It's a bit all over the place, and for some reason the main character is really annoying. I can't tell if it's just her being a terrible actor or if it's something else...I really couldn't stand the weird slow talking she did all the time, it's almost monotone. It made her sound like a bimbo, and i they made it seem like she supposed to be really smart, but that doesn't really come through for me...Other than that, I like the story line with the mystery around the building and the hidden clues. The set design is cool, but again, it's a bit cheesy, I wouldn't be surprised if they cancelled this one after the first season.
39 Reviews
A show that swings between great ideas & acting to BLAND!
philip-r-j-arnold-776-2397009 March 2023
Let's start with the TERRIBLE initial premise - a girl and her boyfriend want to steal a gem so they can "be rich and escape", which is bland at best and just plain boring at worst, they could have done SO much more with just the initial concept, but someone went for the lowest common denominator
Mix in some GREAT actors, and some who are monotone, bland and couldn't show emotion if you put a gun to their head (the main actress is a classic example for this) - the story also spins way out into different directions that would have made a MUCH better main premise, but alas, the side stories don't seem fleshed out enough (yet)
The main character, a nanny to a rich guy, seems to swing by on luck, supposed charm and her looks - anyone with two brain cells to rub together would see through her flimsy as paper explanations, but the other characters seem to swallow it hook, line & sinker, her boyfriend turns out to be a police detective with a good job, so why would he need to "run away"??? - she also (without explanation of how) gets a friend a job as the doorman... he literally shows up in one episode & they say she got him the job, no further detail
Add in some mistery in the basement where some secret information is held, no explanation of how they managed to find out about this "lost" info, but she manages to work it out, being the greatest detective in the world (think Sherlock, but female and no personality)
Some sex gets added as a teenage resident "falls in love" with the new doorman (wow, she goes to school with other rich guys, but thinks a poor latino guy is her "perfect match"), the other nannies pair off - a boy nanny and a girl one, and 2 of the female ones, where we see more kissing than ANY interaction of the straight couples - it's almost as though the director has a kink for seeing teen girls kissing :P
Overall, so far (7 episodes in) there's no explanation of how she gets 99% of her information, and her "deductive skills" appear to be only evident when she finds things, not when she's talking or explaining things to others - it's like they couldn't find a way to progress the "mistery" without her being able to pull information out of the air!!!
Overall, this is a concept that could have been exceoptional, but bad writing, bad casting, followed by bad acting just drag it down - I have it on as "background" while I'm trying to do other things - there are maybe a couple of points where it tries to grab your attention, but then it just loses it
Should you watch this? If you're doing nothing else, why not... Should you go out of your way to watch it, don't bother, unless you like bad acting & bad writing.
Mix in some GREAT actors, and some who are monotone, bland and couldn't show emotion if you put a gun to their head (the main actress is a classic example for this) - the story also spins way out into different directions that would have made a MUCH better main premise, but alas, the side stories don't seem fleshed out enough (yet)
The main character, a nanny to a rich guy, seems to swing by on luck, supposed charm and her looks - anyone with two brain cells to rub together would see through her flimsy as paper explanations, but the other characters seem to swallow it hook, line & sinker, her boyfriend turns out to be a police detective with a good job, so why would he need to "run away"??? - she also (without explanation of how) gets a friend a job as the doorman... he literally shows up in one episode & they say she got him the job, no further detail
Add in some mistery in the basement where some secret information is held, no explanation of how they managed to find out about this "lost" info, but she manages to work it out, being the greatest detective in the world (think Sherlock, but female and no personality)
Some sex gets added as a teenage resident "falls in love" with the new doorman (wow, she goes to school with other rich guys, but thinks a poor latino guy is her "perfect match"), the other nannies pair off - a boy nanny and a girl one, and 2 of the female ones, where we see more kissing than ANY interaction of the straight couples - it's almost as though the director has a kink for seeing teen girls kissing :P
Overall, so far (7 episodes in) there's no explanation of how she gets 99% of her information, and her "deductive skills" appear to be only evident when she finds things, not when she's talking or explaining things to others - it's like they couldn't find a way to progress the "mistery" without her being able to pull information out of the air!!!
Overall, this is a concept that could have been exceoptional, but bad writing, bad casting, followed by bad acting just drag it down - I have it on as "background" while I'm trying to do other things - there are maybe a couple of points where it tries to grab your attention, but then it just loses it
Should you watch this? If you're doing nothing else, why not... Should you go out of your way to watch it, don't bother, unless you like bad acting & bad writing.
Good fun, OK plot, and some interesting characters.
userid-2550829 March 2023
On the Acting:
Amy Acker pulls the beating heart from the characters she portrays and puts it on full display. Even characters that might seem unlikable on paper become people who are easy to empathize with and even love through her portrayal. Tory Ayres is no exception.
I seem to be in the minority with this one, but Mariel Molino does a great job of portraying Elena. The flattened affect seems to be consequence of Elena's upbringing and I found her believable, and easy to like and empathize with.
Kelly Bishop is as usual a delight to watch, I found Warren Christie's character compelling, and I think in general the actors portraying the older adults did well and were believable/ interesting to watch. The actors playing the kids also did well. Unfortunately the "young adult" group had acting that I can best describe as rough and I'll leave it at that.
On the Plot/Characters:
It's mostly typical freeform fare: there's a lot of YA drama and cheesy relationships which aren't my jam, but that's to be expected with my being in my mid-twenties and decidedly not the target audience here. Most of the side-plots involving the nanny group weren't all that interesting, and seemed shoehorned in at times.
That being said, there *were* some really interesting characters and plot threads to be found.
The Santos's family dynamics were really well done, and it's clear that the writers really thought about the kind of people who would come out of that kind of situation. And the parallels to the Ayres family are super neat to have. You have a parent who has done and continues to do awful things, and two children: one trying desperately to protect that parent and the other running as far as they can in the other direction.
The truth of Tory's character is slowly unfurled through the series and by the finale, you're on her side. Even if you didn't like her in the pilot, you don't want anything else bad to happen to her. How both Tory and Dick felt about their marital situation, and the beliefs they held with respect to themselves and each other made sense and informed what happened in the finale, making it as believable as it was horrifying and tragic.
The supernatural element of the ghost was not too overdone, and through how mad it drives Elena we understand Charlotte more as a character.
And overall the series' exploration of grief was well done, with the birthday episode being a real gem in that regard.
I would say that where this series shines is not in the investigation plot, but in the believable and compelling ways that character dynamics are fleshed out. The background we learn informs the characters' actions and emotions, and that is where it matters.
Amy Acker pulls the beating heart from the characters she portrays and puts it on full display. Even characters that might seem unlikable on paper become people who are easy to empathize with and even love through her portrayal. Tory Ayres is no exception.
I seem to be in the minority with this one, but Mariel Molino does a great job of portraying Elena. The flattened affect seems to be consequence of Elena's upbringing and I found her believable, and easy to like and empathize with.
Kelly Bishop is as usual a delight to watch, I found Warren Christie's character compelling, and I think in general the actors portraying the older adults did well and were believable/ interesting to watch. The actors playing the kids also did well. Unfortunately the "young adult" group had acting that I can best describe as rough and I'll leave it at that.
On the Plot/Characters:
It's mostly typical freeform fare: there's a lot of YA drama and cheesy relationships which aren't my jam, but that's to be expected with my being in my mid-twenties and decidedly not the target audience here. Most of the side-plots involving the nanny group weren't all that interesting, and seemed shoehorned in at times.
That being said, there *were* some really interesting characters and plot threads to be found.
The Santos's family dynamics were really well done, and it's clear that the writers really thought about the kind of people who would come out of that kind of situation. And the parallels to the Ayres family are super neat to have. You have a parent who has done and continues to do awful things, and two children: one trying desperately to protect that parent and the other running as far as they can in the other direction.
The truth of Tory's character is slowly unfurled through the series and by the finale, you're on her side. Even if you didn't like her in the pilot, you don't want anything else bad to happen to her. How both Tory and Dick felt about their marital situation, and the beliefs they held with respect to themselves and each other made sense and informed what happened in the finale, making it as believable as it was horrifying and tragic.
The supernatural element of the ghost was not too overdone, and through how mad it drives Elena we understand Charlotte more as a character.
And overall the series' exploration of grief was well done, with the birthday episode being a real gem in that regard.
I would say that where this series shines is not in the investigation plot, but in the believable and compelling ways that character dynamics are fleshed out. The background we learn informs the characters' actions and emotions, and that is where it matters.
Not so good, but I want to know, what will be next.
awendehaltsin24 February 2023
The Watchful Eye has an intriguing plot. The show gives us great promise of a really good experience. Unfortunately, irrational deeds of characters destroy magic. Sometimes, the action is even funny. Usually we choose one or more characters to be our favorite. We sympathize and empathize. But I didn't find such a person. Everybody has repulsive negative sides here. Anyway, I want to know, what will be next. I really liked Netflix's series Archive 81. Unluckily, it was cancelled after the first season. This movie has a similar atmosphere and it's wonderful. Sure, not so deep. The mystical part of the series compensates for stupid and empty dialogues. I hope to see more mystics in the next episodes. Howbeit, if The Watchful Eye gets a second season, it will be strange.
As of episode 2
kresenda1 February 2023
The pilot was a bit messy and hard to follow, but episode 2 was much better. Things are unwinding at a slower pace than I'm used to on typical TV shows--and I love that. There's something oddly ominous about things and the acting is pretty nice. It's not a 10/10 for acting, but it's decent enough that you can get lost in the story a bit. Amy Acker alone is a reason to stick around; she's fabulous and I worship her.
I don't expect this to be a 10 star show, not even a 9, but it's shaping up to be a 6-8 star show if the writers keep down this path, pace, and general feel. I'm hoping it ages like wine and myself.
I will update if things go completely awry and this review ages like milk.
I don't expect this to be a 10 star show, not even a 9, but it's shaping up to be a 6-8 star show if the writers keep down this path, pace, and general feel. I'm hoping it ages like wine and myself.
I will update if things go completely awry and this review ages like milk.
Slow story plus mediocre characters equals I'm not wasting my time.
ikata-4941715 February 2023
This show had potential, but it's too slow for the characters. A show with mediocre characters needs to move along to make up for them. If a story is going to unfold slowly or has a narrow premise, then the characters need to be especially interesting. This show has a narrow premise, a turtle story and mediocre characters. Not a good combination. I made it into episode four, at which point I was too bored to continue. Perhaps if Amy Acker had a bigger role because I usually enjoy her work. Or Aliyah Royale. I'm not familiar with her work, but I liked her character in this show. I thought Lex Lumpkin did a good job with his small role, but none of the other male characters were at all interesting. In short, slow story plus mediocre characters equals I'm not wasting my time.
Great mystery stuff!
trail196510 February 2023
I love this. I find it refreshing, and different. So many elements bouncing about. Totally recommend watching this, let's hope the mystery element continues. A lot of the actors are unknown to me, maybe a few faces familiar. The lead actress is outstanding, great character who carriers a past that keeps things edgy. Like I said there are so many elements; class, young love, deception, misplaced love, murder, mystery, corrupt cops, receipt and to top it spooks. Some say this is a slow burn, but the various elements make the burn a multi faceted modern show with a background of the past. Watch it and enjoy the varied, different elements!
All Atmosphere but No Substance
eabra4846311 March 2023
I'm through episode 7 of this show and what started out as an interesting creepy premise is just going nowhere. There are long drawn out scenes where nothing happens, just a lot of slow monotone talking with no point. It billed itself as a creepy mystery, but it's just a slow motion drama fest. It's not scary, it's not creepy, it's not funny and it's not all that entertaining. On top of this, there are no likable characters anywhere to be seen. Everyone is annoying, deceitful or just plain awful, and that includes the main character. They have to have a modern agenda, too, so there are as many gay or trans characters as there are straight ones, just for the heck of it. Those who gave this show anything about a 5 must not expect much.
Looking forward to see where they go
eovogt1 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
"The Watchful Eye" has proven to be a captivating mystery-thriller series in its first two episodes. The premiere episode sets the stage for the central mystery, as a young woman named Elena is hired as a nanny for a wealthy widower named Matthew. The opulence and grandeur of the Wards' estate, known as The Greybourne, is a stark contrast to Elena's humble background, and the secrets and scandals hidden behind the mansion's walls are soon revealed.
The second episode delves deeper into the mystery of the vanished previous nanny, as Elena begins to bond with the other nannies and starts her own investigation. The episode has a nice balance of both character development and plot progression, as Elena's relationships with the other characters grow and she uncovers shocking truths about The Greybourne and its residents.
The show's production value is high, with stunning cinematography that showcases the grandeur of The Greybourne, while also creating a sense of unease as Elena begins to uncover the dark secrets lurking within its walls. The acting is top-notch, especially from the lead actress who brings a great mix of innocence and determination to her role as Elena.
Overall, "The Watchful Eye" has the makings of a must-watch series for fans of mystery and thriller genres. The intrigue and mystery surrounding the vanished nanny and the Ward family keep viewers on the edge of their seats, while the captivating character dynamics and stunning production value only add to the appeal of the show. I'm looking forward to seeing where the story will go in future episodes and how the central mystery will unravel.
The second episode delves deeper into the mystery of the vanished previous nanny, as Elena begins to bond with the other nannies and starts her own investigation. The episode has a nice balance of both character development and plot progression, as Elena's relationships with the other characters grow and she uncovers shocking truths about The Greybourne and its residents.
The show's production value is high, with stunning cinematography that showcases the grandeur of The Greybourne, while also creating a sense of unease as Elena begins to uncover the dark secrets lurking within its walls. The acting is top-notch, especially from the lead actress who brings a great mix of innocence and determination to her role as Elena.
Overall, "The Watchful Eye" has the makings of a must-watch series for fans of mystery and thriller genres. The intrigue and mystery surrounding the vanished nanny and the Ward family keep viewers on the edge of their seats, while the captivating character dynamics and stunning production value only add to the appeal of the show. I'm looking forward to seeing where the story will go in future episodes and how the central mystery will unravel.
Trailers looked good and then, a passer
jenishome-320957 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I realize I might not be the target demo in mind but the premise of the show looked interesting enough - a mystery or two in an old NY building.
*Spoilers* It started out fine - what happened to that blonde lady, what's up with the cranky old neighbor lady, a visit from a ghost!
But then the typical distracting stuff. She walks into the building and there's people her age that pretty much immediately become friends. She's a bit abrupt and off putting, but no matter, they want to be her friend and seek her out. What's the allure? She seems like the nucleus of these kids so quickly - they all never talked before?
She has some close calls when snooping but is quick to pull it off. And so handy that when snooping there is a fancy magnifying glass right there.
She didn't think that it's easy for her employer to find out she lied about college? Amateur hour! Just a snag, she gets the job.
Acting and writing are meh, sorry folks!
*Spoilers* It started out fine - what happened to that blonde lady, what's up with the cranky old neighbor lady, a visit from a ghost!
But then the typical distracting stuff. She walks into the building and there's people her age that pretty much immediately become friends. She's a bit abrupt and off putting, but no matter, they want to be her friend and seek her out. What's the allure? She seems like the nucleus of these kids so quickly - they all never talked before?
She has some close calls when snooping but is quick to pull it off. And so handy that when snooping there is a fancy magnifying glass right there.
She didn't think that it's easy for her employer to find out she lied about college? Amateur hour! Just a snag, she gets the job.
Acting and writing are meh, sorry folks!
Stick with it
RachelamyRoss31 January 2023
The plot seemed confusing in the pilot. It becomes enticing if you're willing to take a chance on it. It's not close to being a Hitchcock-type show, but I thought it was excellent and well done. It will go far.
I don't love the leading actress, I don't find her to be that entertaining, but the rest of the cast is fantastic. Kelly Bishop is always excellent.
The plot becomes more apparent throughout the season, and the writing starts to pick up. Some may argue the show is a bit slow, but it is beginning to pick up fast.
Ultimately, it's a very entertaining show and will go far. I'm excited to see where it goes. Although it's not everyone's taste, it would be worth it to give it a chance.
I don't love the leading actress, I don't find her to be that entertaining, but the rest of the cast is fantastic. Kelly Bishop is always excellent.
The plot becomes more apparent throughout the season, and the writing starts to pick up. Some may argue the show is a bit slow, but it is beginning to pick up fast.
Ultimately, it's a very entertaining show and will go far. I'm excited to see where it goes. Although it's not everyone's taste, it would be worth it to give it a chance.
What happened to us?
neildogg17 February 2023
I wrote this review because if i see one more commercial for this show i will claw my eyes out. Are u kidding me? What is wrong with people? 10/10!!? Have u ever watched anything in your life? Are these gen-zero reviews? This is trash. Made for cable TV trash. The nerve to use the word "hitchcockian" to describe this....you should be water boarded. This is the garbage of today. Every piece of crap is amazing! Addicting! Bingeworthy! People have literally forgot what a good show is. I mean what are you expecting from free-form I guess? It's just a bad show. All of it. I'm not going to bother listing all the problems. Hopefully they lose a ton of money like all the other junk out there and one day we'll come back to reality.
I want a season 2. Amazing ending to Season 1
chris-9884411 April 2023
Seeing the reviews below is insane. I thought it was great and I want a season 2. I don't think it should prolong longer than a season 2 but I thought the show was amazing.
A bit confusing sometimes but the ending (episodes 8-10) made EVERYTHING crystal clear. I implore everyone to watch the full season before reviewing. The twists at the end are amazing.
I can understand others thinking it may be going nowhere but not really. Once you watch the last few episodes, it'll make perfect sense why certain scenes happened, why certain people said what they said, and why they did what they did. Clever.
A bit confusing sometimes but the ending (episodes 8-10) made EVERYTHING crystal clear. I implore everyone to watch the full season before reviewing. The twists at the end are amazing.
I can understand others thinking it may be going nowhere but not really. Once you watch the last few episodes, it'll make perfect sense why certain scenes happened, why certain people said what they said, and why they did what they did. Clever.
Sleepy Eye
sturt3921 March 2023
I agree with many of the reviewers here, the show had an interesting premise but it is confusing and poorly written. The main character is really annoying, especially her interactions with her employer, she tries to come off older than she is and the dialogue between the two is not very realistic. The other nannies are so much better as characters. Nothing much happens during the episodes and the plot is thin, I usually end up falling asleep before the show is finished. I wish there was more time spent on the back stories of the other characters and less time was spent on the lead. A lot of potential for more mystery or supernatural themes. The set is atmospheric..and the actress who plays Mrs. Ivey is a treasure.
The only show I'm anxious for each week
brittinmiami15 March 2023
Is this a masterpiece? No. Is it incredibly entertaining? Yes. It's a slower build, but well-done overall.
The main character is actually not my favorite, I think she's kind of annoying and not a great actress, but the story keeps hooking me in week after week.
My goddess Kelly Bishop is in this, who you may know from Gilmore Girls, Dirty Dancing, or a million other things. Yes, there are some plot holes (or what seem to be so far). But then the attention to detail with costume and set design is on point, so I'll forgive that.
Ultimately, I am entertained and engaged, and that's really all I want from a television show.
The main character is actually not my favorite, I think she's kind of annoying and not a great actress, but the story keeps hooking me in week after week.
My goddess Kelly Bishop is in this, who you may know from Gilmore Girls, Dirty Dancing, or a million other things. Yes, there are some plot holes (or what seem to be so far). But then the attention to detail with costume and set design is on point, so I'll forgive that.
Ultimately, I am entertained and engaged, and that's really all I want from a television show.
Why so slow?
pietclausen3 February 2023
I wonder what this story is going to be about. I usually don't read any reviews before watching at least one episode but in this saga I have seen two. I, however, don't know what to think about what I've seen so far and quickly looked at the rating, which is way above I think it is worth right now. Scenes take so long to get moving, but we get some eerie music to accompany someone walking through creepy passages for no reason as nothing happens. Perhaps I am impatient and must watch some more episodes. I don't know what other viewers think, but I will read these after I have submitted this review.
Keep watching, eye guarantee it gets good!
zenia-7132226 February 2023
Okay, at first I wasn't really sure what was happening and I definitely felt things could've been more clear. In fact I was confused, and it seemed as though the acting wasn't that great and the love scene weirdly premature. But thankfully they don't obsess over sexual moments like most shows these days, it's definitely more about the plot. Which I liked. It seems most of the reviews seem like they haven't gotten past the first or second episode, and that's truly a shame because you really can't properly judge any show until at least 4+ episodes in. I'm currently on episode 5, as of this review. Unless of course a show is blatantly awful, a series takes time to develop characters, create relationships, and also intertwine a compelling plot. Yes, the pacing would seem slow for this social media generation, but honestly if you grew up with movies weren't demanding the attention spans of sparrows... you might see it's pretty well paced.
The cinematography was honestly marvelous, and the directing I thought was very classic as well as compelling. Angles, depth of field, color tones, all absolutely gorgeously done. The sound design and sound effects were also very well done, and kept that thriller element very clear throughout the show. Visually I was very pleased by this show, and found the cuts to be well done and well paced.
When it comes to character development, I began to feel for the characters at around the last episode (episode 5). In the beginning I didn't quite like the Mariel (the main actress) because she didn't seem to have much of a personality or much emotions about anything, but eventually you can possibly see why she's so reserved and dry in her delivery: she has walls up and became a rebel in order to cope. People deal with trauma differently, and one could interpret she dealt it with being emotionally unavailable; although emotional moments peek through in family conversations and moments with the young boy. Slowly I noticed her character to become softer and more loving. Now Aliyah's (the other next-door Nanny friend) acting seemed a bit unusually flat, not that interesting and I couldn't quite figure out what her character was supposed to bring to the show. I realize there's this sensual tension between her and another female character, but other than that she just doesn't have much else of a purpose as of yet. She doesn't keep secrets, seems somewhat friendly but then not, and honestly just seems awkward. She is sweet but not exactly a well developed character, as of yet. The writers could possibly add more background and depth to her character ti help with this. In general much of the acting overall for the main characters seemed a bit bland and the character development was needing a bit more work. But that does take some time. With that being said, Amy Acker (the sister of the woman who committed suicide) was actually a really great character and wonderful actress who portrayed an uptight controlling yet gentle broken woman in a very strange relationship, who you can tell only because controlling due to the lack of control in her own life. Which personally, I believe she translated beautifully and acted very very well. Even the young boy, Henry Joseph (the son of the deceased) acted incredibly well, depicting a softly hurt child that keeps his feelings internalized. Also, Kelly Bishop (Mrs. Ivey) was remarkably enjoyable to watch; giving a balance to the cast by showing a woman who hides her feelings under a blanket of dark humor and sarcasm. The father (husband of deceased) was also very kind and unassuming, a very fatherly character that seemed safe and self reliant. John Michael (the detective) was surprisingly good as well, and his emotional reactions and acting were really needed in this less than emotionally driven primary cast. The other two nanny friends, and the random Australian fellow, were not that memorable and definitely need more developing; but they do seem like important characters. Elliot (the young neighbor with a crush) definitely needed more personal elements, other than just being a love struck teenager with mood swings and living the smoke life. The other two daughters actually began to have more personalities, which I believe will grow with time. Elliot's crush actually ends up being a very fun actress to watch, and her delivery is excellent.
When it comes to the plot, well, I'm intrigued. I really want to see where this goes. In fact, I'm kind of at the edge of my seat here. Which is always a sign of good writing, and good delivery I would assume. Definitely at times though, I could not remember who was who or how they knew each other. It wasn't totally clear who was who sometimes, as there were a multitude of new characters of course given it is the first season.
Overall I have enjoyed this show so far, and it has a beauty to it in the quality of filming that I believe is quite rare to find these days.
The cinematography was honestly marvelous, and the directing I thought was very classic as well as compelling. Angles, depth of field, color tones, all absolutely gorgeously done. The sound design and sound effects were also very well done, and kept that thriller element very clear throughout the show. Visually I was very pleased by this show, and found the cuts to be well done and well paced.
When it comes to character development, I began to feel for the characters at around the last episode (episode 5). In the beginning I didn't quite like the Mariel (the main actress) because she didn't seem to have much of a personality or much emotions about anything, but eventually you can possibly see why she's so reserved and dry in her delivery: she has walls up and became a rebel in order to cope. People deal with trauma differently, and one could interpret she dealt it with being emotionally unavailable; although emotional moments peek through in family conversations and moments with the young boy. Slowly I noticed her character to become softer and more loving. Now Aliyah's (the other next-door Nanny friend) acting seemed a bit unusually flat, not that interesting and I couldn't quite figure out what her character was supposed to bring to the show. I realize there's this sensual tension between her and another female character, but other than that she just doesn't have much else of a purpose as of yet. She doesn't keep secrets, seems somewhat friendly but then not, and honestly just seems awkward. She is sweet but not exactly a well developed character, as of yet. The writers could possibly add more background and depth to her character ti help with this. In general much of the acting overall for the main characters seemed a bit bland and the character development was needing a bit more work. But that does take some time. With that being said, Amy Acker (the sister of the woman who committed suicide) was actually a really great character and wonderful actress who portrayed an uptight controlling yet gentle broken woman in a very strange relationship, who you can tell only because controlling due to the lack of control in her own life. Which personally, I believe she translated beautifully and acted very very well. Even the young boy, Henry Joseph (the son of the deceased) acted incredibly well, depicting a softly hurt child that keeps his feelings internalized. Also, Kelly Bishop (Mrs. Ivey) was remarkably enjoyable to watch; giving a balance to the cast by showing a woman who hides her feelings under a blanket of dark humor and sarcasm. The father (husband of deceased) was also very kind and unassuming, a very fatherly character that seemed safe and self reliant. John Michael (the detective) was surprisingly good as well, and his emotional reactions and acting were really needed in this less than emotionally driven primary cast. The other two nanny friends, and the random Australian fellow, were not that memorable and definitely need more developing; but they do seem like important characters. Elliot (the young neighbor with a crush) definitely needed more personal elements, other than just being a love struck teenager with mood swings and living the smoke life. The other two daughters actually began to have more personalities, which I believe will grow with time. Elliot's crush actually ends up being a very fun actress to watch, and her delivery is excellent.
When it comes to the plot, well, I'm intrigued. I really want to see where this goes. In fact, I'm kind of at the edge of my seat here. Which is always a sign of good writing, and good delivery I would assume. Definitely at times though, I could not remember who was who or how they knew each other. It wasn't totally clear who was who sometimes, as there were a multitude of new characters of course given it is the first season.
Overall I have enjoyed this show so far, and it has a beauty to it in the quality of filming that I believe is quite rare to find these days.
A Needlework Special
compjazzca-6811624 March 2023
9 eps in and still waiting. This is a show that requires something else on the side; hence the "needlework", knitting, drawing, or solitaire on the side. It doesn't require full eye attention. How it rates above 6 is beyond me. Glad I'm not paying a subscription to watch it! Hoped it might provide something more interesting than the big N's increasingly long dragged out tales. One thing for certain is there's a lot of junk shows being made these days. Kind of like coffee - I'd rather have one cup of good coffee than 3 cups of cheap coffee. Hopefully all involved are newbies and they come out of this with an awareness of how not to do things. Unless this has a good punch-line finish I can't give it more than 4 as the filming was decent, acting mediocre... maybe 3 as I had to back up to understand some of the mumbly dialogue which might have sounded better if I had a high end sound system - or worse. When all said and done, this could easily been done as a less than 2 hour movie of the made for TV genre. DISAPPOINTED.
Mystery with some supernatural
hkjr724 February 2023
I am shocked at the reviews on here complaining that the show isn't funny. It's not a comedy! The others are complaining that nothing has happened yet. It's an unfolding mystery with supernatural elements and we are only 2 episodes in! Clearly some people don't have the patience for a mystery. I find it intriguing and well done so far. There are several suspects and subplots happening. The people complaining this much only 2 episodes in are the same people who complain about shows getting cancelled. Give it a chance! And if you want a comedy go watch one. The only thing I agree with is the main character. I can't decide how I feel about her yet. I'll admit she's got very little emotion to her. The best character is the grandmother! If there is any comedic relief it's her!
Meh
bonster-805959 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I wanted to like it. I thought the premise sounded cool, and I LOVED Cruel Summer so I had faith in Freeform to deliver on this. I love a good thriller of "taking down the rich," but the storyline has not lived up to the hype I wished for. It's quite slow, as others mention, things are drawn out, more confusing (the focus has changed from finding a ruby, to finding what happened to Allie, to why Elena is seeing ghosts, to what's going on with Tory's husband, what? I can't focus) than exciting, and the little storylines between certain characters seem forced. I've watched all episodes thus far and am just watching to see what happens at this point, yet I feel like it's hours of my life wasted that I can't get back.
I liked Elena at first but she has become to be annoying, extremely selfish and too obvious that she is working these people. How do they not know? What is the purpose of Matthew? They keep hinting at who is suspicious but they're really not, her endless search for this ruby is uneventful at this point, she is using every person she comes into contact with and the "friendships" all seem forced.
I will however give them props for diversity - the cast is full of diversity though some acting is better than others. Also like seeing the NY backdrops and atmosphere.
I liked Elena at first but she has become to be annoying, extremely selfish and too obvious that she is working these people. How do they not know? What is the purpose of Matthew? They keep hinting at who is suspicious but they're really not, her endless search for this ruby is uneventful at this point, she is using every person she comes into contact with and the "friendships" all seem forced.
I will however give them props for diversity - the cast is full of diversity though some acting is better than others. Also like seeing the NY backdrops and atmosphere.
My new fix
fishmanjenny3 February 2023
I'm a Cruel Summer fan and so I wanted to check this one out. While very different it definitely has the same type of binge quality. Good stories and cast. It was scarier then I figured it would be. I think the directing and sound had a lot to do with that. I'm into the characters and premise... def has an eat the rich feel to it. For what it's worth I wish I could watch them all at once, but I know hulu makes you wait for a new one each week. I may save the rest until they all come out so I can binge. Not sure. Love all things Amy Acker and Kelly Bishop. Any scene they are in, sign me up. Def worth watching!
Genuinely bad
jamesvanpatten31 January 2023
When this show was marketed it was described as Hitchcockian which is laughable and honestly insulting to Alfred Hitchcock. Where do I start?
It's as far from hitchcockian as can be. It's more of a telenovela then anything else which is fine but then put it during the day and market it as such. The acting is just so over the top, they don't seem like real human beings. Maybe this is supposed to be marketed to the Tik Tok generation I don't know, but even there I don't see how they would like it.
It's not funny, it's not entertaining. So what is it then? Well it's something you should avoid watching. I don't know what Freeform is doing but truly this is an awful job of a show.
It's as far from hitchcockian as can be. It's more of a telenovela then anything else which is fine but then put it during the day and market it as such. The acting is just so over the top, they don't seem like real human beings. Maybe this is supposed to be marketed to the Tik Tok generation I don't know, but even there I don't see how they would like it.
It's not funny, it's not entertaining. So what is it then? Well it's something you should avoid watching. I don't know what Freeform is doing but truly this is an awful job of a show.
Mistery with hints of supernatural events
valentinionut7 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
A young woman needs work and she presents herself as a nanny to a rich and pretentious family. They have a son and suffered a tragedy as the mother jumped trough the window and died.
After she is hired, we and the fam finds out her CV is not all true. Only we know she goes home to a man who s a young detective in the police.
They are up to something. Although they are lovers, something is off.
The family with the kid lives in an apartment big and rich and next to other relatives.
But the nanny sees an apparition, clues take her in an bleak abandoned basement in the building where she finds out she needs a key. She s looking for something: a rare jewel.
More characters enter the scene: doorman replacing the first two who died on spot.
Some young girls, sister living nearby and being related with the kid family.
This is a solid entarteining show, with a good lead actress, decent dialog and well thought intrigue.
You should give it a try.
After she is hired, we and the fam finds out her CV is not all true. Only we know she goes home to a man who s a young detective in the police.
They are up to something. Although they are lovers, something is off.
The family with the kid lives in an apartment big and rich and next to other relatives.
But the nanny sees an apparition, clues take her in an bleak abandoned basement in the building where she finds out she needs a key. She s looking for something: a rare jewel.
More characters enter the scene: doorman replacing the first two who died on spot.
Some young girls, sister living nearby and being related with the kid family.
This is a solid entarteining show, with a good lead actress, decent dialog and well thought intrigue.
You should give it a try.
One to skip
lawrenceljhughes31 January 2023
The pilot was just all over the place. Looks like they weren't sure if anyone would like one of the plots so they put all the lots out there.
I wanted to like it because in general I like Freeform shows. But I just couldn't get into this. Felt completely overacted except for kelly bishop.
There wasn't really anything funny or entertaining. Usually with these type of shows you're not expecting any great acting or a great show really, you're looking to be entertained for an hour. Unfortunately that's not the case here and it just dragged.
As a faithful Freeform customer this is one to skip and hopefully they come up with some better shows in the future. I'm hopeful.
I wanted to like it because in general I like Freeform shows. But I just couldn't get into this. Felt completely overacted except for kelly bishop.
There wasn't really anything funny or entertaining. Usually with these type of shows you're not expecting any great acting or a great show really, you're looking to be entertained for an hour. Unfortunately that's not the case here and it just dragged.
As a faithful Freeform customer this is one to skip and hopefully they come up with some better shows in the future. I'm hopeful.
Cheesy But Also Fun
kjak-690108 February 2023
I really tried not to watch this one but got bored one night. Honestly, it is actually entertaining after you get through the first episode. A lot better than a lot of what's out there currently. I am only watching Servant and The Last of Us right now because the options are pretty slim.
I just finished episode 3. The acting is sufficient. The writing can actually be quite funny and witty at times. I like that it has a sense of humor and doesn't take itself too seriously. Overall, I am enjoying it way more than I would have ever imagined.
I wasn't sure about the actress that plays the lead at first and her J-Lo voice but I have grown to like her a lot.
I just finished episode 3. The acting is sufficient. The writing can actually be quite funny and witty at times. I like that it has a sense of humor and doesn't take itself too seriously. Overall, I am enjoying it way more than I would have ever imagined.
I wasn't sure about the actress that plays the lead at first and her J-Lo voice but I have grown to like her a lot.
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