The Haunting of Hill House

After the second season, my satisfaction somewhat dropped and Gerard Butler wasn't around to save the day, as he often does with similar flops. As for Hill House – in the moments when it wasn’t trying to scare the living hell out of me, the screenwriters came with a well-written drama about a dysfunctional family; in Bly Manor I often missed both the scary parts as well as the quality drama. Nevertheless, my final rating is not that bad, because the filmmakers did an excellent job in the first season. I just wonder what Victoria Pedretti did to make the creators so mad, since the way they treated the characters she portrayed was borderline bullying. (28.01.2021)

I rarely happen to be so pleasantly surprised by a horror series. Sure, it wasn’t strictly a horror story, and much of its success was due to the family drama, but that makes no difference to me. The whole thing had a great atmosphere, well-managed suspense, interesting characters and, most importantly, an engagingly written story. I enjoyed it very much. (06.12.2020)

From what I've seen so far, I'm cautiously optimistic that this show's off to a promising start. The pilot episode had a certain appeal to it, so fingers crossed for what's to come. (04.12.2020)

It feels like the distributor might have gotten the genres switched. It should've been labeled as drama/horror. It would at least dampen the excessive expectations for most viewers. Personally, I think this storytelling approach fits just right for me. The tale of a dysfunctional family resonates much more deeply with me than the typical American pseudo-horrors. (04.12.2020)

I love how skillfully the show handles the link between past and present. Instead of clumsy segues, the creators infuse a certain playfulness, seamlessly shifting between time planes with the press of a door handle or flick of a switch. And Theo's character and her unique abilities continue to draw me in. (04.12.2020)

The fourth episode posed a significant challenge for me due to my aversion to junkies. While I struggled to warm up to Luke, it was the recurring theme of stepping back in time that ultimately saved the day. (05.12.2020)

Luke's storyline left me feeling annoyed, centered as it was on addiction, while Nell's narrative frustrated me with its excessive romanticism. At certain points, I found myself quite bored, teetering on the edge of awarding just three stars. However, the episode's spectacular ending turned the tables completely, elevating it to a whole new level. It was a real treat to watch. (05.12.2020)

An excellent episode. The gathering of the entire dysfunctional family at the funeral was already compelling, but the creators took it up a notch by intertwining two storms from different time planes, and it worked brilliantly. And let's talk about those endings – they consistently nail it! (05.12.2020)

While this episode may not have matched the intensity of the last one, it still managed to hit all the right notes for me. The pieces of the puzzle the creators have been laying out are starting to come together, and I'm loving every moment of it. (05.12.2020)

I've been wondering: would this series hold my interest if it ditched the family drama and stuck solely to the supernatural? Honestly, I doubt it. Without that layer of complexity, it might just blend into the background, becoming yet another forgettable show. The family dynamics add depth and keep me invested, preventing it from fizzling out too soon. (06.12.2020)

Finally, I got to Olivia's part of the story, and it didn't disappoint one bit. Carla Gugino, nearing her fifties, remains a stunning presence, and her acting prowess hasn't dimmed one bit. The plot maintained just the right amount of tension, with the atmosphere escalating with each scene. And that ending... wow. (06.12.2020)

I'd give the finale five stars if it weren't for the excessively melodramatic resolutions to all the storylines. The tugging at the viewers' heartstrings felt forced and entirely unnecessary. It's a shame because, otherwise, the plot was well-crafted and seamlessly fit into the whole puzzle. (06.12.2020)

While Hill House managed to captivate me, Bly Manor fell short, largely due to the creators' approach. They seemed to forsake the tension-building and high-quality atmosphere of the first season in favor of a romance subplot that felt out of place and often led to odd outcomes. Admittedly, a few episodes did hit the mark, and with more effort, they could have matched the first season's quality. However, on the whole, it was a noticeably weaker endeavor. (28.01.2021)

When I dive into a new series, it's like stepping onto a chessboard, making that familiar opening move. So, with this first episode, I went for my standard three stars, adopting a wait-and-see stance. It was the usual setup — introducing characters and setting the stage for what's to come. (26.01.2021)

I had high hopes for this season, especially after being won over by the previous one. However, after the second episode, I'm starting to have my doubts. The story hasn't quite grabbed me yet, and the characters, particularly the children, just don't seem as compelling as those in Hill House. 3*- (26.01.2021)

Well, it's becoming clear to me that this series is leaning heavily into political correctness. However, in doing so, it seems to have sacrificed much of the tension, atmosphere, and gripping drama that made the previous season so compelling. (26.01.2021)

In contrast to the last episode, I noticed a shift. The creators finally made an effort to build some atmosphere, hinting at potential tension down the line. If they can amp up the horror elements too, maybe the genre tag "horror" wouldn't feel out of place. (27.01.2021)

It seems the creators have finally got their act together. I'd even consider bumping it up to a five-star rating if it weren't for those annoying repetitions. Still, credit where it's due — the creators managed to nail the atmosphere this time around, and there was some actual haunting (and not the eye-rolling kind). Plus, Rahul Kohli is starting to give off serious Indian Ned Flanders vibes. All in all, a satisfying watch. (27.01.2021)

I'm optimistic that the creators of the series will bounce back from the weaker moments in the first half of the season and keep up the higher standard. With the well-executed atmosphere and the introduction of supernatural elements, coupled with a solid dramatic storyline this time around, things are looking up. The only hiccup for me was Jamie's heart-wrenching story, which didn't quite hit home. 4*- (27.01.2021)

Much to my surprise, I started enjoying the season in its second half. I no longer find the constant repetitions of the same confusing, and the main ghost is pretty well-executed :-) (28.01.2021)