Spoiler-Free Review of “56 Days” on Prime Video: A Guilty Pleasure Thriller to Get You Through the Weekend

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

“I think secrets are destructive…”

56 Days premiered on Prime Video on February 18th 2026 with all eight episodes available to stream now. The limited erotic thriller series (based on the novel of the same name) stars Dove Cameron, Avan Jogia, Karla Souza, Dorian Missick, and Megan Peta Hill. Each episode is approximately 48-52 minutes long.

After Oliver and Ciara meet in a supermarket, they begin an intense relationship with one another, but when a corpse turns up 56 days later in Oliver’s apartment, dark secrets from their past are revealed, potentially connecting them to the murder.

Here is the trailer:

56 Days is a trashy, but intriguing enough thriller with a few surprises along the way. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Undeniable chemistry between the leads.

Dove Cameron is so gorgeous and absolutely electric in this. I thought the chemistry between Ciara and Oliver was off the charts. If you enjoy steamy, guilty pleasure thrillers, there’s plenty of juicy moments in this one.

Without the fantastic chemistry, I wouldn’t have been as invested.

Images courtesy of Prime Video

A mystery that pays off in the end.

I found this series fairly easy to binge-watch. It took a while for the mystery to unfold, but I thought it got better and better as the episodes continued. I didn’t know who to trust and I was shocked at a few of the reveals, which worked in the show’s favor.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Too much time spent on side characters and sub-plots.

Be prepared for a lot of time jumps. Everything felt very chaotic at first, but I think the transitions between the past and present day plots eventually became more seamless. That being said, I much preferred to watch what was happening in the past involving Oliver and Ciara.

We spent way too much time with the detectives in present day. I get that we needed to see what was going on with the case, but we also spent quite a bit of time fleshing out their characters with excess fluff involving their personal lives. I think this slowed down the overall pacing.

This series should have only been about six episodes or it might have worked better as a film. They just dragged too many things out to fill time, which was frustrating.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in!

56 days is soapy and very pretty to look at with a few worthy thrills and reveals sprinkled into the mix.

If you enjoy guilty pleasure thrillers, there’s enough here for you to indulge in.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on 56 Days 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 “The Burbs” on Peacock: Keke Palmer Shines in this Quirky Mystery Reboot

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

“These people are CRAZY…”

The Burbs premiered on Peacock on February 8th 2026 with all eight episodes available to stream now. The mystery comedy series (based on the 1989 film, The Burbs) stars Keke Palmer, Jack Whitehall, Kapil Talwalkar, and Julia Duffy. Each episode runs for approximately 40 to 42 minutes.

Newlyweds, Rob and Samira relocate to his childhood home in the suburbs with their baby, but Samira begins to suspect that her new neighbor across the street may be hiding deadly secrets connected to her husband’s past.

Here is the trailer:

The Burbs has a solid cast and some fun moments sprinkled in, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Keke Palmer steals the show!

She is the BEST part of the series by far and the main reason I tuned into this one. I thought she was absolutely fantastic and I loved her character. Some of the other neighbors were fun as well, but without her, a lot of things probably wouldn’t have landed.

Images courtesy of Peacock

Solid second half.

In a lot of ways, this show reminded me of a mash-up of Desperate Housewives and Only Murders in the Building with a few Easter eggs and cameos thrown into the mix for fans of the original film starring Tom Hanks.

It took a while to find its way, but I thought the second half of the series was a lot of fun and a few of the twists caught me by surprise.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Longer than it needed to be.

There were definitely some pacing issues with this one. I thought the first half of the series was very slow and I almost tuned out a few times. Keke Palmer kept me invested, but there was a lot of fluff and extra stuff that slowed down everything surrounding the main mystery.

A lot of the humor didn’t land for me either, but I think this improved in the second half of the series. The first half just felt very unsure of itself, but we eventually got there.

We’re left with a cliffhanger at the end of season 1 so I will be annoyed if this doesn’t get picked up for a second season, but we’ll have to wait and see.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in about 75 percent…

The Burbs takes a while to get going, but there is a solid mystery at its core worth digging into.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Burbs 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 “HIS & HERS” on Netflix: A Satisfying Thriller with a Shocking Conclusion!

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

“Someone is always lying…”

HIS & HERS released on Netflix on Januay 8th 2026 with all six episodes available to stream now. The thriller mini-series based on the novel of the same name stars Jon Bernthal, Tessa Thompson, Sunita Mani, Marin Ireland, and Pablo Schreiber. Each episode runs for approximately 40-46 minutes.

A detective and a journalist who used to be married begin to suspect each other when a woman ends up dead in their small town connected to them both.

Here is the trailer:

HIS & HERS is a thriller series that will keep you guessing up until the very end, hooking you with its juicy mystery. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Talented cast.

When I saw that Jon Bernthal AND Tessa Thompson were starring in this, I was hooked before I even read the premise. Both stars absolutely delivered and I thought they had great chemistry together. I didn’t know who I could trust, which made the reveals that much more intriguing as we went along.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Jaw-dropping twist.

Wow…I did not see that coming! I just watched Harlan Coben’s Run Away, which had a shocking reveal at the end and now His & Hers had another one to throw me for a loop. I love when a series can accomplish this. I’m still thinking about that ending. Way to stick the landing!

Netflix is off to a promising start with its new series for 2026!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Slow-moving at times.

The first four episodes felt a little slow for me. I was enjoying the show, but I also thought it was dragging things out more than it needed to. I think this show probably should have been a film instead, but I guess there was too much to cover.

That being said, the last two episodes were very well paced and beyond intense so this wasn’t a major con, but be prepared for a little bit of a slow burn until you get to those insane reveals.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

HIS & HERS is a shocking and juicy thriller well worth your time featuring fantastic performances by Jon Bernthal and Tessa Thompson.

More shows like this please!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on His & Hers 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 “Poker Face” Season Two on Peacock: Natasha Lyonne is Back to Solve some more Quirky Mysteries

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

“You CANNOT lie to me…”

Poker Face season two released on May 8th 2025 on Peacock with the first three episodes available to stream now. There will be twelve episodes in total that will air weekly. The whodunnit mystery series stars Natasha Lyonne. Each episode runs for approximately 50-60 minutes.

Each week, Charlie ends up in the middle of a new murder mystery, as she uses her gift of reading people to help solve the case.

Here is the trailer:

Poker Face was such a fun surprise when it premiered over two years ago, giving us a carefree vignette case of the week style that actually worked. Is season two worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Natasha Lyonne brings on the charm once again!

She was terrific in season one and she’s been brilliant so far in season two. Her dry humor works very well with this character. Nothing ever feels too serious here, complimenting the case of the week style. In a lot of ways, this series would make a fun pairing with High Potential. I’d love to see those two team up on a major case! Crossover idea?

Images courtesy of Peacock

Great guest stars!

Season one featured some big names and so far season two is delivering as well with the guest stars, including Katie Holmes, Cynthia Erivo, and Giancarlo Esposito. Keep them coming! 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Sluggish pacing at times.

For some reason, the murder mystery setup for each episode felt a little sluggish for me. I’m hoping this improves as the episodes continue. The episodes are already on the longer side and I noticed this a lot more in season two than I did with season one.

That being said, once Charlie showed up to do her magic, everything improved and felt similar to season one, reeling me right back in.

I love the carefree approach to these mysteries, but I’m also hoping for some more edge. There were some glimmers of this already (especially at the end of episode two) so I’m positive we’ll see more of that. I just don’t want things to become stale because I do really enjoy this series.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in!!!

Poker Face season 2 brings on the murder mystery fun without over-complicating things, making this an effortless watch. Natasha Lyonne is beyond brilliant.

I’m excited to see more!

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

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 “The Perfect Couple” on Netflix: Nicole Kidman Stars in a Juicy Murder Mystery!

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

“Kill someone and get away with it rich…”

The Perfect Couple is a limited mystery-drama series based on the novel of the same name. It released on Netflix on September 5th 2024 with all six episodes available to watch now. The series stars Nicole Kidman, Eve Hewson, Liev Schreiber, Dakota Fanning, Jack Reynor, and Meghann Fahy. Each episode runs for approximately 43-53 minutes.

Friends and family gather at a wedding, but when a dead body washes up on shore, everyone becomes a suspect.

Here is the trailer:

The Perfect Couple will remind you of shows like The White Lotus and Big Little Lies, but it still manages to find its own voice and hook its audience with a compelling mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

All-star cast!

Nicole Kidman mystery dramas are my new favorite genre. She has been absolutely fabulous in Big Little Lies, The Undoing, and Nine Perfect Strangers. Well, she’s got another hit here and she leads a fabulous cast worth getting excited about. I love a good murder mystery and this one was elevated by a talented cast.

The setting was absolutely gorgeous to look at and Nicole Kidman’s wardrobe was so elegant and classy. I had a feeling I would like this one right from the start and I was right.

Images courtesy of Netflix

A solid mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end.

This series did a great job of keeping us guessing. There were a lot of well-placed clues and even though I had my suspicions about the outcome, I still thought the reveal was well done. This series was extremely easy to binge-watch and it was an absolute treat. It had the perfect balance of mystery thrills and soapy drama.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

The interrogation scenes in the beginning of the series were distracting.

This wasn’t a major con, but I much preferred the natural course of events and whenever we flashed to someone’s opinion about everything, it lost a little edge for me. The transitions with these scenes eventually worked better in the later episodes, but I struggled with this initially.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!

The Perfect Couple is your next obsession!

Nicole Kidman is to die for in this smart and stylish mystery series that really held my attention until the very last frame. I absolutely loved it!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Perfect Couple 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.

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 “Only Murders in the Building” Season 4 Premiere on Hulu: Our Favorite Trio Goes to Hollywood!

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

“We’ve been very lucky with people dying in our building…”

Only Murders in the Building season four premiered on Hulu on August 27th 2024. The comedy crime series will have ten episodes in total. The first episode is available to stream now and the remaining nine will air weekly. The show stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. Each episode runs for approximately 30-35 minutes.

Mabel, Charles, and Oliver are back to solve a new murder mystery after that season three finale cliffhanger, but they’ve also branched out to Hollywood as they learn that someone is interested in turning their podcast into a movie.

Here is the trailer:

Only Murders in the Building season 4 tries out another change of scenery to liven things up. Will the trio continue to entertain us with their quirky charm? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

The chemistry between our three main leads is still as brilliant as ever!

It’s why the show works so well and it’s funny to see Hollywood getting some aspects spot on and others way off. Charles, Mabel, and Oliver may be an unconventional trio, but that’s also why they are so dynamic together. The banter had me chuckling once again and I’m looking forward to seeing them work together with this new murder mystery.

Images courtesy of Hulu

Fun cameos!

Ever wonder who would play Charles, Mabel, and Oliver in a film adaptation? Well, we find out in the season premiere and it was awesome to see so many familiar faces. I’m a huge fan of Eva Longoria so this was a lot of fun.

We also get an adorable scene stealer in the season premiere to help our trio out.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Homesick for the Arconia!

I get that we need to change things up each season, but I found myself missing the Arconia setting quite a bit. That’s where I fell in love with this trio and while the Hollywood gimmick is a lot of fun, it’s also a little overwhelming and I’m not sure that our trio will thrive here as much. The Arconia is still the scene of another murder so I’m hoping we return to the place we know and love for the future episodes.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in!!!

While it may not have as captivating as a hook as the first season, this trio is still magic together and we’re off to a promising start for season 4!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Only Murders in the Building season 4 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Spoiler-Free Review of “Death and Other Details” on Hulu: “Knives Out” Inspired Whodunnit has some Potential

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

“If you want to solve a crime….you must first learn to see through the illusion…”

Death and Other Details released on Hulu on January 16th 2024 with the first two episodes available now. There will be ten episodes in total that will air weekly. The murder mystery series stars Mandy Patinkin, Violett Beane, Angela Zhou, Pardis Saremi, and Lauren Patten. Each episode runs for approximately 44-52 minutes.

Imogene finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time on a cruise, forcing her to team up with a detective named Rufus Cotesworth to prove her innocence and solve the case.

Here is the trailer:

Death and Other Details borrows a lot from films like Death on the Nile and Knives Out, trying out the whodunnit genre on the small screen, but does it have enough originality to keep its audience coming back for more? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Aesthetically pleasing.

This is a very stylish show already with gorgeous scenery, fantastic fashion, and a color scheme that really pops, transporting the audience into a breathtaking watercolor painting for the backdrop of this particular murder mystery. 

I’ve already fallen in love with several of Violett Beane’s outfits and want to look through her closet because it’s absolutely fabulous!

Images courtesy of Hulu

Two dynamic leads.

The best part about the series so far is the partnership between Beane and Patinkin’s characters. I think they make a great duo and I’m curious to see them piece this all together. I’m hoping that the series will keep me guessing and provide its audience with a satisfying reveal, but we’ll have to see how things progress.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Sometimes less is more…

My main concern with this series is that it may be taking on too much for a ten part series. It’s going to be somewhat of a chore to remember to tune in each week and also remember what happened in the previous episode so that I can stay involved in the mystery. I’m slightly worried that the pacing will suffer as a result of this.

This is also a series I have seen a million times before and I’m not sure that it’s doing anything that new or modern, but I love a good murder mystery so we’ll have to see how this unfolds.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in about 75 percent…

I love a good murder mystery and this one has lots of potential so far, but I’m hoping it can break away from similar films within the whodunnit genre.

Either way, I’ll be sticking around for a while to find out!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Death and Other Details 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 “A Haunting in Venice” in Theaters: A Solid Halloween-themed Murder Mystery

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

“Time to put some life back into your life…”

A Haunting in Venice released in theaters on September 15th 2023. The murder mystery film stars Kenneth Branagh, Tina Fey, Kelly Reilly, Kyle Allen, Jamie Dornan, and Michelle Yeoh It runs for approximately an hour and forty-three minutes.

Belgian detective, Poirot, is back in this adaptation of Agatha Christie’s novel, Hallowe’en Party, as he takes a break from retirement to solve a murder involving some deadly spirits.

Here is the trailer:

A Haunting in Venice gives fans of Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile a chance to experience a new mystery with eerie potential involving Poirot, but does this film measure up? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of 20th Century Studios

A breathtaking setting.

I always find these films to be aesthetically pleasing, but this setting of Venice in the 1940’s was absolutely divine and so lovely to witness on the large screen. This film was beautifully shot and even the chilling and unsettling moments complimented the backdrop well, immersing the audience into a gorgeous world worth noting.

Images courtesy of 20th Century Studios

A compelling murder mystery with a satisfying reveal.

This film followed a similar pattern to other films based on Agatha Christie novels, but this one might have been my favorite. I may be partial because I absolutely adore Halloween and anything related to it, but I really loved the balance between logic and the supernatural in this one.

It really kept me on the edge of my seat and I thought the reveal was very well done.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of 20th Century Studios

Slow moving at times.

I come to expect this with these types of films, but the middle dragged a little bit for me. I appreciated that this film was shorter than Death on the Nile, however. This wasn’t a major con and I think that the film did enough in the beginning and end of the film to capture the audience’s full attention, but I’d recommend watching this one when you’re fully awake…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of 20th Century Studios

I’m in!!!

An eerie and unsettling murder mystery with a fun cast and gorgeous setting!

If you enjoy Agatha Christie murder mysteries, you’ll find enough in this one to enjoy with some spooky surprises along the way.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on A Haunting in Venice 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 “Only Murders in the Building” Season 3 on Hulu: They’re Back!

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

“Who are we without a homicide?”

Only Murders in the Building season three premiered on Hulu on August 8th 2023. The comedy crime series will have ten episodes in total. The first two episodes are available to stream now and the remaining eight will air weekly. The show stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. Each episode runs for approximately 30-35 minutes.

Mabel, Charles, and Oliver are back to solve a new murder mystery involving some talented new players behind the scenes of a Broadway show.

Here is the trailer:

Only Murders in the Building is the most addicting television series on right now, featuring the perfect blend of mystery goodness and fun humor. Will the new mystery in season three measure up to the first two seasons? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

More focus on character development.

While I love the magic between this trio, I appreciate that the new season is looking at who they are as individuals. There are some important changes and decisions for them to make and I think this will only help them grow more together. It also prevents the show from feeling too repetitive. 

Images courtesy of Hulu

The new guest stars are a lot of fun!

Paul Rudd is already a scene stealer and Meryl Streep is as fabulous as ever! We’ve also got Ashley Park (Joy Ride) in the mix and some other new potential suspects who should liven things up. More please!

Images courtesy of Hulu

Simplifies things…

Season two was still enjoyable, but it felt a little bit chaotic and tried to do too much. It seems like season three is already going back to a more simple who-dun-it formula, which is working so far. I already have a few suspects and I can’t wait to see how this new mystery unfolds!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

The tone feels slightly off…

This isn’t a major con and I understand that it’s hard to top the first season, but the shift in setting for a lot of the set-up takes some getting used to. I’m willing to give it a shot, but I’m hoping we get to spend more time in the Arconia because that’s where we fell in love with this trio.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in 100 percent!

One of my favorite series is back with lots of potential already!

This new quirky mystery has a lot going for it and I’m confident that Mabel, Charles, and Oliver will deliver!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Only Murders in the Building season 3 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Spoiler-Free Review of “Cruel Summer” Season 2 on Freeform: The Dangerous Secrets Return

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

“You coming here has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me…”

Cruel Summer season two premiered on Freeform on June 5th 2023 (episodes also stream on Hulu) with the first two episodes. The series is set to air ten weekly episodes. It stars Sadie Stanley, Lexi Underwood, Griffin Gluck, and KaDee Strickland. Each episode runs for approximately 46-48 minutes.

The events we witness take place over one year from 1999-2000, involving a new set of characters and a new murder mystery to untangle.

Here is the trailer:

Cruel Summer is back and presents us with another mystery told from two perspectives across different timelines, but does it pack the same punch as the first season? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Freeform

Likable characters for the most part…

I’m not sure that anyone can outshine Jeanette and Kate from season one, but so far I like the characters of Megan and Isabella and I think the actresses are doing a good job with their portrayals. The friendship is a lot different this time around and so are the circumstances, which will make things feel fresh and new…even though it’s an already familiar premise.

I’m not a huge fan of the character of Luke, but I didn’t really like that actor on Locke & Key either so maybe that’s why. The other supporting characters aren’t really adding too much to the series yet. We need another Mallory to really shake things up…

I’m hopeful that we’ll get there.

The soundtrack is on point!

Similar to season one, season two is doing a solid job of bringing us back in time with some fantastic music. From Sugar Ray to Lit to The Spice Girls! The show is channeling this time well and I’m looking forward to the rest of the soundtrack in the remaining episodes. Some movie references would be nice too!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Freeform

The mystery needs more edge.

Cruel Summer season one was so addicting and I had so many working theories throughout my watch, which made it a lot of fun. While we have lots of drama and scandal in season two, the mystery just feels kind of lukewarm. We need a lot more to live up to season one.

The time jumps are trippy once again and maybe even more so this time around. They also feel a little rushed since this series takes place over one year rather than three summers. 

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Freeform

I’m in about 75 percent…

Cruel Summer season two has some potential and is doing just enough to lure me back for more, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the mystery in season one.

Either way, it should make a fun summer watch to indulge in!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Cruel Summer (season two) 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…

Main promo smaller

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!

**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!