When we think of good television shows that you need to watch, Based On A True Story needs to be one of those shows. It’s innovative, fun, and feels like something new.
That’s something that we find hard to do these days and yet seems pretty easy. It doesn’t seem like something that should be complicated, but then again we’re not TV writers and we do understand that studios are always trying to one up the other so who knows.
But what we do know is that Based on a True Story wasn’t anything like we expected. It didn’t even come close. Then again, it’s not actually a true story, so we shouldn’t be surprised, really.
Now, when we first saw the trailer for the Peacock show, we did think that it would be like Only Murders in the Building. The thing is – it quickly solidifies itself as a show that can go so many different directions, take so many forms, and will quickly solidify itself as one of the iconic shows of its time.
“We are good people. We played by the rules. And look where it got us.”
KATEY CUCUO AND CHRIS MESSINA
The casting of Based on a True Story is PHENOMENAL. Yes, I used that word. The thing is that casting is very important to any show. If you don’t have a good cast, you don’t have anyone that can deliver lines in a way that delivers them with both their body and their speech.
And a good line, well, it’s a good line. A great line, well, it’s a great line. But a line that is memorable when watching a television show or movie is how it is delivered. Hell, when reading a book, it’s the way a line is delivered in your head.
It’s actors like Katey Cucuo and Chris Messina that are exceptional at doing just that – bringing the good and the bad lines to life. But with them, nothing ever seems bad.
And that brings me to the next part of this. The part where we talk about chemistry between actors. These two have it.
It’s because of these two (and a great supporting cast) that you become invested. Comedy isn’t easy, but these two do it well.
THE SUTTLE MOMENTS
The thing about this show is that everything leads to something, you just need to pay attention to what is there. Every moment is someone setting someone up for something, some clue, something someone shouldn’t do, but EVERYTHING is something you should be paying attention to.
No joke, part of the joy of this show is the fact that you don’t know what is real and what isn’t. Some little moments remind me of the end of Breaking Dawn, where you think Carlisle died, but only in reverse.
It’s the joy of a show keeping you guessing that makes us move forward.
THE RELATIONSHIPS
It’s the relationships that are in this show that drop all of the clues to what is next. Hell, we learned a long time ago, after investing a lot of time into Pretty Little Liars, that we’re never going to figure out everything, but it doesn’t mean that we won’t die trying.
Another thing that we learned from PLL is that relationships matter in television, even when they don’t. It doesn’t matter if they don’t really matter, because at the end of the day, the show may find a reason for it to matter in order to move a plot point forward.
Based on a True Story is a show that you can’t miss, partially because they execute the relationships in the show so well. You will question everything, because it seems that everything can be something.
Especially if there is a season two.
THE POSSIBILITIES
Which leads us to the last thing… possibilities.
The hardest part of this show, is that you have so many possibilities. Also talking about the first season without giving away clues as to what is happening in the first season.
The complexities of the season – with so many characters coming in and out of the focus, you’ll find yourself wanting to know more about all of these characters. And you’re also going to quickly be reminded that anything and everything can and will be captured on camera.
It’s also that it’s a podcast that takes off and if there is a season one of a podcast, there is a season two. But… you’d have to watch
See our interview with two of our favorite stars of the show – Priscilla Quintana & Liana Liberato below-
