'Reviews on TV Shows: Chucky (TV Series) Season 1 - Good, Bad, and Worth the Watch!'

How can a tv series be Good, but Awful at the same time? This review only pertains to Season 1. (original post: January 4, 2022)

Reviews on Tv Shows!

One of the best horror villains in tv history is back, ready to terrorize and kill people just for the hell of it. For Chucky it is a numbers game, how many lives he can take and how many ways he can do it. It is all fun and games for this pint-size terror! In the beginning of episode one, we see our protagonist Jake (an eccentric high school student) who encounters a Chucky doll at a local yard sale. Jake, being the inspired sculptor (who works on a life-size sculpture made of dolls) is intrigued by the Chucky doll and purchased it. The teen takes the doll home, and it is not long before the true nature of the doll is revealed. Chucky attempts to convince Jake to kill a ‘mean girl’ who has been bullying him at school. And thus begins a series of deadly and unfortunate events that follows thereafter…events that would depict how a Tv series can be Good, but Bad at the same time!

The Good: storyline 

The premise of the show is good. As usual Chucky is up to his murderous ways, with the ultimate plan to have an innocent teen commit murder so that his soul can awaken multiple Good Guy dolls all at once. The plan seems simple enough when Chucky is brought home by Jake Wheeler (Zackary Arthur), a teen who displays social awkwardness which makes him an easy target for bullies at school. One such bully is the loudest of all, fellow classmate and popular girl Lexy Cross played by (Alyvia Alan Lind). Chucky seizes his chance of opportunity in convincing Jake to kill Lexy. At first, Jake mentally prepares himself in conducting the evil plan, but the teen soon finds himself unable to do the deed and Chucky is more than happy to step in. But plans go awry at Lexy’s party after Chucky kills Oliver (Lexy's other love interest) besides her boyfriend Junior, and a fire soon breaks out. Lexy breaks away without harm, but the teen now knows that Chucky is the real killer. This revelation sets a path for the three musketeers (Lexy, Devon, and Jake) to work together and bring down the evil doll. 

The Good: tying everything together

What the show gets right is connecting previous Chucky movies and tying them into the storyline of the tv series. We see Chucky as a kid who witnessed the killing of his father when an intruder invades his home. Chucky hides in the bedroom closet with his mother and his true nature takes over. When the killer finds the two hiding in the closet, the killer is intrigued when he sees that the young boy has already did the deed for him, when the mother is found stabbed to death. We see Chucky grow into a disturbed young man whose murdering is escalated when he meets the equally disturbed Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly). Fast forward to present time and the audience is reintroduced to Nica (Fiona Dourif) the paraplegic who survived her encounter with Chucky in [Cult of Chucky, 2017]. We learned that Nica did not escape unscathed, when in fact Chucky had transferred a piece of his soul into hers, creating a split personality. Catching wind that Chucky is back in town when Jake attempts to sell the doll online, we are reintroduced to the two original cast members of the Chucky franchise, Andy (Alex Vincent) and Kyle (Christine Elise) both respectively appeared in [Child’s Play 2, 1990]. The brother and sister duo arrive in town to put an end to Chucky’s malicious intentions for the last time.

The Awful: serious bad acting

Our protagonist Jake (Zackary Arthur) acting abilities are questionable at best. Scenes in which his character is supposed to convey any type of deep emotion read as awkward and uncomfortable. The actor’s facial expression (shown in pic above) is the same expression seen throughout the entire season - no matter what the scene is or what emotion the character is experiencing. The awkward acting is heightened when both Devon and Jake share their first kiss, the uncomfortableness between the actors was like “Watching a drunk man vomit on the side of the curb in slow-motion.” You can argue that the lack of acting ability is due to the actors being young, but in TinselTown that’s not an excuse. There are young actors who are born with the talent of acting…"Can anyone say, Dakota Fanning!" And then, there are those who simply cannot. Adding to the ‘cannot act list’ is Andy played by (Alex Vincent). As the original child actor in [Child’s Play, 1988] the character of Andy was unforgettable and convincing. But, as an adult actor Alex Vincent is straight-faced, bland, and ineffectual. The actor seems like he is cold reading from cue cards instead of memorizing his lines and breathing life into his character. 

The Awful: certain things just did not make sense

During a flashback scene when Chucky was still human, as an adult we see him raising hell with his love slave Tiffany. What makes no sense is that a female actor is portraying adult Chucky. This actress possesses delicate features. If you remember the first Chucky movie [Child’s Play, 1988] the male actor playing Chucky was tall, scruffy, rugged with a sinister demeanor - this description would be more accurate giving the fact that Chucky is a deranged serial killer. There is nothing wrong with a woman playing the part of Chucky as an adult, but at the very least it should have been an actress with androgynous features. Something else that did not make sense was the ‘basement scene.’ We see Tiffany set up a bomb in the basement where Devon is being held captive. Andy comes to the rescue just in time to save Devon, but when Kyle shows up at the house, she inadvertently sets off the bomb by opening the front door. Spoiler Alert: Devon and Andy (both within the proximity of the bomb) somehow survive the blast. However, Kyle who was the farthest away from the bomb, died in the aftermath. “Is this scientifically possible?” 

Overall: the show is worth the watch

If anything, it is worth hearing Chucky’s famous one-liners! The iconic doll has become a staple in the horror genre, known for his witty and twisted remarks that add a layer of dark humor to the storyline. Chucky's one-liners are not only entertaining but also serve to establish his character as a cunning and malevolent force to be reckoned with. Moreover, the show excels in maintaining its unique dark sense of humor throughout, creating a chilling yet oddly amusing atmosphere that keeps viewers engaged. This distinct tone sets the show apart from conventional horror-inspired dramas, offering a refreshing and unconventional take on the genre. The performances of the cast members such as; Fiona Dourif and Jennifer Tilly further elevate the viewing experience. So, in conclusion the combination of Chucky's memorable one-liners, the film's unique dark humor, and the stellar performances of the cast members make it a must-watch for fans of the horror genre. With its blend of scares and laughs, this television adaptation promises an entertaining and unforgettable cinematic experience that will leave a lasting impression on audiences.