By Fifi Thanos
In this new, thrilling drama series, Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt), a popular highschooler, is kidnapped in the summer of 1993. Shortly after Kate went missing, Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelia) almost inserted herself into Kate’s place. She started dating Kate’s old boyfriend. She became friends with Kate’s two best friends and became just as popular as Kate was. Kate was missing for a little over a year before she was found in her kidnapper’s basement. Once Kate was found in 1994, she went on live television and said that someone found her long before she was rescued, but they just left her there. She then stated that that person was Jeanette Turner. This was the beginning of the mystery.
Cruel Summer is a series that leaves you constantly wondering. Who is telling the truth? Would someone really leave someone else to suffer only to gain some popularity? Is there a valid reason why someone would lie about something this serious? The series makes us question the characters’ motives at every turn. Each episode shows the audience a different perspective on the situation, making the task of coming up with some sort of correct conclusion all that more difficult. The series takes place in 1995, but flashes back to 1993 and 1994 frequently to give us more information. By seeing how Kate and Jeanette’s personalities change throughout these three years, we are able to get a better understanding of their intentions.
If you are looking for a thrilling mystery that will keep you wanting more, then this is the series for you. The intriguing and original plot, along with the flashbacks and various points of view, are sure to captivate you. Due to the fact that there are some mature subject matters, it’s more catered to those fourteen years of age and older. It’s a Hulu original and is currently streaming on Hulu, so go get comfortable and press play.
