Tag Archives: thriller

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Based on a True Story

Not too long ago, I started watching this television show and I love it so far. The first thing I like is that the plot is original and as a whole, the writers make fun of popular murder mystery culture. Basically, the show revolves around three people. A couple and their plumber. Now, the twist is that he has a big secret and once they figure out his secret, they enlist him to help. What follows is a crazy adventure that includes a trip for “promo” and a series of unfortunate events. The whole show is based on the couple’s decision to look the other way when faced with an opportunity to turn in a criminal to law enforcement. They decide that their own professional advancements are more important than providing the information necessary to solve a recent crime. As a result, a lot of people are impacted by their choices–including some innocent ones. But the show must go on. The couple is tasked with trying to figure out a plan of action without admitting any additional information about themselves.

I love that the show is unpredictable and keeps you guessing about what will happen next. To me, it’s a true thriller because there’s a lot that happens within each episode and each twist is shocking. It’s hard these days to find shows that keep your attention and this one definitely does. I’m glad that it was renewed and I’m looking forward to the second season. So many shows change between the first and second season and I hope that they keep the same energy all the way through. I’m interested in how they will expand the story line around the plumber and the progress of the episodes. I think I’ll wait until all the episodes air and then I’ll binge the second season over a weekend or two. Great show!

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Average Joe is Above Average

One of my favorite pastimes is to watch televisions shows that people aren’t really talking about. And when I say people, I really just mean my timeline(s) on social media. It’s hard to get me interested in a series because it has to keep my attention over a long period of time. I like shows that are unpredictable with a lot of twists and turnes. Average Joe fit the bill.

I want to share why, but be warned there will be some slight spoiler alerts ahead. 

Average Joe is a television show about a plumber who lives in the South with his wife and daughter. His daughter has just started to date and is becoming more invested in her social circle. The first episode finds Joe dealing with the death of his father and the grief that comes along with having to settle his father’s estate. Joe is a stressed out man and it’s very

apparent within all the episodes. He’s just trying to do the right thing and keep food on the table for his family. He loves his wife, but he also wants to make a change in his life. The family is solidly middle class but like most families, they have some financial stressors that make it hard to get ahead. The most notable being that a member of Joe’s immediate family has an autoimmune disease that affects her ability to get around at times and it requires expensive medications to manage symptoms.

How it begins

Joe is minding his business when a quick turn of events within an hour turns his life upside down and makes him a wanted man. The situation is quickly complicated by the arrival of his best friend and the involvement of another friend who works in law enforcement. Without giving too much away, I can honestly say that each episode left me on the edge of my seat. There wasn’t a slow build like many thrillers have. The action started in the very first episode and it stayed that way for the entire series. 

As the show goes on, the intensity increases. Joe and his family have to leave their home because they fear for their lives and are trying to figure out their next moves. It’s interesting to watch Joe and his wife attempt to shield their daughter from the chaos until they discover that she has a significant role to play in finding a resolution. In many ways, the situation is a coming of age for her as she advocates for herself and tries to help her parents in the midst of a situation that seems impossible. Her parents give multiple directions and directives to her and she ignores many of them in true teenage fashion.

One thing I liked was that the supporting cast was solid

Each person had their own role to play and the power of working together was highlighted. Life rarely happens as expected and fiction mimics reality. There were so many ups and downs but I found myself rooting for Joe in each episode because his heart was in the right place. Needless to say, there are multiple storylines that make this show more intriguing. One particularly interesting one is the relationship between Joe and his best friend. We are able to see some of the nuances of relationships, the temptation of greed and how it can affect the ones closest to us. 

All in all, it was a show I’d recommend watching if you like murder mysteries and being surprised. I give it an 8/10 for originality. Check it out sometime.

AVERAGE JOE SEASON ONE