Fake

I was only watching this because I grew up on one of the properties filmed ( not in the grand house but another house on the property). Anyway I really liked the show. I can see, and have experienced, how easy it to fall for someone even though the warning bells are ringing loudly. When your love bucket is empty you will date the person that comes along and tries to fill it. You so so much want to believe. The relationship between mother and daughter didn't help Birdees' self esteem. With the therapy she was getting how come she didn't tell her mother to treat her better. Congratulations to the writer bringing up the cheater issue from a perspective that can be understood from probably way too many vulnerable people.

Good show.

What's wrong with Birdie? I want to shout at and shake her. She really needs to wake up. Great performances, he is right creep and she is annoying.

I feel like I'm wasting my time watching this but I'm extremly curious how this ends. I think I will suffer through all of it to find out.

I feel sorry for her, she doesn't deserve treatment like that. I can't stand his voice. It's unbelievable this is based on true story. I'm sure it didn't have to have so many episodes. I'm getting bored from time to time. Here is valuable life lesson- love is blind! Good luck watching it all. How many lies can someone tell I keep asking myself.

The tension in the series is created between the characters' and the audience, rather than among the actors. Birdie's deep-seated denial makes the viewers say over and over "how can she believe him", as do her friends and family.

The more that audience members can sympathize with Bridie's denial, the more profound the tension is. However, for those of us who do not sympathize, the constant repetition of her failing can be a bit tedious. Therefor the director has taken a big chance by using this technique. This is exacerbated by the fact that the story arc builds up slowly over the initial episodes and that the crescendo is 100% predictable.

Fake is entertaining and definitely had the binge factor to make me keep watching. I wanted to know how it ended and I enjoyed the switch to a different POV and the over all style of storytelling BUT...

1) The main character, Birdie, while really well acted by a talented actress, was just infuriating. Her stupidity and weakness became annoying and I know this is based on a true story, I know it really happened and romance scams happen all the time but I just thought any smart sensible woman would run a mile. Maybe it was because the romance scammer guy was played as a villain from the start. The actor was kind of creepy and so it was hard to believe she would be conned by him.

2) Otherwise first rate production values and performances were marred by the awful dreamlike repetitive sequences where lines were played over and over in voice over as Birdie's thoughts or memories. It felt like budget film school nonsense and really let down the production. It was used as a conceit way too many times.

I wasn't at all keen on the musical choices and why was the Tiger song used twice in different episodes? That felt like they couldn't afford another track. It was insanely annoying as was the Love Kitten track. Just poor musical choices and the sequence where Birdie danced to the latter was cringe.

7/10 is kind but I did binge it and I did enjoy it mostly aside from those few moments of terrible directing choices.

Joe played a slimy creep with a sickening voice, but having come across two of these sort of characters in my time, his role was true to form. A Player of the highest Order. However, Denham really wasn't suited to the role at all. It needed someone less creepy and more 'dashing', thus to avoid the warning bells and red flags that someone like Birdie could be excused for not seeing and acting upon, therefore making it more realistic.

Birdie, Birdie, Birdie - when does stupid become more stupid? You were painful to watch and I wanted to throw my phone away, let alone yours.

All in all, too long and too much of Birdie feeling sorry for herself. I wish I hadn't wasted my time.