Kaci Balfany

Poorly written, executed, directed…. It’s so sad because the very first scene is so promising and then it goes downhill fast. Even when she arrives at the Walter house it’s promising. It’s almost as if they changed directors or went in an entirely different creative direction the second she steps foot inside the Walter house. It took me forever to finish the show bc it requires a lot of patience and overlooking the very rough edges. Jackie lost her entire family but it has very little impact. When I lost my brother as a teen, I was trying to act normal and would eventually reach a point of breakdown. By ignoring my grief, I created a slew of problems that I’m now dealing with as an adult. For teens who’ve lost a loved one, it would be far better to guide them through grief than to teach them to ignore it and focus on boys and school. The teapot is the only significant moment surrounding Jackie’s grief and it was still too watered down. I truly hope Jackie running to NYC in the final episode morphs into the first episode of season two focusing on her grief and revealing the breakdown that ensued from ignoring it. I hope they hire a new director and get a whole new team of writers. The guy who plays Alex needs to practice his acting skills. I dislike him bc his execution comes off as cringey, creepy, and a little obsessive. He over-acts, he’d do far better on stage than on film. Same with the oldest brother Will. I am so sick of the Hallmark-style dramas. This show could be amazing if the execution was completely different. I don’t understand why romance shows are done in this two-dimensional style. The summer I turned pretty is the only show that has gotten close to executing it properly. Given the nature of the story and the trauma Jackie has endured, it would be better suited to reflect shows like TSITP, On My Block, Bridgerton, Outer Banks, Ginny & Georgia, etc. (the last two are questionable in some aspects and a little cheesy at times but are saved by the storyline and overall execution). Right now it is synonymous with Riverdale, Sweet Magnolias, Shadow Hunters… poorly executed, poorly directed, poorly written, poorly edited and painful to watch. The nature of Jackie’s trauma, Alex’s obsessive nature in relationships, and Cole’s struggles with sex and alcohol are reminiscent of Euphoria. I understand why they want to target a younger audience and make it more appropriate for teens to watch, but this was not properly done. Many teens have adult experiences far too soon, sugar coating that is almost disrespectful. I hope that if there is a season two, it’s a completely different show than season one.