Freeform has done it again, delivering its darkest series to date in its midseason offering, Cruel Summer. The mystery thriller from Jessica Biel and Bert V. Royal takes viewers on a life-changing trip through the early 90s, and examines what happens when the disappearance of one Skylin, Texas girl leads to the rise of social status of another.
Cruel Summer opens in 1993 on Jeanette Turner’s (Chiara Aurelia) birthday. The bright and bubbly frazzle-haired birthday girl and her friends go to a shopping mall, where she sums up the courage to strike up a conversation with Kate (Olivia Holt), a fellow student at her high school. Jeanette appears envious of the girl, who has hot friends and an equally hot boyfriend. Cut to a year later, Kate has disappeared, Jeanette is now a “cool” girl and has managed to snag Kate’s boyfriend and friends. Cut again to another year later, and bright and confident Jeanette is now in shutdown mode, cutoff from the outside world, isolating herself in her room and angry that she is now the most hated girl in the world.
What happened to Kate? How did Jeanette’s life go from obscurity to popularity? Then how did she go from having everything she wanted to losing it all so fast? That’s what Cruel Summer explores. The series gives its viewers snippets of events from 1993, 1994, 1995 and everything in between that slowly but surely pieces together this very big, intricate puzzle. What makes the show interesting is that it cuts back and forth between the three different years.
Some of the transitions are so smooth and subtle, however, that you have to pay close attention to find out, dare I say, “when” they are. There’s a minute-long three-year transition sequence in Jeanette’s bedroom that is so brilliantly done, it took a few viewings to fully appreciate how seamless the “one shot” was put together. There are many more scattered throughout the series.
What makes the show work is that its narrative is set in reality. No, Cruel Summer isn’t a true story, but the subject matter and situations involved can and have happened. It’s an eye-opening look that further validates the notion that not everyone can or should be trusted. It begs the question: how well do you know those around you, whether they’re people who live around you or even those who are in your inner circle.
As Jeanette, Chiara Aurelia (“Tell Me Your Secrets”) gives a commanding performance and dominates the screen in such a powerful and emotional way. She portrays the once outcast-turned popular girl with such ease, and effortlessly conveys all three periods in Jeanette’s life — it’s as if she’s playing three completely different characters. The series is a perfect vehicle and star maker for Aurelia, as it gives her a chance to put her wondrous acting prowess on display.
Summer‘s supporting roles also feature some of our favorite actresses. The hilarious Andrea Anders (“Modern Family”) plays Kate’s stern but doting mother, Joy Wallis. The role is a departure for the actress, who never fails to make us laugh on the many comedies she’s appeared in. As Jeanette’s mom, Cindy Turner, Sarah Drew makes a welcome return to series television. We miss her dearly on “Grey’s Anatomy,” where she played April Kepner for 200+ episodes. And finally, it’s always a pleasure to see Nicole Bilderback (“Dawson’s Creek”) whom we fell in love with on FOX’s “Dark Angel.”
Sure to be Freeform’s next big hit, Summer will be the show everyone will be talking about. There are lots of jaw-dropping moments that will make you shout, “What the f*ck?” and “Oh, my god!” It’s a good thing the network is having a two-episode premiere event, because after watching the first hour, you’ll definitely be needing to see what’s coming up next. It’s an addictive new series that will leave you hooked and make you beg for more.
Cruel Summer is a deep character study, giving piece-by-piece glimpses into the lives of Jeanette, Kate and others connected to them in different points of their lives and interweaving through the different time periods to show how the characters have drastically evolved throughout the years. Its gripping storyline and the way it’s being executed, along with its strong female lead make it what we believe to be the best new show of the season.
Cruel Summer 2-Hour Series Premiere airs Tuesday, April 20 at 9pm on Freeform.