay tuned for a recognized performance on TV each week!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Dreaming of Wonderland Holiday 1

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Castle Rock” Season 2 on Hulu: Lizzy Caplan as Annie Wilkes gets this Slow-Burn Horror off to a Chilling Start

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

Just in time for Halloween, Hulu has released the first three episodes of Castle Rock season 2.  I loved season 1 so much and it featured some of the most brilliant episodes on television that I have ever witnessed.

Seriously, if you haven’t seen season 1, episode 7 (The Queen) yet, I highly recommend it.  So that being said, Castle Rock season 2 has a lot to live up to, but I am excited that they are taking the anthology approach, as we get a new story with different characters.

Castle Rock is a psychological horror series on Hulu based on the characters and setting of Stephen King.  There will be 10 episodes for season 2.  Similar to the format with season 1, Hulu has released the first 3 episodes as of October 23rd 2019 and it will continue to run weekly episodes on Wednesdays.  Season 2 stars Lizzy Caplan, Tim Robbins, and Elsie Fisher.  

Season 2 follows a nurse named Annie Wilkes, based on the character of the same name in Misery.  While Castle Rock is not necessarily a prequel, it does bring us familiar elements from both Misery and Salem’s Lot

Annie has a lot of psychological issues and she is on the run with her teenage daughter when she arrives in Castle Rock.  Annie mostly keeps to herself, but when she goes through withdrawal from her medication, her hallucinations start to become all too real, as she finds herself doing some very bad things. 

The plot and characters certainly have a lot of potential, but will season 2 be able to hold its own?  Let’s find out!

The Pros:

Castle Rock season 2 1
Images courtesy of Hulu

Lizzy Caplan is beyond captivating as Annie Wilkes.  

Her performance will chill you to your core, disturbing you in just the right way.  Caplan absolutely nails the role and is the best part of the show so far.  She immerses herself completely in this role, bringing you wild eye stares and horrifying reactions that are so real and terrifying.

The perfect dose of psychological horror.

I love that this show brings you along for the ride, unfolding the mystery with its audience.  While a lot of the scares are psychological, there are some edge of your seat moments that remind us just how deadly an unhinged paranoid person can be.

I think it also works to the show’s advantage not following a specific plot from Stephen King, allowing familiar characters and settings to take on a life of their own, which makes this show unique and original.

The Cons:

Castle Rock season 2 2
Images courtesy of Hulu

A lot of setup.

There are a lot of elements to digest after watching the first three episodes of season 2.  You may find yourself slightly overwhelmed by this, but I had the same issue with season 1 and it ended up paying off, as other elements were revealed later on.

Slow moving at times.

Each episode is about 50-55 minutes in length and the show does move at a slow pace from time to time.  The show is more of a slow-burn psychological horror, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does make it difficult to binge-watch all at once.  You may want to try one episode at a time, but I thought that there were enough things going on to keep your attention.

So am I in or out? 

Castle Rock season 2 3
Images courtesy of Hulu

I am in 100 percent!  Lizzy Caplan’s performance is enough to keep me invested, but I love the intertwining between the two works from Stephen King, while creating a new story that branches off into something completely different. 

After watching the first three episodes, I am excited to continue watching weekly and I think this will actually make the watch that much more entertaining, as bits and pieces of the mystery are presented.  If you haven’t started watching yet, I highly recommend it, especially if you are a Stephen King fan.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

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Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice is available here!

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Do you love horror series?  Of course you do!  Please also check out 12 Nights of Horror Series Coming Soon.  It’s your home for everything you need to know about new and returning horror television series including new trailers, premiere dates, reviews, recaps, and renewals!