Spoiler-Free Review of “School Spirits” on Paramount+: A Charming YA Supernatural Mystery

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

“Welcome to the club…”

School Spirits released on March 9th 2023 on Paramount+ with the first three episodes available to stream now. The remaining five episodes will air weekly. The YA supernatural mystery series stars Peyton List, Kiara Pichardo, Kristian Flores, and Spencer MacPherson. Each episode runs for approximately 44-48 minutes.

Maddie winds up stuck in limbo in her high school as she attempts to investigate her own mysterious disappearance with the help of other ghosts who reside there.

Here is the trailer:

School Spirits is a delightful mix of Ghosts and Nancy Drew with a mystery that really pulls you in. Is this YA series worth your time? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Light and fun.

This series could have easily overdone it with teen drama and excess fluff, but it already managed to find the perfect balance of mystery and fun from the very start, which is not always easy to do.

The show is filled with likable characters and I really like Maddie, which has kept me more invested in the mystery revolving around her own disappearance.

The episodes aren’t super long and the pacing has been on point for the most part, knowing just how to hook the audience at the end of each episode, reeling us back in for more.

A solid mystery.

Sure, it may not be that original, but I’m already forming my own list of suspects and I really want to know what happened to Maddie. The time jumps were a little jarring at first, but I started to get used to them as the series progressed, giving us more clues to ponder over. I’m hoping for a shocking reveal, but it’s too early to tell how this mystery will unfold.

The Cons:

Weekly episodes…

I watched the first three episodes in one sitting and was ready for more, but we’ll have to wait for the rest of the episodes to release each week, which is a bummer. This is one of those shows where you get really wrapped up in the story so I’m just afraid that viewers may forget to tune back in or could lose interest without the binge-watching option available. You may be better off waiting until all the episodes drop before watching this one…

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

School Spirits has a super cute premise and a charming cast with an addicting mystery at its core.

This series has been a pleasant surprise so far and I can’t wait to watch more episodes!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on School Spirits 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 “Wednesday” on Netflix: Jenna Ortega is Fantastic

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

“Emotion equals weakness…”

Wednesday premiered on November 23rd on Netflix with eight episodes available to stream now. The supernatural drama series stars Jenna Ortega, Christina Ricci, Gwendoline Christie, Emma Myers, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Each episode is approximately 48-50 minutes.

While attending Nevermore Academy, Wednesday Addams finds herself caught up in a mystery involving her parents from twenty-five years ago.

Here is the trailer:

Wednesday is addicting in all the right ways with an interesting mystery and wickedly fun premise. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

All hail, Jenna Ortega!

I expected her to be really good in this role, but she was even better than I could have hoped for. She was the BEST part of the series. This may be my favorite role by her yet. She does a fantastic job of paying tribute to the character while really putting her own spin on her as well.

I enjoyed the other characters as well and it was so wonderful seeing Christina Ricci in this one too for obvious reasons.

Emma Myers was a scene-stealer as Wednesday’s roommate along with Thing. Even though a lot of the characters fit into tropes, they were still a lot of fun to watch and I enjoyed the supporting characters more in this one than I typically do with other teen supernatural dramas.

Easy to binge-watch with very entertaining moments.

I enjoyed the sleuth-mystery approach to this series and even though we got to see some of the iconic characters from the Addams family, this was clearly Wednesday’s show and we stayed true to that, which I appreciated.

I loved each episode and the typical teen moments were actually really entertaining because of Wednesday’s reaction to them. The pacing was a little slow at first, but it improved significantly as the episodes continued. By the time I got to episode three, I was completely hooked.

The Cons:

Predictable at times with your typical teen drama.

I saw the ending reveal coming and I thought some things were easy to figure out, but I still enjoyed everything. There was also some typical teen drama in this series with another love interest triangle. In a lot of ways, this show was like a mashup of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Nancy Drew. I love both of those series so that’s not really a con, but some of the moments of drama could have easily appeared in any show on The CW.

That being said, the drama wasn’t overdone so it didn’t take away from the series that much at all.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Jenna Ortega is perfection!

This show was so entertaining and really put a unique spin on The Addams Family, allowing Wednesday to truly shine.

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

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Hardy Boys” Season 2 on Hulu: A Mystery with Edge

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

“Find another mystery…”

The Hardy Boys (season 2) premiered on Hulu on April 6th 2022 with ten episodes available to stream now. The series stars Rohan Campbell, Alexander Elliot, Bea Santos, Keana Lyn, Riley O’Donnell, and James Tupper. Each episode runs for approximately 42-44 minutes.

Based on the iconic book series, this new re-imagining of The Hardy Boys takes place in the 1980’s. Frank and Joe Hardy are back to solve a new mystery plaguing the town of Bridgeport, but are they in over their heads this time around?

Here is the trailer:

The Hardy Boys managed to omit a lot of the teen drama that can sometimes weigh down shows like Riverdale and Nancy Drew in season one, making it a welcomed addition to the amateur sleuth genre, but does season two do enough to bring the audience back for more? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Darker mystery this time around…

I enjoyed season one, but the mystery was just kind of okay for me. Season two pulls us in right away with a darker mystery with supernatural elements which gave this series a more mature edge this time around. I think this worked in the show’s favor and I actually got through these episodes fairly quickly because I was so intrigued by what was really going on.

Loved it!

Supporting characters get more development.

Season one focused primarily on the Hardy brothers, but I appreciated that season two took the time to really develop some of the supporting characters. Everyone contributes to the “Scooby Gang,” but we actually got to give some other characters with potential a chance to shine, which was nice to see.

The Cons:

Frank’s trippy visions…

I didn’t mind the visions, but I had an issue with the way they were portrayed to the audience. They were just really distracting and they took away from the nostalgic Hardy Boys feel just a little. I also felt like I needed to do a re-watch of season one to remember a lot of what was going on since it’s been some time since that aired. There was a lot to remember!

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

I actually enjoyed season two more than season one. The 80’s nostalgia and music soundtrack was fun once again and we got a chance to actually develop some of these interesting characters a lot more with a super creepy mystery!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Hardy Boys 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 “Chosen” on Netflix: Teen Sci-Fi Series with Angst

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

“What’s out there?”

Chosen premiered on January 27th 2022 on Netflix with six episodes available to stream now. The Danish sci-fi series stars Malaika Mosendane, Andrea Heick Gadeberg, Andreas Dittmer and Anders Heinrichsen. Each episode runs for approximately 40-45 minutes.

A young girl discovers a secret truth behind the meteor that hit her small town years ago, bringing her into a mystery surrounding its origin and her own destiny.

Here is the trailer:

Chosen feels very much like a teenage style Fringe as it attempts to balance out a sci-fi mystery with teen drama. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Strong main character.

I really liked the character of Emma and I thought that the actress did a great job with her portrayal. Whenever I watch a series centered around some kind of female “chosen one,” I want her to really stand out and I thought that Emma managed to do that in this series.

All of the other characters had layers as well which made it easier for me to connect to them all. We got a likable Scooby gang to give this show a Nancy Drew feel at times and I think that it worked for the most part.

Intriguing mystery at its core.

I really liked the mystery behind the show and I think that each episode did enough at the end to bring you back for more. There were a lot of secrets and reveals and I think that the show still has a lot of unanswered questions to address if it gets a season two.

The Cons:

Too much teen drama at times.

I appreciate that this series wanted to channel a Stranger Things vibe in a lot of ways, but it could have benefited from some more humor. The teen drama felt overwhelming at times and I tuned out at certain points because of this.

There were also some pacing issues in the beginning of the series.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

Perfect for fans of teen fantasy/sci-fi series. There is enough content here to keep viewers entertained. I have a lot of questions after watching the first season, but I think this show is a unique gem that a lot of fans will truly enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Chosen 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 “Dive Club” on Netflix: A Splash of Solid Mystery Drowned out by Teen Drama

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

“We’re ready to hunt for treasure…”

Dive Club released on Netflix on September 3rd 2021. The Australian teen series originally premiered back in May 2021 but season one is now available to stream. The show stars Miah Madden, Sana’a Shaik, Mercy Cornwall, Aubri Ibrag, and Georgia-May Davis. There are twelve episodes in total and each one runs for approximately 25-28 minutes.

A group of teenage divers pass the time by hunting down underwater treasure, but when a storm hits the small seaside town of Cape Mercy, one of them goes missing as the others desperately attempt to find out what happened to her.

Here is the trailer:

Dive Club has an interesting premise surrounding a mystery at sea that will give you some Pirates of the Caribbean feels, but does the teen drama get in the way of pure greatness? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Fun premise.

I really like shows and films that involve scuba diving for buried treasure even if they can be cheesy sometimes. The show features some beautiful views and I thought that the core mystery was a good one. It takes a little while to unfold, but the second half of the series is much stronger than the first and the cliffhanger ending leaves a lot open for the potential for season two.

G rating makes it watchable for the whole family.

The show in a lot of ways reminded me of a mash-up between The Babysitter’s Club, Fool’s Gold, and Nancy Drew. The characters are likable for the most part and I’m always a fan of kids or teens solving mysteries on their own.

The Cons:

Too much teen drama.

I was initially excited that this series was rated G because I thought we would skip all of the teenage soapy drama, but there was so much of it! There is usually a good balance of this in shows like Riverdale and Nancy Drew, but I thought that the drama completely took over the show.

We also got a lot of singing, dancing, and montages that really didn’t add to the plot at all. I understand that we are focusing on a younger generation but I’m not sure it is going to translate well with anyone…

This was frustrating because it took away from the solid mystery at the center of this show. We did get back on track toward the end of the series, but I think that since we had shorter episodes, this fluff should have been cut out completely.

So am I in or out?

I’m 50/50 on this one…

The treasure hunting mystery was actually a lot of fun and I enjoyed these moments, but the teen drama really dominated the show, which was disappointing. I wouldn’t move this to the top of your watch-list, but if you are looking for short episodes that are family friendly, you can put this show on in the background.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Dive Club 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 comes out October 7th 2021! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Only Murders in the Building” on Hulu: Offbeat Who-Dun-It Mystery

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

“All the eyes on you all the time…”

Only Murders in the Building premiered on Hulu on August 31st 2021. The comedy crime series will have ten episodes in total. The first three are available to stream now and the remaining seven will air weekly. The show stars Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. Each episode runs for approximately 30-35 minutes.

Three strangers with an obsession for a true crime podcast come together to solve a mystery in their apartment building in New York City.

Here is the trailer:

Only Murders in the Building has a quirky appeal with layered characters and a mystery at its core to draw us in for more. Does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Intriguing characters.

This group may seem odd, but that’s why it works. We’re supposed to believe that they are three strangers living in the same apartment building and that’s exactly what we get. I thought the set-up to bring them all together was clever and well done and I wanted to know more about our main characters right away.

Selena Gomez is really lighting up the screen and holding her own. Her character is so interesting and her dry sarcasm is clashing brilliantly with her two co-stars.

I can’t wait to see what they do next!

A murder mystery balanced with character development.

The show kind of reminds me of a mash-up between The Flight Attendant, Nancy Drew, and The White Lotus. We get the mystery at the very beginning of the show to hook us right from the start, but we also spend a lot of time on our three characters. They each have secrets and issues going on in their lives that we are going to explore and we immediately want to invest in them.

The show also balances in humor quite well to prevent the episodes from feeling too heavy and I like that the episodes are only about thirty minutes each, which keeps the pacing going.

The Cons:

Goes slightly off track…

Some of the Martin Short scenes and flashbacks went slightly off track for me. I’m confident that everything will connect later on but I found myself losing focus a few times. Once we got back to the mystery, I was all in but this show can easily go off the rails if it isn’t careful.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

This show is quirky and fun with a solid mystery at its core.

I have already fallen in love with the characters and the show is doing a good job of pulling us in for more. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Only Murders in the Building 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 comes out October 7th 2021! 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!

Checking in on “Nancy Drew” Season 2: Headed in the Right Direction

Happy Monday TV Fans! When we last checked in on The CW’s Nancy Drew, I mentioned that the show needed to adapt the weekly mystery style in order to keep things from becoming too heavy and stale.

**Please note spoilers are ahead if you are not caught up on the series.**

After defeating the Aglaeca, I started to wonder what would happen next. Sure, we have Odette occupying George’s body, which should become a major plot point at some point, but I also wanted something new and different for Nancy and I think we have finally reached that point!

Images courtesy of The CW

In the beginning of season 2 episode 6, Nancy is doing her community service in a morgue and I have to say that I loved the change of scenery for her. As much as I like her working at The Claw, she needed something to keep the mysteries going and with dead bodies turning up and spirits being unleashed, this is the perfect new setting for her and it really gave me some Tru Calling vibes, which I loved!

Images courtesy of The CW

After figuring out the newest case, I learned that we wouldn’t get a new episode until March 10th, but the trailer already looks like it is going to deliver. There is a haunted hotel and Nancy is brought on the case, which reveals that we are heading in the right direction for this show.

I loved the Nancy Drew book series growing up and part of that was because there was a new mystery to solve in each book. I was worried that the show might lose steam from the first season, but it is checking off my criteria and then some.

Sure, we know we have to figure out what is going on with the whole George/Odette thing. I’ve watched enough horror films to know that two souls can’t occupy one body for long and I’m not sure I’m a fan of George’s weird singing in French.

We also have the new dynamic between Nancy and Carson and she will be working for him as well, which should also give us plenty of material to work with. So, what can we expect?

Images courtesy of The CW

Well, I think we will get our share of hauntings and spirits since they released a lot after saving George. I also am hoping to get some mysteries based in reality as well to give us a steady balance and to keep us guessing.

Either way, I think that season 2 is headed in the right direction and I am anxious to find out what happens next!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Nancy Drew 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 “Nancy Drew” Season 2 Premiere on the CW: Let’s kick things up a notch

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

“How do you have the bandwidth for another mystery right now?“

A good question for sure, but I think it’s exactly what this show needs for season 2. While season 1 took a while to pick up for me, once we reached the second half, I was completely hooked and I am such a fan. The mystery was fantastic in season 1 and those reveals were insane, but what does season 2 need to do to keep up?

Let’s find out…

As a reminder, the show stars Kennedy McMann, Tunji Kasim, Leah Lewis, and Scott Wolf. Season 2 premiered on January 20th 2021 on The CW and will air weekly new episodes similar to last year.

Season 2 picks up right where we left off as Nancy Drew and her friends have to deal with a pissed off Aglaeca, who wants to collect the debt on their souls, while dealing with a new mystery in Gorham Woods and a wraith.

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for more chilling mysteries!

The Pros:

Images courtesy of The CW

The mini cases are exactly what we need!

Since we wrapped up the Lucy Sable mystery from season 1, the only thing left remaining is what is going to happen to everyone now that they owe a life debt to the Aglaeca. However, if we just focus on this all season long, things can get over-dramatic and stale pretty quickly.

I thought that the introduction of the new mystery with the wraith was exactly what this show needs. I would love to see new mysteries incorporated in every week similar to Supernatural and we can sprinkle in the main mystery throughout the season.

Plus, it actually really allows the Scoobies of this show to shine!

The chilling horror continues.

I really loved the horror elements in season 1 and I’m glad that we are going to be continuing with them for season 2. The wraith was beyond scary and I think that we have a lot set-up for some more scares along the way. More please!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of The CW

Too much family drama.

After all of the reveals in season 1 (no spoilers here), I think that Carson Drew needs to really think about how he is going to contribute to this show moving forward. Things can get borderline melodramatic sometimes so I think we need something new for Carson’s character.

I think that in order for season 2 to really take off, we also need a main character to die and maybe Carson needs to do something to redeem himself…either way, someone has to go.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of The CW

I’m in!

Season 2 is already off to a chilling start and as long as it can maintain the pace of the second half of season 1, we are good to go! I would like to see the show adapt the weekly mysteries into the mix because I think that will really help elevate the show even more, but I’m intrigued and ready to find out more!

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

Ranking the top Couples on Television for 2020: Ships that will warm your heart all year round!

As the New Year quickly approaches, it really got me thinking about some of my absolute favorite couples or ships on television. Whether it was a moment of passion, a first kiss, or a love built on friendship, there were many ships that had my heart skipping a beat, as I gasped for air and fell in love along with them.

It was difficult for me to narrow down my favorite ships for 2020 and I didn’t think it was possible for me to choose my absolute favorite one, which is where you came in!

I ran a three round poll (randomized tournament style) on Twitter and asked for fans to cast their votes for their favorite ships of the year on TV. Thank you so much for your participation and support, as the tournament was so much fun and actually really competitive!

*This was actually the biggest response I have ever gotten on one of these and we ended up having over a thousand votes in the final round! Amazing!

Round One featured the following ships/couples from 2020:

Cheryl & Toni from Riverdale (Ship name: Choni)
Betty & Jughead from Riverdale (Ship name: Bughead)
Veronica & Archie from Riverdale (Ship name: Varchie)
Ian & Mickey from Shameless (Ship name: Gallavich)
Murphy & Emori from The 100 (Ship name: Memori)
Villanelle & Eve from Killing Eve (Ship name: Villaneve)
Chloe Decker & Lucifer from Lucifer (Ship name: Deckerstar)
Dean & Castiel from Supernatural (Ship name: Destiel)
Harry & Macy from Charmed (Ship name: Hacy)
Dani & Jamie from The Haunting of Bly Manor (Ship name: Damie)
Nancy & Ned from Nancy Drew (Ship name: Nedcy)
Betty & Archie from Riverdale (Ship name: Barchie)

After your votes, the following ships/couples moved on to Round Two:

Chloe & Lucifer (Deckerstar)
Betty & Archie (Barchie)
Betty & Jughead (Bughead)
Veronica & Archie (Varchie)
Ian & Mickey (Gallavich)
Harry & Macy (Hacy)

Very Riverdale-centric but a few surprises as well!

After your votes in Round Two, the following ships/couples moved on to the FINALS:

Betty & Archie (Barchie)
Chloe & Lucifer (Deckerstar)
Ian & Mickey (Gallavich)

Most Spirited Ship Fans: Harry & Macy (Hacy) fans deserve some recognition here even though they didn’t make it to the final round. They really held their own and I can’t wait to see what happens next with Hacy in 2021! Ty for voting!!!!

Image courtesy of The CW

After your votes in Round Three, the FINAL results are:

3^rd place: Ian & Mickey (Gallavich)

It was a dream come true for Gallavich fans everywhere when these two were reunited and the final season is giving us plenty of reasons to ship these two all over again. Well deserved!!!!

Image courtesy of Showtime

2^nd place: Betty & Archie (Barchie)

Things really heated up between these two in 2020 and even though they are going back to their other partners, there was an undeniable spark ignited here that cannot be ignored!

Image courtesy of The CW

Drum roll please…

1^st place: Chloe & Lucifer (Deckerstar)

We have a new favorite ship for 2020 and I couldn’t be more pleased! The will-they-won’t-they connection was killing me and we finally got the moments we were waiting for and then some in 2020!!!!! So excited!!!!

Image courtesy of Netflix

Thanks to all the fans who voted! I wish you all the best for the upcoming New Year!

View Final Poll Results Here!

I hope you enjoyed the list and please feel free to post your thoughts and comments below on some of your favorite ships on TV from 2020. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Hardy Boys” on Hulu: A New Mystery to Uncover without all the drama

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

Welcome to Bridgeport…

The Hardy Boys premiered on Hulu on December 4th 2020 with thirteen new episodes available to stream now. The series stars Rohan Campbell, Alexander Elliot, Bea Santos, Keana Lyn, Riley O’Donnell, and James Tupper. Each episode runs for approximately 40-43 minutes.

Based on the iconic book series, this new re-imagining of The Hardy Boys takes place in the 1980’s. After a family tragedy, Frank and Joe Hardy move in with their aunt as they try to piece together the mystery in front of them.

While the series may initially give off some Riverdale and Nancy Drew vibes, it manages to leave the majority of the teen drama behind, focusing on the mystery and the connection between these brothers.

Here is the trailer:

The Hardy Boys is following in the footsteps of modern takes on Nancy Drew and Riverdale, but its simple formula may actually set it apart. Does it do enough to stand out from its predecessors? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Smart choice of time and setting.

Unlike Riverdale and The CW’s Nancy Drew, which both take place in current times, The Hardy Boys takes place during the 1980’s. This actually works to its advantage, as we rely more on how to truly solve a mystery without using modern technology, channeling a lot of nostalgia from the original novels.

We also get a great soundtrack and a small town setting that has a lot of secrets to be uncovered.

Let the mysteries begin!

Images courtesy of Hulu

Believable bond between the brothers.

I think this is important and much like the Winchester brothers on SPN, we get a really strong connection right away between Joe and Frank Hardy. It makes us that much more invested throughout their involvement in the mystery and we care about what happens to them.

There are also some stand-out characters like Biff, who really lit up the screen. While Biff was originally a male character in the book series, girls have some serious sleuth skills too!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

The mystery is just kind of okay…

It’s not bad, but I have to admit that some of the mysteries on both Riverdale and Nancy Drew have caught my attention more. I think that the mystery gets better in the later episodes, however.

Too many episodes.

I think that The Hardy Boys would have actually benefited more from running weekly episodes instead of having them all available at once. While I love a good binge-watch, there are thirteen long episodes and the mystery kind of dragged as a result of this.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in about 75 percent.

While it took me a little longer than I would have liked to get into this show, I did start to become hooked around episode five. The characters started to really grow on me and the mystery reveals were well placed. I think that the show does enough to form its own identity separate from The CW shows, but I wouldn’t say that you need to move this one to the top of your watch-list just yet. However, it does make a fun watch when you have time.

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

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The Pros:

The Cons:

So am I in or out?

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The Cons:

So am I in or out?

The Pros:

The Cons:

So am I in or out?

The Pros:

The Cons:

So am I in or out?

The Pros:

The Cons:

So am I in or out?

The Pros:

The Cons:

So am I in or out?

The Pros:

The Cons:

So am I in or out?

Round One featured the following ships/couples from 2020:

After your votes, the following ships/couples moved on to Round Two:

After your votes in Round Two, the following ships/couples moved on to the FINALS:

After your votes in Round Three, the FINAL results are:

3rd place: Ian & Mickey (Gallavich)

2nd place: Betty & Archie (Barchie)

1st place: Chloe & Lucifer (Deckerstar)

The Pros:

The Cons:

So am I in or out?

3^rd place: Ian & Mickey (Gallavich)

2^nd place: Betty & Archie (Barchie)

1^st place: Chloe & Lucifer (Deckerstar)