User reviews

Enjoyed it. Was better than I expected. However...

There was no finale. It just... ends. There are ten different plot threads all left wide open. I thought there were two episodes left to wrap up the season, instead it was over.

This wasn't a split season. It's not even renewed yet. Don't get me wrong, I'm fine with a show ending on a cliffhanger. I expect it. But every episode ends with one, and every previous episode had a better one than the "finale".

A season needs to finish with a sense of completion somewhere, not just roll straight into the next one. Severance did this as well. After the last episode I thought, "man, the season finale is going to be fierce!"

Instead, it's just... show over. Hope you still remember the characters and storylines a year and a half from now, because there won't be any resolution until then. That is, assuming the show survives the writers strike.

Overall, enjoyed the show. I'm not much of a binger, but my wife and I finished it in a couple of days. If my entire review is complaining it ended too soon, I suppose I'd recommend it.

I'm not into the serial killer hype. I even avoid horror and thriller genres these days. But the fun and excitement tone of the show successfully lure me to watch till the 8th episode.

My main gripe about the show is the ABUSIVE AMOUNT of MISLEADING & IMAGINATIVE SCENES (including one in the finale episode) that try to trick audiences to think or feel something about the respective Plots, before the editors abruptly switch them back to IRL scenes. The cheap tactic becomes more and more ANNOYING to me as the show progresses. Hope they won't use it again in future season, should they gain enough traction in viewership to validate continuation.

After reading all the negative reviews here, I threw my own negative review away and started over. I'm going to call this a campy murder romp instead.

I was expecting more from Exec Prod Jason Bateman after Ozark. And while this COULD've been done more darkly like Ozark, I see now that they were playing the social media fame obsession AND murder story only for laughs and gags. Does it work? Kinda. Maybe. The jokes and dialogue could be smarter. The use of dream sequences gets a little overworked.

Cuoco and Messina play two desperate and bumbling fame-seekers who do some completely implausible things in an effort to chase notoriety but only get deeper into trouble. It's kind of a send-up of the whole social media true crime phenomenon, but it's not an obvious satire. It works if you go into it with the idea that you, the viewer, are smarter than all of the characters on the screen. They're going to prove you right in every scene.

Yes, it's obviously implausible that anyone would do any of the things that happen here. Or is it? Social media has shown that not everyone is as smart as us.

I like Cuoco and Messina but not their characters. I just want them to call the cops and end the shenanigans. And the Matt character is a bit over the top, but if you look at it like a send-up, it helps.

Don't be taken by surprise when S-1 just kind of ends without resolution. That's how it goes.

Actors are great in their roles. Lot of fun to watch just need to enjoy the ride. First time I've seen Kaley in something and she's great. Always love Chris. Actor playing other lead- no spoiler- is highly entertaining and I'll be looking for him in other projects Feeling pressure to submit another 300 characters

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy All work and no play make Jack a dull boy All work and no play make Jack a dull boy All work and no play make Jack a dull boy All work and no play make Jack a dull boy All work and no play make Jack a dull boy All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.

To be honest, I wasn't all that excited for this series, but I gave the show a chance and it was decent. Now that the second season is over, I still think this show is decent.

Positives for Based on a True Story (2023-): I think the setup of this series is pretty good and it was interesting for the most part. Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina as Ava and Nathan are pretty good in the show and they have some fun banter between themselves and other characters. There are some cool and unique kills with a decent amount of gore to them in the show. The whodunnit aspect of the series was fun and I was intrigue with where the mysteries were going. And finally, this is one of those series that I wouldn't mind seeing more seasons of it.

Negatives for Based on a True Story (2023-): There are a number of things that annoyed in the series. First off, you have Tom Bateman as Matt Pierce and while he is certainly doing a good job with his character the way he was intended to be, there are moments where he got on my nerves and I wanted to kick his ass. There are also a number of dream sequences in this series that I hated and they do it too many times. And finally, some of the answers to these mysteries didn't sit well with me.

Overall, I had a decent time with Based on a True Story (2023-) and while I didn't fully love it, I wouldn't hate seeing more seasons from this show.

...I have been waiting for this show for a long time! I was so excited and of course binged the whole thing. Easy to watch but it does drag just a bit in places. Not enough that I turned it off or lost interest! It has soooo many amazing people too. I've loved many of the things the leads are in. I do hope it's renewed for a second season because I want them to amp it up and tell more of the murderers story and give us more murders haha. It's such a great concept too. In this world of true crime and podcasts and making millions it just make sense that someone would eventually team up with a murderer to be able to tell the stories first. Bateman is great! They all are were great truthfully, not a bad actor in the bunch. I'll be here for the next installment for sure.

Jason Bateman is great and we checked out this series based on his touch and the premise. Following in the wake of Only Murders in The Building, this series is also a satire about Americans' current obsession with true crime.

A down, out...and pregnant LA couple figure out who the local serial killer (aka The Westside Ripper) is and instead of going to the police, in order to get fame and make money, decide to do a podcast with the killer instead. This leads to lots of dark comedy when they do things like attend a true crime convention!

Lots of moral questions are brought up but everything is pretty tongue in cheek. I am not a big fan of Kaley Cuoco, who plays the wife Ava Bartlett...but the best thing I can say is she didn't ruin the series for me, although her hair in her face during every scene was driving me crazy. Give that girl a barrette or ponytail holder, please. The male lead was a bit whiny as a has been tennis pro who is now a has been instructor being put out to kids classes...and then fired. The rest of the cast was pretty fantastic. I appreciated the fun that was poked at the rich "LA" couples who are their friends.

If you are a fan of true crime, comedy, satire...and some decent writing, I think you will enjoy this series (at least the first season).

I'm surprised at some of the negative reviews on here that border on the unhinged. Based on a True Story is a lot of fun and often very funny, helped hugely by its pacing across eight 30min episodes.

To be clear, this is not some sort of rip-off or pale imitation of Only Murders in the Building, which is a totally different type of show and which sits firmly in the whodunnit genre. Based on a True Story is just a dark comedy about desperate people and the American obsession with murder that's been given a revamp thanks to the podcast and streaming industry.

Sure, Kaley Cuoco once again plays Kaley Cuoco proving she has the acting range of a goldfish - but she's watchable, as is most of the cast. And I do agree with others who have pointed out that the frequent dream sequences are both pointless and annoying.

Definitely worth a binge watch and I hope there's more to come because this series felt more like a scene setter than the beginning, middle and end.

I wanted to uprate it to a 9 or 10, but the subject was so kind of horrible, I felt like because of everything that is so excellent about it, I had to compromise. It is a classic guilty pleasure for sure! I am not one who thinks murder and especially psychopathic serial killers should be, in any way, celebrated. This show is very well done. The cast is beyond fantastic. It made me laugh more than I like to admit. It is a thrill ride from the second episode until the final episode, which was a major cliffhanger, making us want more. But in today's violent society? I have to admit, be aware that to a certain extent, Based on a True Story has a very psychopathic edge to it.

I suppose there are different ways to look at this show. It is so edgy and humorous and off the wall, it is hard to take it seriously. I am not a prude or a judgy person, but in retrospect, I am a little embarrassed to recommend this to my friends. Obviously, I have very mixed feelings about this show because of the subject matter. That being said, I watched it to the end like eating potato chips. I will leave it as a guilty pleasure and feel guilty that I really, really want to see another season. Just be aware, this show is not for the faint of heart! And I want a second season because I am hoping there will be some sort of closure of the subject matter to those who have experienced severe losses of innocents murdered, and will see real justice win! It is a great thrill ride, includes a lot of humor, but with some very nasty people and issues involved! JMHO.

Here's the thing... It's a fun and funny show. The leads all carry their parts well, especially Kaley Cuoco. (It's a different character than the one she did in Flight Attendant, but the energy is very much the same, which is a good thing.)

My issue with the series is that there was no resolution. They set everything up for a season 2, but all of the storylines of this first season are unresolved. There are so many shows that know how to do this much better. In this day-and-age of remarkable TV writing (and again, this show had some great writing), it's inexcusable to me to not land the ending. It doesn't need to be a 10/10, but at least give us a 7/10, a B-, a 73% tomato, or whatever you want to call it. Even "The Boys", this same creator's other big series, wraps up the storylines each season while also setting up new ones for the next season, so they should have some vague idea as to HOW to do this. It's just annoying to watch the entire season, get invested in the show and it's characters, and then have absolutely no significant ending to anything. Makes it feel like I wasted my time.

Not sure if I'd give a 2nd season a try, based on how cheated I feel.

I loved this show. The way the the film industry represents the current trends never seems to properly land, but this show naturally weaves it. It turns true crime and social media into a comedic, thrilling, entertaining show. It's witty and rightly paced while keeping you on your toes, it rare you get so many turn of emotions in one show. It portrays the average modern person in large cities we'll and doesn't skip out on the mind of one and plays around with it. Also, on something that is extremely heavy this show brings a light hearted approach to the situation. I watched this in one sitting and going to be devastated if it gets canceled. Personally, it's a really fun watch, it's nothing extreme in any subject and that's truly what I love about it. I would highly recommend.

I enjoyed the plot and the characters but felt the imaginary scenes spoiled it, as when something shocking happened it mostly turned out to be in their imagination. Then when something happened that was shocking you thought it was another imaginary scene. And really the imaginary scenes were a protracted and a waste of time.

I did like that it was a little in the vein of Santa Clareta Diet in some ways but would have enjoyed it more if there was more dark humour.

The characters have so much potential but need to be less serious and keep the killing going. It's ludicrous but insane humour. Don't know if I would recommend it to my friends as there are to many flaws but theyy could be fixed on season 2. Oh and they need to improve on the hairstyles.

From the brutal start that felt like it was paying homage to Drew Barrymore's iconic murder scene in 'Scream' to the shocking moments that followed, each episode held my attention. Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina deliver magnetic performances, making their characters relatable and engaging. Tom Bateman's portrayal of the very scary Matt Pierce brings a chilling authenticity to the role of a serial killer.

The Peacock series pokes fun at society's obsession with murder, satirizing our fascination with serial killers and true crime podcasts. After the first episode, I couldn't resist binge-watching the rest. The fast-paced events and gripping plot kept me on the edge of my seat. Each episode flew by in minutes, enhanced by a fun soundtrack that heightened the chaotic atmosphere of the show.

It's a must-watch for fans of dark comedies and true crime podcasts. With its blend of lighthearted drama, and intense moments, it satisfies cravings for captivating storytelling. Cuoco, Messina, and Bateman deliver standout performances, creating characters that were, relatable, engaging and endearing.

Damian At TalkTeaV.

Omg! First of all, the cast is FANTASTIC!! What a great job casting this!! Everything Jason Bateman touches is gold.

This series has some hilarious moments and still keeps the edge. It is fast paced, energetic and entertaining.

I really cannot wait to see where this goes. I can't imagine which is the hallmark of a good TV show. It's not just for true crime fans but if you are a true crime fan, you'll laugh!

Chris Messina is WONDERFUL!! My favorite character. Just hilarious! The female lead, however, is just as terrific. They have a great on screen chemistry.

The fantasy scenes ARE THE BEST!!! Oh thank you!!

I love a series which doesn't take itself too seriously. I wanted to throw the towel during the 1st episode as "Based on a true story" seemed to be predictable and uninspired. But then t got me hooked. The actors are great. Tom Bateman gives a career making performance. And Kuoco continues her winning streak, becoming America's next Goldie Hawn. This series has a lot of dark humor and keeps surprising me - which is exact what I want.

Since Öztürk I am a huge Jason Bateman fan. And knowing that he is one of "Based on a true story"'s producers is another indication that the series is worth watching . From my point of view it's an evolution of " Only murders in the building" and I like it a lot more.

Season 1 was great. Great concept, good acting, good viewing, great execution. 10/10. Episodes quite short so easy to binge entire season quite quickly. I'd say it's similar vibe to The Flight Attendant that Kaley Cuoco was in (again, s1 of that was miles better).

Season 2. No, no, no. Like, I still watched it, so it wasn't horrific, but it was awful compared to season 1. Why do they try to change it just because it's a new season? Why not just continue the same as season 1 which clearly worked? Also, it just ended...wouldn't even say it ended on a cliffhanger, it just ended as if it was another episode and now I assume we have to wait for s3?

I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I was pleasantly surprised. I really like Kaley Cuoco. This show has some good acting and characters. She plays a pregnant woman well. It was funny and very entertaining also. I like the actor who plays Matt and Kaleys husband. His backstory about being an old tennis pro. The whole story and sure was really good. I really like the way they integrate the flashbacks into the show. Some of them are ready to identify, but a couple of them I didn't see coming and wasn't sure if they were real. Overall I would definitley recommend it. Give it a watch! You just might enjoy it.