Spoiler-Free Review of “The Sex Lives of College Girls” on HBO Max: Coming-of-Age Gem

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

“You’re gonna love it here…”

The Sex Lives of College Girls premiered on November 18th 2021 on HBO Max. The comedy series (brought to us from Mindy Kaling) stars Pauline Chalamet, Alyah Chanelle Scott, Reneé Rapp, Amrit Kaur and Gavin Leatherwood. There will be ten episodes in total. The first two are available to stream now and the remaining will air weekly. Each episode runs for approximately 35-45 minutes.

Four new college roommates bond over love, change, and everything in-between as they try to figure out who they are and who they want to be.

Here is the trailer:

The Sex Lives of College Girls is witty and charming with surprisingly not that much sex mixed in, making it a fun coming-of-age story to indulge in. Is it worthy of your next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The college setting works!

I’ve seen so many shows like this before featuring high-school aged characters so it was really refreshing to have another college show out there. The show really explores a lot of the fear and excitement embedded into starting life at college without making it too cheesy.

The sarcastic humor really adds a lot to the show.

I don’t usually laugh at shows like this, but this show really had a great dry humor sprinkled in. It’s clearly a Mindy Kaling show and it almost gave off an unrated Mean Girls vibe which I really enjoyed.

Relatable characters.

The characters could have easily fit into tropes and it may appear that way on the outside, but we are really starting to dig in to what makes these ladies tick and through their flaws and strengths, they actually seem like real people, which is difficult to portray in shows like these sometimes.

I really like all of the characters and I’m excited to see them grow more throughout the show.

The Cons:

The title is sort of misleading…

I almost passed on this show because I thought I was going to get a Sex and the City rip-off but the show has a lot of good messages in it and doesn’t focus on sex that much. I think this show should have been called something else because it may lose out on an audience that might really enjoy this show.

It’s catchy and all and grabs your attention so I understand the point, but I think there is a lot more going for this show and it deserves some attention.

Explores a lot of themes I’ve seen before.

A lot of the plots and dilemmas are very familiar. The show isn’t exploring anything that new or different, but it still is a fun watch so far so I’m not too disappointed here. However, I would like to see the series branch out a little bit more but I think we will get there with the next episodes.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this series. It’s well written, funny, and a blast to watch!

If you’re looking to take a break from some of the fantasy or action series, this is a nice change of pace!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Sex Lives of College Girls 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 “Yellowjackets” on Showtime: Your Next Obsession has Arrived!

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

“So what do you think really happened out there?”

Yellowjackets premiered on November 14th 2021 on Showtime. The series will feature ten weekly episodes. It stars Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci, Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Ella Purnell and Sammi Hanratty. Each episode runs for approximately 53-55 minutes.

On their way to nationals, a female high school soccer team survives a plane crash in the middle of the wilderness. Years later, they try to cope with the horrific events that took place after the crash.

Here is the trailer:

Yellowjackets effectively blends several genres together, leading us into a twisted mystery with a great cast and a disturbing plot. Does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Does plenty to bring you back for more!

Even though there was a lot of set-up in the first episode, it did a really good job of reeling the audience in right from the start. We see glimpses of several dark and disturbing moments in the past that left me wanting more immediately. I’m so anxious to explore the mystery surrounding these characters and I am completely hooked!

All-star cast!

I expected fantastic things from Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci and Melanie Lynskey, but even their younger selves are stealing the show. There is a lot of talent here and I’m so excited to see them all interact more.

Effectively blends genres and time jumps without making our heads spin…

There is a lot to process, but I thought that this show managed to effectively jump back and forth in time. One of my biggest cons with Cruel Summer was that I felt like my head was spinning with the constant time jumps even though I loved the mystery at the center.

Yellowjackets gets this right and I actually thought the past plot was a little more intriguing than the present, but I’m confident that everything will seamlessly connect, bringing us a story worth getting excited about.

I also thought that the blending of genres worked effortlessly. There is something dark and horrific going on, immediately giving me vibes of Alive and The Wilds, but there are also some sprinkles of Big Little Lies too which should make an interesting mash-up.

The Cons:

A lot to keep track of…

The time jumps were effective in this series, but the pilot episode was jam-packed with so much. Don’t get me wrong…I absolutely loved all of it, but it was a lot to process and I felt like I needed a cheat sheet at times for certain things, but there’s still plenty of time to figure everything out in ten episodes.

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!

I’m so excited about this show and I can’t wait to see how things unfold!

The cast is out of this world, the past and the present both have compelling plots, and the dark secrets rooted in the past are so intriguing and I need to know more!

It’s safe to say that I am completely hooked and I think that you will be too!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Yellowjackets 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 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 “Locke & Key” season two on Netflix: Growing Up Isn’t Easy

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

“I found a new key…”

Locke & Key season two premiered on Netflix on October 22nd 2021 with ten new episodes available to stream now. The supernatural mystery series stars Emilia Jones, Connor Jessup, Jackson Robert Scott, Darby Stanchfield and Aaron Ashmore. Each episode runs for approximately 48-50 minutes.

The Locke family is back, but they realize that evil is still lurking in the shadows, determined to make a dangerous new key that could threaten the lives of everyone around them.

Here is the trailer:

Locke & Key season two has matured into a darker story, but does it still have enough magic in it to keep us entertained? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Supporting characters get their chance to shine.

In season one, I was mostly intrigued by the Locke siblings and the villainess, Dodge. A lot of the other characters felt mostly filler and we didn’t really learn much about them. I appreciated that we actually got to devote some serious time to their development in season two (particularly Uncle Duncan and Nina Locke).

This helped solve the slight disconnect I had with season one and I actually really enjoyed their story-lines!

Dark fast-paced plot.

Season one of the series really had an innocence to it. It was a wonderful breath of fresh air and I felt like I was transported right along with the Locke siblings into each one of their new adventures.

There is a different feel to season two and it mirrors the struggle some of the Locke siblings are having when it comes to magic and growing up. Even though it was different, I still liked the overall plot. Things just felt much darker in season two. I loved a lot of the elements thrown our way and I thought that the episodes were fast-paced enough to keep me invested in the mystery at its core.

The Cons:

Downgraded villains…

Laysa De Oliveira as Dodge was such a good villainess in season one. Things just didn’t have that same wicked quality in season two with our above partners in crime. I thought that Eden was a lot stronger than Gabe (plus she wore some killer heeled boots), but there was more of a whiny feel to them. They just seemed like teenagers acting as villains, where De Oliveira was the epitome of evil.

A lot to keep track of…

I felt like I needed to take notes just to keep up. If you are thinking of skipping the recap…don’t! I needed the recap and I probably should have re-watched the entire first season because there was so much crammed into season two and I had a difficult time remembering things. Maybe I need a memory key too…

The plot was good, but it was also slightly all over the place. We know that season three has already been confirmed so it could have been possible to carry over some stuff into the next season rather than jamming it all into season two, which was slightly overwhelming.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my watch. I think that the Locke siblings really work well together and you genuinely care about their well-being. The magic was still there, but it had a more mature feel and that’s okay.

I had some reservations about certain elements but there was enough happening to keep me entertained throughout my watch.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A Halloween they’ll never forget…

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 “You” Season 3 on Netflix: Best Season Yet!

**This is a spoiler-free review of season 3 so feel free to read on!**

“We are the best team…”

You is back for a third season as we follow Joe to the suburbs. Season 3 premiered on October 15th 2021, featuring ten episodes available to stream now on Netflix (approximately 45-50 minutes in length). The show stars Penn Badgley, Victoria Pedretti, Dylan Arnold, Shalita Grant, Scott Speedman and Tati Gabrielle.

You season 3 continues the relationship of Joe and Love in their new home as they welcome their new child into the world, but some old habits are hard to break when it comes to jealousy and obsession…

Here is the trailer:

You has always been a binge-watcher’s dream but season 3 was beyond addicting. It transformed the show into something even greater, giving us plenty to talk about. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Dream duo!

I really enjoyed the first two seasons of You, but season 3 was a game changer for me and part of that was thanks to the dynamic between Joe and Love. Joe is off his game in a lot of ways and Love keeps him on his toes. They are both dangerous and deadly and I loved the Bonnie and Clyde/Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibe going on throughout the season.

If you think your marriage has issues, watch these two!

Images courtesy of Netflix

Great new characters.

I loved all of the new characters introduced. They really added to the whole suburban environment. We know that people wind up in serious trouble when they cross paths with Joe and Love, but I thought that some of the interactions were really outrageous in a good way and they kept me invested throughout my watch.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Where do we go from here?

There will be no spoilers in this review but A LOT happened in season 3 and now I’m left wondering what’s next for Joe? I really liked the new direction of the show so we’ll have to see if it can keep that momentum going since season 4 has already been confirmed. This isn’t necessarily a con, but I hope that the next season can keep the level of intensity going because this show is really addicting!

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

This was my favorite season so far! I loved the dynamic between Joe and Love and I could not stop watching this show. I finished all ten episodes in just over a day because it was that addicting!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on You season 3 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…

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 “The Lost Symbol” on Peacock: Back to the Mystery

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

“It’s buried out there somewhere…”

The Lost Symbol premiered on Peacock on September 16th 2021. There will be ten episodes in total airing weekly on the streaming service. The mystery thriller series stars Ashley Zukerman, Valorie Curry, Sumalee Montano and Rick Gonzalez. Each episode runs for approximately 45 minutes.

The Lost Symbol is a prequel to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code series as we follow Professor Robert Langdon at Harvard University. He must solve a series of puzzles and mysteries to rescue his kidnapped mentor, leading to plenty of conspiracy theories along the way.

Here is the trailer:

The Lost Symbol brings us back into this mysterious world, but this is not the first prequel series we have seen based on a popular book and movie franchise. Does The Lost Symbol do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Jumps right into things.

Series like this can usually take a while to get going with all of the set-up and world building, but I was pleasantly surprised that we really jumped right into things with the pilot episode. The pacing was done extremely well and I was invested in the mystery at the core.

Decent characters.

So far I like the character dynamics and I think that the cast is promising as well. There are some tropes going on already, but I think that we have the opportunity to really explore a young Langdon and see how things developed in the beginning.

The Cons:

Nothing truly extraordinary going on just yet.

That doesn’t mean that we won’t get there, but this show could easily lose steam and its audience if it doesn’t keep the plot exciting and fresh. The mystery is interesting but I’ve seen this type of show before and it needs to be careful about how it approaches the next episodes to keep us coming back for more.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

This show was a lot better than I thought it would be. It has a National Treasure meets The Librarians feel which could pull in a new audience separate from fans of Dan Brown’s works. That being said, it needs to keep up the pacing and throw in plenty of curve balls along the way to keep things from becoming stale.

I’m in for now and excited to see what happens next.

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

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!

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!

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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Gossip Girl” Reboot on HBO Max: Why So Serious?

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

“Been a minute…did you miss me?”

The reboot of Gossip Girl premiered on HBO Max on July 8th 2021 with the first episode. The remaining nine episodes will air weekly. Each episode runs for approximately 55 minutes. The reboot stars Jordan Alexander, Whitney Peak, Tavi Gevinson, Eli Brown, and Emily Alyn Lind.

Kristen Bell returns as the voice of Gossip Girl, but the rest of the original cast do not. The Upper East Side is back on display as we follow a new group of teenage elites and witness them go to scandalous measures to get what they want while attending Constance Billard. The original Gossip Girl website may have shut down, but a new source emerges to keep the dirt coming.

Here is the trailer:

Gossip Girl (2021) has a lot to live up to as the original series was an entertaining guilty pleasure to indulge in. Are we ready for a reboot of the series and does it do enough to find a voice of its own? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A more diverse cast.

Much like the Saved by the Bell and Charmed reboots, we are presented with a more diverse cast for the reboot of Gossip Girl. I think this is a step in the right direction to be more inclusive this time around.

Sibling rivalry and a new Gossip Girl.

The main plot reminded me a little bit of One Tree Hill. We have half siblings who end up in the same school and drama is high as a result. I think this is the best part of the show so far and I’m interested to find out more about the true intentions of both siblings and how far they will go to keep up appearances.

We also get a twist on the new “Gossip Girl” and learn the identity right away. This takes us away from the outrageous reveal at the end of the original series and also gives us a chance to connect with a different set of characters that may see things a little bit differently. I’m intrigued by this so far.

A familiar voice to put us at ease.

It wouldn’t feel right with anyone else narrating the show as the infamous “Gossip Girl” and hearing Kristen Bell’s voice made me feel right at home. Sure, the dialogue is a little outrageous, but there was a much needed nostalgia present as a result, especially since the rest of the cast is absent…even though we get plenty of reminders and name drops along the way to keep us tuned in.

The Cons:

Don’t lose sight of what made the show work in the first place…

My biggest con with this reboot is that it takes itself way too seriously. The dialogue is beyond atrocious. I understand we are focusing on a new generation, but no one talks like this. While Riverdale presents us with some over-the-top dialogue as well, it still manages to keep us entertained because it knows when to lighten the mood even during some of the angst-filled melodrama.

In similar fashion, the original Gossip Girl worked because it was so outrageous and it embraced this. The cast really elevated the characters and made you care about them…even though they were horrible human beings!

Blair Waldorf is the iconic Queen Bee of television and even though Chuck Bass was beyond ridiculous, he was so entertaining to watch! The back-stabbing and twists just somehow worked because the show understood that it was meant to be a guilty pleasure teen drama.

The reboot is having an identity crisis and is taking itself too seriously, which makes the execution flat and uninspiring. I don’t care about any of the characters yet and it was honestly really difficult to watch a lot of the pilot episode, which is beyond disappointing.

So am I in or out?

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I want to give this show a chance to get better because I am a fan of the original series. However, the majority of the pilot episode was painful to watch. I am going to give the show at least three episodes to change my mind, but it needs to really make some major changes if it wants to connect with a new generation and fans of the original series.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on the Gossip Girl reboot 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 “Panic” on Prime Video: Let the Game Begin

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

“Every small town has a secret…ours has a game.”

Panic premiered on Amazon Prime Video on May 28th 2021 with ten episodes available to stream now. The series stars Olivia Welch, Ray Nicholson, Jessica Sula, Mike Faist, and Camron Jones. Each episode runs for approximately 40-45 minutes.

After graduating from high school in a small Texas town, the seniors compete in a secret dangerous game to score a chance at a competitive cash prize that will grant them an escape from their boring lives. The series is based on the book of the same name by Lauren Oliver.

Here is the trailer:

Panic may initially appear to be a standard YA series filled with tropes and drama, but the show manages to hook its audience with the very first episode, reeling us in for more and more as the clever plot reveals the secrets and mysteries behind the game. Is Panic worthy of your next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Draws you in with adrenaline filled episodes.

This show was very effective at maintaining a fast pace even with some of the drama and set-up sprinkled in. I was invested from the start and by the time we got to the explosive end of the first episode, I needed to know what happened next and this continued to happen with the remaining episodes.

The episodes are only about 45 minutes in length but I often felt like I was only watching for five minutes because I was so drawn in.

Addicting premise with characters to root for.

The game itself is actually really interesting and intense. I found myself playing along with the characters, but it also helped to have really interesting characters to root for. I thought that each character had a lot to offer, but Heather, Ray, and Natalie were my favorites and I wanted each of them to succeed for different reasons.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Predictable teenage drama.

This is a YA series and we do get quite a lot of teen drama sprinkled into the mix. There is the obvious love triangle, the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, the girl who is trying to do right by her family, and the supportive best friend. There was nothing truly unique or extraordinary here, but I kind of dug some of the drama and it wasn’t enough to overshadow everything else going on.

Also, it seemed like the cops were just really dumb in this show. It’s a small town so it shouldn’t be this hard to crack the case, but as long as you go into this show expecting to see some tropes and unrealistic moments, you will still be highly entertained.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in 100 percent!

I went into this show thinking I was going to get a watered down version of The Hunger Games and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I became obsessed with this show. This show is absolutely worthy of your next binge-watch and I think that Prime Video is really stepping up its game with YA thrillers. After the success of The Wilds, I am hoping that people will enjoy Panic also because I would love to see a second season…especially after that ending!

This show was so entertaining and really addicting. If you’re looking for a fast paced show with lots of twists and reveals, you are in the right place.

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

Spoiler-Free Review of “Cruel Summer” on Freeform: Mean Girls with Bite

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

“Who do you believe?”

Cruel Summer premiered on Freeform on April 20th 2021. The series is set to air ten weekly episodes. It stars Olivia Holt, Chiara Aurelia, Harley Quinn Smith, Michael Landes, and Froy Gutierrez. Each episode runs for approximately 50 minutes.

The events we witness take place over three summers in the 1990’s as a teen goes missing and another girl mysteriously takes her place.

Here is the trailer:

Cruel Summer adapts a typical teen thriller formula into something different by presenting us with three timelines that jump back and forth. It’s something bold and unique, but does it get in the way of this already entertaining plot? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Freeform

Mean Girls meets Single White Female.

Sure, it’s been done before, but this is a formula for success. I really loved this vibe and I was drawn into the plot and mystery completely. I can’t predict what is going on and I am actually really excited to see what happens next.

I also really like that I’m not sure who to root for just yet. The opening two episodes present us with different perspectives and of course things are not as they seem.

The performances are actually pretty on point and I thought that Kevin Smith’s daughter, Harley Quinn Smith was really great and I’m excited to see her in this role.

Images courtesy of Freeform

90’s nostalgia.

Much like Little Fires Everywhere, this show is also bringing us some 90’s nostalgia with the fashion and music soundtrack. I’m not sure it was truly necessary for this show, but it’s an added bonus and I am enjoying the throwback so far.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Freeform

Trippy time jumps.

While I appreciate that this show is trying to do something different, the trippy time jumps become really confusing and distracting. I actually think that the show is really good without these flashes every few minutes and while the actresses do a great job of reminding us which Jeanette and Kate we are dealing with, my head started to hurt after a while.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Freeform

I’m in!

Even with the trippy time jumps, this show is really addicting. I think that it might quickly become one of my favorite shows and I am really excited to see the mystery unfold over the next several weeks.

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

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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Who Killed Sara?” on Netflix: A Steamy Murder Mystery

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

Revenge can be a powerful motivator.

Who Killed Sara? premiered on Netflix on March 24th 2021 with ten episodes available to stream now. The series stars Manola Cardona, Alejandro Nones, Carolina Miranda, Ximena Lamadrid and Eugenio Siller. Each episode runs for approximately 40 minutes.

The Mexican crime series, ¿Quién mató a Sara? centers around Alex, who was wrongfully framed for his sister’s murder. Eighteen years later, he is determined to get revenge and expose the real killer, as family secrets are exposed and new alliances are formed.

Here is the trailer:

Who Killed Sara? may initially seem like a soapy guilty pleasure drama and there is plenty of that to go around, but does the murder mystery measure up? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

The murder mystery is a good one.

The series starts off with a bang. We are immediately brought into the center of the horrific flashback, which presents us with a horrible crime, setting up the motivation for our main character to get justice for the murder of his sister.

The murder mystery kept me invested the entire time. There are plenty of twists thrown our way to keep us guessing and I thought that the show did a good job of presenting us with multiple suspects without giving too much away.

The overall pacing of the show worked really well. The episodes are short and the flashbacks were actually relevant and furthered the plot along.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Characters to root for.

There are some really awful characters in this show, but the main characters have complex stories and layers. I felt the chemistry between them and I also wanted to know more about each and every one of them. As secrets and dark pasts are revealed, you start to piece together the mystery at the center of it all, which worked well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Unnecessary and outrageous subplots.

There are a lot of characters and a lot of subplots to keep up with. Plus, we get a lot of unnecessary and extra sex scenes that pushed this thriller over to the soap opera side, but I thought we were reeled in enough by the mystery to prevent this from overpowering the show.

However, I thought some of the dialogue and references seemed outdated and ridiculous. If we start to map together how our main character is figuring this all out and how others are getting away with things, everything starts to become a bit silly, but as long as we manage our expectations, the guilty pleasure mystery is enough to keep us entertained.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

Yes, the show can be borderline outrageous and ridiculous, but it also delivers a well thought out mystery that keeps you wanting more. This show is the definition of a guilty pleasure binge-watch. If you enjoy the UK Harlan Coben mysteries and shows like The Undoing, you will feel right at home.

Who Killed Sara? was thoroughly entertaining and it kept me guessing until that cliffhanger ending. Wow! Luckily, Netflix has already confirmed that we can expect to see a second season in the future. Phew!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Who Killed Sara? 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!