Cruel Summer

Each episode is addictive, because it allows the audience to trust and doubt the two female lead characters at the same time. With all the plot twists, you will find that both characters are the victim and the villian at the same time. Yet, I feel sorry for both. Also, I appreciate how they don't romanticise an underage student and authoriative figure relationship like pretty little liars. Instead, it covers the grooming, a real issue.

This series is great when you get past the bad "Texas" accents, and the annoying Harley Quinn Smith.

I passed on this show until just recently because it just didn't look like something a grown woman would be able to enjoy. I got teen high school drama vibes and that's just never enough to keep me interested. I finally gave it a shot and thank goodness because it's easily one of my favorite series I've watched in recent memory. The way the story unfolds, the way it keeps you completely absorbed even though you only get more questions than answers until the last couple episodes, the cinematography and color schemes! And the acting. It was so impressive and by the end of the season you get all of your answers.

I think this show had a lot going on for it but after watching the entire season I think there were a few things that ruined it. The concept was interesting, it got my attention at first but as I kept on watching I liked it less and less. I think the writing was too messy, the pace was too slow (some episodes had nothing interesting going on in them), the characters development was all wrong (especially from a psychological perspective), some really unlikable characters (Mallory for example was getting on my nerves a lot and I must point out she doesn't look like a teen either) and lastly there was too much unexplained behavior. By the time I got to the end I felt the time invested in the show was not worth it. I was expecting it to be more mature. It had a teen show feel to it and by the end even the twists were not impressive. It's watchable but not as good as it should have been.

It is hard to pick a rating for this because Season 1 deserves 9 stars, but season 2 is barely 4 stars. When I found out S2 was not a continuation, but a new plot with all new cast, I was equally excited hoping it would be as good as S1. It doesn't even come close. I don't understand how this show went from being as good as it was in S1 to this junk in S2. I've watched all 8 available episodes of S2 so far and honestly don't know why I'm still watching. I think there is only one episode left and no matter what happens it can't make up for how bad the other episodes have been. TLDR: Season 1 is amazing, Season 2 is trash.