Based on a True Story (2023– ) User Reviews

The random fakeouts ruined the series

[jtikey · 6/10 · 17 June 2023]

Whenever something shocking happened, I was expecting it to be a dream or hallucination. That trope is awful and there were 4 of them in the same episode!! Then they did few per episode. It's even worse because people do get killed in this show and now you just need to question each one because the writers wanted to add a shock moment or a sex scene.

Otherwise the series was fun but it also ended on a cliffhanger. I want to love to show, there was potential but it got ruined in many places.

Some story lines got nowhere.

The casting was great. Kaley is finally no Penny anymore. Nathan Bartlett and her got great chemistry. Matt Pierce is god tier acting. I'm gonna watch more of his stuff.

Solid show, but...

[deadnat · 8/10 · 10 June 2023]

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.

Starts off strong but fades in the stretch

[michaelprescott-00547 · 6/10 · 12 June 2023]

I enjoyed the first half of this eight-episode season, though I had to put my moral scruples on hold to root for such terrible people. (And they are *all* terrible people.) Whatever its ethical implications, I liked the show enough that I recommended it to friends.

Then came the second half of the season, when things went downhill. The storyline got more far-fetched, the principal characters became even harder to forgive, the pop-culture references were cloying, and there were way, way too many fantasy sequences, all involving either sex or murder, or, for variety, sex and murder.

A lot of this felt like padding; episode 5, in particular, was overly drawn out, with slow-motion partying, the inevitable pointless fantasy scene, and interminable drunk dialogue that went nowhere.

By the end I was tired of the whole concept and hanging on just to see how the story would be resolved. Guess what - it's not! The last episode just ends, leaving everything up in the air.

So, for me ... watchable enough in general, good in the beginning, very inconsistent later, disappointing at the end. All the show's problems relate to the writing; the production values, acting, etc are uniformly fine, with Bateman a standout as the killer.

Abusive Use of Imaginative Scenes

[aowmxtc · 6/10 · 29 June 2023]

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.

It was fun! Slow in places though...

[cscott2331 · 8/10 · 8 June 2023]

...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.

Let's Look At This Another Way

[misterherzog · 6/10 · 26 July 2023]

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.

A Dark, Hilarious Thriller

[talkteav · 10/10 · 10 June 2023]

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.

Addictive, fun, well done, and a dab of horrifying guilty pleasure

[heykateforever · 7/10 · 12 June 2023]

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.

Very entertaining

[twetestxbox · 8/10 · 13 January 2024]

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.

Let's do a true crime podcast with the serial killer...what could go wrong?

[cgvsluis · 7/10 · 15 August 2023]

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).

Loved it

[cosmicstrikes · 8/10 · 16 June 2023]

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.

Trashy, poorly written, and no characters to root for.

[TxMike · 9 June 2023]

First off let me say it often is hard to trust IMDb reviews here, on new shows like this. I looked at several of the glowing "10" reviews and they are written by people who have exactly ONE review, for this show. And many of them have accounts established a few months ago, in my estimation studio shills who are paid to put up glowing reviews. Why? So more people will watch. So the show creators can have another season.

My wife and I watched the first episode. We like Cuoco from "BBT" and we like Messina, he was marvelous in "The Giant Mechanical Man." Both of them are decent actors. But as the show progressed I told my wife "this isn't a very well written show." Plus the main couple are difficult to root for and their situations are unrealistic.

Then we decided to watch episode 2. We got about 12 minutes into it before we abandoned it. There just isn't anything good about this show, except that it can be an excellent time-waster.

The problem with multiple streaming services, like Peacock, Prime, Netflix, and a few others having movies and TV series made for them, invariably the quality suffers. As this one does. For every really good one you get 9 or 10 really bad or mediocre ones.

No, this is NOT a "10". Those who rate it in the "4" or "5" range are most meaningful. It can be entertaining, in a perverse sort of way, but never mistake this limited series for a "must-watch" or even a very good show. It is neither.

This Show!!!!

[laragianessi · 7/10 · 12 June 2023]

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!!

Where was the resolution?

[shine67 · 5/10 · 12 June 2023]

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.

Dark, Campy and Dripping With Cheesy Fun

[liammarklh · 7/10 · 10 June 2023]

I've just finished watching the show and I will admit that it has its flaws, but that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying it for what it was. It was meant to satirize our over-the-top fascination with true crime, how we've become so obsessed with it to the point of absurdity, how victim's suffering has become another pawn in a capitalistic marketplace and sympathizing with deranged serial killers or the worst that mankind has to offer. I believe it could have tackled the topic a lot better, but I give it points for being unique and just campy goodness.

I'm not going to be one of those guys who harps on the themes of a show, but for what it's worth, this is just good, dark comedic fun. I did notice a lot of issues here and there, but it did not detract from my enjoyment of it at all. The long and short of it is, if you just want a campy, turn your brain off kind of show, then you will definitely enjoy this.

I will say that I dislike how the show was advertised as a whole. The trailers were very misleading and bordered on false advertisement in my view. It made us believe that Ava and Nathan were going to discover who killed these girls in an amateur murder mystery type story and it was very promising due to its interesting spin on the formula. In my personal opinion, it would have filled the hole that Only Murders in The Building created, and I say it satiated that craving, even if I dislike being lied to. Though in retrospect, if it had done a similar premise to OMITB, then it would have felt like a cheap copy, so I'm on the fence about that.

It did subvert our expectations, but I don't like when trailers falsely advertise a show's premise and then give us something that completely ruins the initial intrigue that made us want to check it out. I do like the show we're given, but I imagine that would be a turn off to anyone else, so I will deduct points for that. I know they can't reveal the entire plot upfront but having to create this entirely new setup for the trailer, just feels like a waste of potential to me.

The acting is fantastic, Tom Bateman as Matt steals the show whenever he's on screen and he really plays up the serial killer cheesiness to the highest degree; he's very animated and charming and I think he's the best part about this show. Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina are good in their respective roles, they do a good job of playing the bumbling, hapless couple who end up in unlikely situations and I think it works. The actress who played Ruby was also good as well, she really enjoyed every minute of it and pretty that's one thing the show does well.

Aside from that, my negatives are that the show's pacing is both just right and yet it feels like we're fast forwarding through so many sections of the story just to have another curveball thrown our way. One second the characters will be talking about the podcast, how to hide a body or trying to convince Matt not to kill again, and then the next, he kills and the cycle repeats.

It honestly gets frustrating after a while, and it feels like the characters are too dumb to have outwitted the cops for this long, that at several points, they should have gotten caught, but the plot saves them. These two literally have an angel on their side, because the number of times they should have gotten arrested, is mind boggling to me, but then we'd not have a show. For me, it feels too convenient that no one noticed a dead body by their doorstep of their new home, or how nobody noticed them talking loudly as they hide a body in a ditch or can be seen arguing with a dead body in open view inside the trunk of their car and yet no one picks up on it. I get it's part of the humor, but at some point, the "it's satire" argument can only get you so far before it becomes an excuse for lazy writing.

I also agree with other people when they say that the reason why people love true crime so much is the rich character and inner workings of a serial killer and their life story. We learn next to nothing about Matt aside from the fact he's a divorcee with a son and when he's revealed as the killer, he practically amps up the dramatics and the plot ignores this facet about him to throw more suspense and dead bodies at us. I'm sure the second season will explore his life in more detail, but without that emotional connection or the supposed good side of him, he's just the funny crazed serial killer who just kills people just for the sake of it. Dexter did this really well in my opinion and I hope the show actually tries to give Matt more development and doesn't relegate him to just the bad guy of the show.

There are a lot of blood and scenes of people getting stabbed a lot, so if you're squeamish about that, then don't watch this show. It can be seen as overkill, but it did not bother me too much.

I will say this, and this is just my hot take, but a show doesn't need to have likable characters for me to find the story interesting, and though they do some really messed up stuff, Ava and Nathan have sympathetic motives and most of the dirty deeds are done by Matt, so I can cut them slack. Plus, a character doing party drugs one time, drinking or having sexual fantasies doesn't automatically make them a bad person, feel free to disagree with me there, but the two dislike the idea of being cheated on by the other, so that's one point for them.

The relationship they have is rocky and I believe that's also the point, to showcase that they've become so consumed about paying the bills and hiding the evidence of Matt's murders that they've neglected their own lives to the point they're accomplices to murder and are doing a killer's bidding behind the scenes. Again, I get why some might not like them and I do not condone cheating, but it's not uncommon for married couples who are in a loveless or failing marriage to fantasize about being young and promiscuous and wanting to sleep around. Call me a degenerate or whatever, but that's just how it is.

I don't want to be that guy who opines about "muh society" themes, but I think this show nailed it really well. I can't give a perfect score however, so I think this rating is fitting. I would say I want more, but I hope it irons out the issues the first season created.

Get past 1st episode

[tomtesch · 9/10 · 10 June 2023]

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.

Lost promise

[tehreem1990 · 6/10 · 8 July 2023]

I am a fan of both the lead actors and the pilot was promising for me, especially since it felt like Kaley was trying to capture the same essence as the show, The Flight Attendant. However all the promise was lost in subsequent episodes. The killer became too involved with the podcast (seemed contradictory as on the one hand he was advocating a series of area-based podcasts and then in the next episode he is like it's all about me), green lighting cheating as the norm to save marriages (I would curse here but let's keep it PG), pregnant ladies drinking and doing drugs because it's Vegas (have we learnt nothing?!), and then the many sloppy plot developments (did the friend really needed to find the phone? Fight escalating into the killing of a dog? Feels like they just wanted an excuse to kill the friend for the last episode). The fake out scenes were just too much. They may have been more impactful if used judiciously but it was entirely too predictable to guess when they were happening. I highly doubt that this will get a second season but even if it does I would not be watching.

Not what I expected. It was way better!!

[jeffy78 · 10/10 · 8 June 2023]

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.

Unique, promising start but gets lost pretty quickly

[julieshotmail · 6/10 · 12 June 2023]

"Based on a True Story" is a satire on the recent phenomenon of true crime junkies - those who obsess on following the latest podcasts and breaking news reports on grisly murders committed by people you least expect. The two lead actors Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina are capable and funny, both with their charms and deadpan comedic timing. Tom Bateman takes a bit to grow on me; I am not familiar with him before, but his sometimes-quirky pronunciations give away that he is not American but British. The show starts off with a uniquely creative premise for a satire. It is promising until the middle episodes when the series meanders into different themes losing its focus. Is this about sappy marriage troubles? We'e not interested. Is this about "Desperate Housewives" style of envy between couples? Yawn. We want more of the serial killer-themed satire that the show promises, which it somehow unwittingly abandons in the end.

Where's the 9th episode

[medicinefingers-27717 · 8/10 · 27 January 2024]

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.

Is it genius? No. Is it fun? Yep!

[onlynay · 7/10 · 24 July 2023]

Fun way to spend an evening. An interesting premise. The main characters were all kinda unlikeable, except for the killer himself, he was cool. Some reviews say that it drifted and ended on a cliff hanger.... well, yeah, but that leaves it open for a 2nd season. With the drifting, I agree that there seemed to be a few story lines happening at once, but were all connected so wasn't an issue. Yeah it could have been done better, some of the 'dream sequence' moments were over done, but didn't ruin it. Some nice quirky moments, unexpected giggles. It's in a similar vein to Santa Clarita Diet, which I'd recommend over this, but it's harmless fun.

Entertaining, hilarious, twisted and ORIGINAL

[arnie1999 · 10/10 · 9 June 2023]

I was not expecting to laugh so much and be on the edge of my seat and get emotional all in one episode. Kaley Cuoco is a comic genius and Chris Messina can do no wrong. Really clever writing and I love that it's not a straight up comedy or horror or drama. It feels fresh and unexpected. I couldn't stop watching and binged the entire season in one sitting. So many smart twists and I found myself rooting for Cuoco and Messina the whole way through. I also was rooting for the serial killer which says a lot about the writing and acting. No spoilers here but you have to watch till the end for one of the most epic cliffhangers. I hope there's a Season 2!!

They forgot to finish the season

[cmunchhof · 6/10 · 23 July 2023]

I'm not sure what happened, but the show was building a story and tension and just ended. Not with a. Finale or anything, it was just over. We were watching this series and went to watch the next episode only to find out there weren't any. Came here to confirm there are only 8 episodes because it ended so abruptly.

It was decent even though it's a knock off of Only Murders in the Building. The premise wasn't really worked out well enough, there's just really no way they could make the story hold up to reasonable scrutiny. Also, they started adding random "imagined" scenes as the series went on. They seemed like they were added only to be shocking and graphic, but weren't relevant to the story. Oh well, they can't all be winners.

They're All Bad Ppl

[kimc-34479 · 2/10 · 9 June 2023]

I went in to watch this thinking it's about a couple trying to catch a serial killer. But, it's about a pregnant couple named Ava (who I think is a complete narcissist) and her husband, fired tennis pro named Nathan that team up with a Serial Killer to make a podcast so they don't go broke. She drinks and does drugs. They husband is also a lil psycho. They make Matt the serial killer promise he won't kill more. Of course he does. They don't care. Even after meeting the mother of the victim. Matt then kills Ava's best friend cause she found out the truth. So what do they do? Bury her body.

For me I need someone to root for in a show. For ex. Dexter killed bad ppl. So it was okay. These characters have zero redeeming qualities. The acting is fantastic but it's just not for me. It's a bad ripoff of Only Murders In The Building.

So much potential

[scottfx-16972 · 6/10 · 5 January 2024]

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.