Tag: Tom Bateman

Spoiler-Free Review of “Based on a True Story” Season 2 on Peacock: A Bloody Good Time!

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

“I knew we’d never get away with it…”

Based on a True Story season two premiered on Peacock on November 21st 2024 with all eight episodes available to stream now. The comedy crime thriller stars Kaley Cuoco, Chris Messina, Tom Bateman, and Liana Liberato. Each episode runs for approximately 25-35 minutes.

Ava and Nathan adjust to life once their baby is born, but they soon learn that their connection with the Westside Ripper serial killer is not over when a copycat killer begins to make waves, luring them back into the world of true crime.

Here is the trailer:

Based On a True Story season two brings our favorite quirky trio back for more bloody fun, giving us plenty of twists and turns to indulge in. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Our favorite characters return!

I loved the chemistry between Ava and Nathan in season one and we got to witness more layers to their relationship in season two. Both of them got to shine more individually in this season and they also worked well as a team.

Once again, Tom Bateman stole the show and was absolutely FANTASTIC in this! I also love that Liana Liberato got more screen time in this season. We had a few new characters to shake things up as well, which was a welcomed change.

Images courtesy of Peacock

Fun twists!

Even though I predicted them, I loved the twists thrown our way. The second half of season two was so addicting and extremely easy to binge-watch (thanks to those short episodes). We were also left with another insane cliffhanger, opening the door to a possible season three. I really hope it gets picked up because this one is effortless fun!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Slow start.

It took a while for the second season to get going. Initially, it almost felt like they forgot they were renewed for a second season and threw things together last minute. I was struggling with the first few episodes and really thought about tuning out, but luckily things turned around in the right direction and the series finally found its way.

I also could have done without the overused daydream sequences. They seemed like unnecessary fluff to me and disturbed the natural flow of the episodes.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in!!!

Based on a True Story season 2 is addicting and entertaining, featuring bite-sized episodes that are very easy to binge-watch.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my watch and will continue to root for this unlikely trio against all odds!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Based on a True Story season two 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 “Based on a True Story” on Peacock: A Real Treat!

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

“Do we have to wake up to murder every morning?”

Based on a True Story premiered on Peacock on June 8th 2023 with all eight episodes available to stream now. The comedy crime thriller stars Kaley Cuoco, Chris Messina, Tom Bateman, Priscilla Quintana, Liana Liberato, and Natalia Dyer. Each episode runs for approximately 25-35 minutes.

Ava and Nathan are expecting a baby and feel like their marriage is becoming very mundane, but when Ava realizes that their plumber may be the Westside Ripper serial killer, she teams up with her husband to blackmail him into creating a true crime podcast with them from the killer’s perspective.

Here is the trailer:

Based On a True Story is the perfect mix of The Flight Attendant and Only Murders in the Building with a unique voice of its own. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Great chemistry between characters!

I honestly haven’t seen such good chemistry between a married couple on TV since Santa Clarita Diet. Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina are hilarious on screen, but also very believable as a couple. They are very relatable and the real moments between them give this series an edge.

I was worried that this series would feel like a rip-off of The Flight Attendant and Only Murders in the Building, but it channeled the quirky take on the true crime craze flawlessly while branching off into something truly exceptional of its own. 

Stand-out performance goes to Tom Bateman as Matt. Think Joe Goldberg from You without all of the whiny psychobabble. He is charming and entertaining and he absolutely steals the show!

Images courtesy of Peacock

Short episodes make it easy to binge-watch.

I got through this series very quickly. The episodes are super short and it’s so addicting! If you’re looking for a quick and easy binge-watch for the weekend, this is the show for you.

There are also some really fantastic blood-soaked moments for slasher fans. The series is more of a comedic thriller, but I personally liked that it wasn’t afraid to get a little bit messy here. After all, they are dealing with a serial killer…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Forced crude dialogue at times…

The opening episode felt a little awkward at times because of the forced and explicit dialogue. I don’t know if the series was trying to be extra shocking, but people in real life don’t talk like this and it just felt unnatural. This calmed down as the episodes continued, however. The show was a lot more entertaining when it wasn’t trying so hard.

I also wasn’t a fan of some of the trippy daydreams/hallucinations. They felt mostly filler to me.

What happened in episode 6 (no spoilers) was completely unnecessary. It almost ruined the entire show for me, but I tried to move past it…

I also wanted more of a pop from the ending. Sure, it left things open for a new season if it gets picked up, but I guess I was looking for something a little more jaw-dropping to seal the deal.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in!

Based on a True Story is a lot of fun and very easy to binge-watch. The chemistry between our three main leads is bloody magic and well worth your time.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Based on a True Story 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 “Death on the Nile” in Theaters: Aesthetically Pleasing Murder Mystery

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

“He’s only the greatest detective alive…”

Death on the Nile released in theaters on February 11th 2022. The murder mystery film stars Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Tom Bateman, Letitia Wright, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Jennifer Saunders, Rose Leslie and Emma Mackey. It runs for approximately two hours and five minutes.

Belgian detective, Poirot, is back in this adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel as his vacation to Egypt doesn’t exactly go according to plan when he ends up involved in a series of murders on a boat involving a newlywed couple.

Here is the trailer:

Death on the Nile allows fans of Murder on the Orient Express a chance to follow the clues with Poirot once again, leading to a fun murder mystery, but does this film do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of 20th Century Studios

Gorgeous fashion and setting.

This film was very pleasing to the eye. The use of color and light really worked to its advantage. I adored all of the costumes (especially Gal Gadot’s wardrobe). Can we get a peek inside her closet? Seriously, she always wears the most beautiful dresses!

The setting easily transported me to another time and place and I thought it suited the movie perfectly. The cast was truly fantastic as well.

Fun murder mystery.

If you enjoy Agatha Christie novels, then you’ll feel right at home with this one. There are multiple suspects (pretty much everyone onboard) and tons of different motives, which will have you playing detective as well throughout the film.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of 20th Century Studios

Really slow at times…

The film was just over two hours long, but I felt like I had been watching it for over three hours. A lot of the setup really dragged. Once we got to the murders, things naturally picked up, but it took a while to get there…

The ending was also kind of predictable. That could be because I started to remember the details of the book and the prior film or maybe I’m becoming a better detective than I thought, but I was able to put the pieces together fairly quickly on this one.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of 20th Century Studios

I’m in about 75 percent…

This film truly was something out of a watercolor painting. Everything was just so vibrant and beautiful, which kept me focused and alert. The murder mystery is a fun one and it’s always great to see Detective Poirot in action.

If you enjoy murder mysteries, then you’ll find plenty to enjoy with this one, but be prepared to sit through a lot before things truly get going.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Death on the Nile 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 “Behind Her Eyes” on Netflix: What did I just watch?

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

“You can never know everything about a person…”

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

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

Here is the trailer:

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

The Pros:

Behind Her Eyes Spoiler Free Review 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Sympathetic characters.

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

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

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

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

Behind Her Eyes Spoiler Free Review Adele

Images courtesy of Netflix

The suspense builds and those twists…

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

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

The Cons:

Behind Her Eyes Spoiler Free Review 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

Slow moving at first.

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

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

Switching genres with no warning.

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

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

So am I in or out?

Behind Her Eyes Spoiler Free Review 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m 50/50 on this one…

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

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

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

Yes!

Did I like it?

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

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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 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!