Ravenswood

I'll give it to ravenswood, the darker, dramatic themes and gripping lead (Tyler Blackburn) combined with the haunting setting of the dark and gloomy supernatural atmosphere, make this show not only entertaining but interesting as well. While this definitely is not the best show in the world, if you're a fan of pretty little liars and are down for something a bit darker, you should definitely check it out.

I just watched the final episode of "Ravenswood", a supernatural teen drama series by ABC Family. It's a spin-off of the popular teen soap "Pretty Little Liars" and follows the character of Caleb Rivers, played by hunky Tyler Blackburn, as he discovers a deadly curse that has plagued the town of Ravenswood for generations.

Let me get one thing straight: I'm a big fan of teen drama series, and "Pretty Little Liars" is one of the best ones in years. I also love a good mystery. But the supernatural theme of "Ravenswood" put me off a bit, probably because it's so far from the "Pretty Little Liars" universe.

Also, the acting isn't that good. I can live with subpar acting as long as I like a series in general, but there is something quite cheesy about "Ravenswood". Not even the cute guys can save it. Sure, it's entertaining at times, but it seems they're trying to hard to compete with "The Vampire Diaries" and "The Originals" instead of doing their own thing.

I don't regret watching "Ravenswood", but to be honest, I won't miss it that much. And I'm definitely not surprised it got cancelled. There are some good news though: The character of Caleb will return to "Pretty Little Liars". I just wonder how they will explain his short experience with the supernatural. Was it just a dream?

Watching 'Ravenswood' is like stumbling upon a series nearing its end. The characters and focus are so narrow, you get the feeling you missed important stuff that led us to this point.

So how sad that 'Ravenswood' is only halfway into its first season, and it's taking liberties & shortcuts only long-established shows should be allowed to take.

From the start, 'Ravenswood' makes the assumption that you know & love its characters. Good shows ease into heavy plot, allowing viewers to experience the characters as normal people with real lives/relationships/quirks. Not so with 'Ravenswood'...the show quickly gathers its cast & dumps them into a supernatural mystery.

To make things worse, 'Ravenswood' then makes the assumption that its supernatural mystery payoff is so good...viewers will endure one unexplained supernatural event after another. And that's basically what the show amounts to ("BOO!", 5 minutes later "BOO!", 8 minutes later "BOO!"...tune in next week when..."BOO!"). You are given very little to contextualize what is going on & why, so the show leaves you bored and exhausted.

This was not the original promise of 'Ravenswood'. When the series was first teased on 'Pretty Little Liars'...Ravenswood was presented as a peculiar community inhabited by almost-Amish residents. They seemed to have a unique culture & were fearful of outsiders. You got the sense that whatever their secret was...they were all in-on-it in some way or another. As a viewer, you wanted "in" as well.

But then the series began, and Ravenswood was basically presented like any other podunk town - with mostly boring people, and a couple of creepy weirdos.

I wanted this show to succeed. But as it is executed, I believe it should be quietly brought to an end.

Why does this show have have too be canceled? I understand some people don't like it but I LOVE it. This show is so interesting and confusing at the same time. Everybody could tell it was by I. Marlene King from all the twists and the mysteries. I know she has Pretty Little Liars too and this was just a spin-off show from that but Ravenswood is it's own show now. It is amazing and I couldn't believe it when I found out it was canceled. The season finale for the first season of Ravenswood was so great and it made you want to watch so much more, you started off with more questions than you originally had from the first episode - Pilot - but in the back of my mind I knew it had been cancelled. If there was absolutely any way for this show too be "UN-Cancelled" than I vote they start thinking up those ideas right NOW because there is some very angry fans of this show who will do whatever they can too get this up and running again. Email I. Marlene King and demand her to continue because this show is too amazing to stop on that note.

Five strangers are thrown together and are hit by a fatal curse that has plagued a town for generations. What more could you ask for to hook you into the brilliant series Ravenswood. (A PPL Spin off) The mysterious and disturbing history of the town has me wanting more and fuels a need for the teens to find a way to stop the curse and save themselves. Classic actress Meg Foster is eerily perfect in her role as the resident psychic as are the 5 fresh faced kids playing the lead roles. Having come in cold not being a PPL fan (although I have seen the first season) I am intrigued by this show. I can see where Pretty Little Liars fans would not like it so much as it is really nothing like that show, this is more paranormal/supernatural, after all the whole town is haunted. I just hope the Caleb & Hanna fans don't try to sink the spin off in order to have Caleb back in Rosewood. He is so much better off here with his brooding persona. Ultimately Ravenswood is a bone chilling tale with a fascinating blend of chills, thrills, drama and mystery but most importantly don't have to be a Pretty Little Liars fan to enjoy the series (in fact you're probably better off not being one) so enjoy this epic tale of pure escapism into the hauntingly eerie town of Ravenswood.