“Cruel Summer” is a Binge You Can’t Miss
April 2021
Kelly Brennan
"Cruel Summer" is a must-watch television series that kept me hooked from start to finish. The show is a perfect blend of mystery, drama, and nostalgia that makes it stand out from other shows on television. The storyline of the show is brilliant, and the way it unfolds over three summers in the 1990s is both unique and engaging. The twists and turns keep you guessing until the very end, and the character development is masterfully done.
The show features a talented cast of actors who bring their characters to life with nuanced and authentic performances. In particular, the performances of the two lead actresses, Olivia Holt and Chiara Aurelia, have been praised by both fans and critics. This show tells the story of a young girl named Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt) who was groomed by an older male authority figure and her abduction and the chaos that follows in the outside world in the life of the other female lead's life, Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelia).
The show's use of nostalgia is also a standout feature, transporting viewers back to the 90s with its music, fashion, and pop culture references. It's a trip down memory lane that adds to the show's overall appeal. The story’s narrative is set up to be told over three summers of 1993, 1994, and 1995. Each episode focuses on one particular day throughout these three years alternating between the two female lead’s perspectives.
In the small town of Skylin, Texas, the series focuses on two teenage girls, Kate Wallis and Jeanette Turner. Kate is a beautiful, bubbly, popular girl who disappears one day thanks to new vice principal in town Martin Harris. Jeanette is an awkward girl who doesn’t have a lot of friends who takes over Kate’s life after she goes missing by beginning to date Kate’s boyfriend, hanging out with her friends, and even dressing like her.
A year after being abducted, Kate is found alive and makes a shocking accusation that Jeanette knew about her abduction and had heard and seen her but done nothing to help Kate. This accusation made on national television leads Jeanette to become the most hated person in America – a monster. What follows in this story is a mix of lies, lawsuits, and contradicting storylines that leaves everybody hurt in the process with broken families, friendships, and relationships.
The show is captivating and binge worthy as it tackles hard subjects like grooming, abduction, and sexual assault. Each episode leaves you to immediately want to watch another one. The acting is fantastic as each character really makes you believe that they’re telling the truth.
But at the same time, every episode makes you question the reliability of our two lead narrators; both characters are simultaneously the victim and the villain in this story and you’re left to come to your own conclusions throughout the show until the majorly shocking ending in episode 10. The show is a winner in my book due to the interesting and fresh narrative style, amazing cinematography and use of color schemes throughout the three years the story spans.
I would recommend this new series to anyone who is interested in crime or drama television. This takes a blend of both crime/thriller and drama and blends them together in a way that is new and exciting. The show keeps you on the edge of your seat, with twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very end.
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