“Hi! We need to talk, and I need to pump my t**s while we do it!” And so it goes with new mother and wannabe crime solver Ava (Kaley Cuoco) in Season 2 in Peacock’s still comical yet strained dark comedy thriller, Based on a True Story. Chances are, if you really vibed with the outlandish antics of this groovy whodunit comedy in Season 1 — a sort of cousin to Only Murders in the Building — you will be on board for this round, too. Sure, it’s still fun, ambitious, completely nutty, and enjoyable, but it’s hard to deny the truth: It also feels overstretched and may be painting itself into a creative corner that only one more season could tolerate.
Here's the lowdown: We find new parents Ava and Nathan Bartlett (Chris Messina) three months into parenthood. The throughline of the season is addiction, obsession, and delusion. There’s Ava waiting to escape into another fever dream of true crime-solving while her real estate business is in need of repair. There’s tennis pro Nathan, who can’t sidestep his need to be accepted — and bro-loved to the max, good Lord! And there's Tory (Scream VI’s Liana Liberato), who would sacrifice her own safety just to feel as if she’s fully in control of her life and not seemingly governed by her older sister, Ava.
And the first of many big twists: Not only have Tory and Matt (Tom Bateman of Cold Pursuit) been sleeping together, but they're apparently in it for the long haul. Suddenly, they're a part of Ava and Nathan's lives in ways that will surprise you. That's a great set-up for hijinks, of course, because Matt was the plumber/serial killer dubbed The Westside Ripper in Season 1. He joined forces with Ava and Nathan to make a podcast together. Overall, the stakes are raised in Season 2, what with baby on board, and the antics flow vigorously as Ava and Nathan find themselves helping Matt ween himself off of, well, killing, while another serial killer seems to be on the loose. At least that’s what we’re led to believe.
More Blood, More Twists, More Freak-Outs
Based on a True Story is a Peacock original crime thriller starring Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina as a married couple who starts their own True Crime podcast. Ava and Nathan Bartlett are expecting their first child despite marital troubles as their finances continue to plummet, and their decision to hire a charming plumber to install a new toilet leaves them stuck in a true crime story of their own.
- Release Date
- June 8, 2023
- Seasons
- 2
- Writers
- Craig Rosenberg
- Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina have great chemistry together, and Tom Bateman is charming and funny.
- New showrunner Annie Weisman keeps things fun and creatively fresh.
- Ava's constantly frenzied demeanor gets exhausting over time.
- Season 2 succumbs to several predictable story beats and 'twists.'
The writers of Based on a True Story dig the knife deeper into that Tory and Matt twist early on, and soon enough, they’re back in Ava and Nathan’s lives. When a new slew of murders piques Ava’s interest, she can’t help herself. Is it Matt? He’s more of a looming presence in their lives this go around, and loyalties are tested.
Kaley Cuoco's 6 Best Performances, Ranked
From The Flight Attendant to Charmed, these are Kaley Cuoco's best performances of her career so far, ranked.
For starters, Matt cranks up the alpha male charm on Nathan, who can’t help but find him all the more alluring. He seems to want to take a stand for himself, and Matt’s brazen confidence is awfully appealing; they have some hilarious scenes together. This plays out by way of Nathan instructing a young tennis player, whose pestering and entitled mother makes Matt foam at the mouth: Oh, if only he could kill her. Alas, he’s kinda in 12-step mode and practicing “the courage to change the things” he can (i.e. not murder anybody).
Kaley Cuoco Keeps It at 11 (For Better or Worse)
Meanwhile, the first three episodes of the season find Ava freaking out (something Kaley Cuoco has mastered), either in full panic or in active pursuit of clues to help solve a new string of killings. Expect a big reveal early on about other murders that took place. There’s some great fun in watching the typically frenetic Ava maneuver her way through one challenge after another, until it becomes a little too much.
About that... it might be time for Kaley Cuoco to retire this kind of character. Ava is curiously similar to Cassandra in The Flight Attendant. This series follows a similar structure to that show, too. We suppose there's a certain gratification to watching Cuoco freak out, but keeping it at 11 for too long gets exhausting. Who knows, though; perhaps it gives us permission to do the same. But let's not overthink all this.
15 Mystery Comedy TV Shows That Will Make You Laugh and Keep You Guessing
From Only Murders in the Building to Castle, these mystery comedy shows are sure to make you laugh while they keep you guessing.
You can also expect some (perhaps too many) clever sidesteps into Ava and Nathan’s imaginations as they envision how things might have played out or could play out. And if you’re looking for a good blood spill, you’ll find them here, although there’s quite a lot happening in the minds of our protagonists. Still, these asides keep the plot going and establish Ava and Nathan as a couple trying to find a way back to a more balanced life. I don’t know: maybe avoid serial killers? But we digress…
The Predictable Story Beats of Modern Dark Comedies
Naturally, the bromance between Nathan and Matt is sure to deliver big surprises this season. So will the new friendship Ava forms with another new mother, Drew (the delightful Melissa Fumero of Brooklyn Nine-Nine). Initially, it gives Ava a great distraction, but there's a hint that she could actually drop her guard and be vulnerable with a peer. Watch how that plays out. It's one of several predictable plot points throughout Season 2.
The problem is, at this point in the 2020s, audiences have been groomed to expect certain creative beats in dark comedies of this ilk. Season 2 of Based on a True story fares better than, say, Apple TV+'s The Afterparty, but you can predict how certain things will play out. That's not to say the show has no unforeseen surprises; there may be a few for you, even though the frenetic pace only goes so far.
5:28
Based on a True Story Producer Talks Season 2 and the Desperate Housewives Connection
Annie Weisman discusses the second season of Peacock's crime comedy with Kaley Cuoco and how it follows her old show, Desperate Housewives.
There's a new showrunner on board, Physical creator Annie Weisman, who took over the reins from Craig Rosenberg. Weisman does offer several fine spins on how the zaniness plays out, but some things are a given. Nathan will try to grow a spine. Tory will resist Ava's advice. Matt will be sexy and charming and, sure, maybe kill/maybe not. Even that "maybe" becomes a bit stretched. Bloody scenes will be revealed. Most of all, Ava will react in broad strokes.
Messina & Cuoco Still Have Chemistry
Overall, Season 2 of Based on a True Story delivers some fresh spins, thanks to the new showrunner on board, and we imagine that the big twists presented this season will fuel more (bloody) misadventures for Ava and Max in Season 3. We suspect that season would be the last; there is a shelf-life for this narrative.
However, Cuoco and Messina have a really charming chemistry, and their scenes together are a highlight. Messina always manages to showcase his range, and his comedic roles, while similar, always feel like distinct, interesting creations. So, predictable tropes and frenzied freak-outs aside, Based on a True Story is still bloody good fun. Season 2 of Based on a True Story streams on Peacock November 21.
Comments
Post a Comment