Cruel Summer - Show Review

I just watched Cruel Summer, which is currently the MOST watched show on Freeform (the station that gave us PLL), and I'm proud to say that it was above average!
Teen shows have a reputation of being mediocre, so I came into this show with very low expectations. And I have to say, this show surpassed my expectations.
I love a well-crafted mystery and you can tell that these writers cared about each and every single detail to the mystery of this show. The way that the mystery was unraveled and the twist and turns were chef's kiss.

The story takes place in the years 1993,1994 and 1995. It's about Kate Wallis and Jeanette Turner. Kate Wallis has recently been rescued from being held in captivity and she accuses Jeanette Turner of failing to save her.
Jeanette saw Kate inside of the captor's house. Kate thought that she was about to be rescued. However, help never came.
The entire show is about their ensuing she-said, she-said drama after Kate was rescued. Jeanette is adamant that she didn't see Kate, and Kate is sure she's lying.

But why is Kate so angry at a possible misunderstanding?
See, while Kate was the pretty and popular girl, Jeanette used to be an awkward and dorky kid. When Kate was finally rescued, she learned that Jeanette basically stole her life.
Kate's old friends are now Jeanette's friends, Kate's ex-boyfriend is now Jeanette's boyfriend. She dresses the same, does her makeup the same and even acts the same.
So, was Kate just angry that the world seemed to move on without her and accused an innocent girl? Or did Jeanette see her and ignored it, because she wanted to have the life that Kate lived?

Watch the show to find out ;)

So, while the mystery and the story is really good, there are some bad bad parts that are VERY noticeable.
1) The weird grey/black/desaturated colour grading for the 1995 years was a bad way of showcasing the time passing. Don't be Twilight. Get rid of the filter. I'd love an edition of the show WITHOUT the filter. I beg.

2) The acting is sometimes yikes. Olivia Holt (from Kickin' It) was very much CARRYING the rest of the cast because the supporting cast are either normal or Bad. It's not too much of a big deal but when you have Olivia Holt and Chiara Aurelia acting their hearts out while the supporting cast respond in a monotone voice, it's a big deal.
3) This is a personal thought but pretty privilege is so real. The main antagonist of the show looks a tad like Piton, so every time he was on screen I got pretty happy. I'd see the kidnapper and be like "hehe" which I don't think the writers wanted. The kidnapper kinda has the the same eyebrows and facial structure so mmmmmm... Anyway, I couldn't take him seriously. Not the writer's fault though.
4) The ending is NOOOOOOO. Mm... No..... It's a spoiler so I can't say but it's just no. It's personal taste of course but it's a no for me.
5) Maybe this is me being all "better than thou" but I feel like they wasted a lot of their runtime.
So there are tons of aspects to the mystery which are very convenient, and plot conveniences could've been done better if more time and effort was put into setting up the specific evidence and the subsequent reveal.

For example, one of the main pieces of evidence that Kate uses is a necklace she found that belongs to Jeanette. She knows this because she saw her wear it many times, and mentioned it many times. I feel like it would've felt less convenient if the lawyer or detective (or Kate herself) saw that a piece of evidence found (the necklace) matches the necklace that Jeanette wears in a photo strip that she carries with her. It would've been an amazing evidence reveal.

It would've been a more intriguing mystery if everything was revealed in a slower way but no. They just choose to spend SO much time in this show with relationship drama. Like, I don't care that the dad is dating someone new....
6) Freeform. The story is over. STOP ADDING SEASONS TO SHOWS THAT ARE FINISHED. DON'T PLL THIS SHOW PLEASE I BEG. (They renewed this show for a second season but it's already finished. What more are they revealing. Please stop. I hope it's a different story.)
7) Invest in a better wig.

Overall, I'd say it surpassed my expectations. Meaning, it's above average.
It's a good watch if you want to have something interesting in the background that isn't too interesting, y'kno?
It's a 6.5/10 for me!