Review: Ravenswood

BY HANNAH RAMESAR

Within the first few minutes of the pilot episode, Pretty Little Liars spinoff Ravenswood, breaks away from the formula of its parent show and dips its toes into “psychologically thrilling” waters.

Ravenswood depicts a town soaked in death and comes across as more of a drama/horror thriller. The show is centered on Caleb Rivers, recognizable for playing Hanna Marin’s boyfriend on Pretty Little Liars, and his five latest acquaintances: Miranda Collins, Raymond Collins (Miranda’s uncle), Luke Matheson, Olivia Matheson, and Remy Beaumont.

The crew of teenagers have social issues and parental problems in common, something easily bonded over, with Miranda’s creepy uncle thrown in for good measure. The five strangers lives have become intertwined by a deadly curse that has plagued Ravenswood for generations and has now turned around to haunt them. The show follows the group as they dig into the town’s past in order to find answers and solve the mysterious curse that has yet to be revealed.

With a new supernatural element thrown in to the mix, it seems that the network is trying to capitalize on the momentum created by the witch, vampire, and werewolf craze teens have been obsessing over. Is the execution flawless? It’s hard to tell at this point, but what is crystal clear is the fact that enough has been established within the first episode for me to turn a blind eye and look to find a new hobby on Tuesdays at eight o’clock. Perhaps crocheting will take up the hour-long void Ravenswood failed to fulfill.

Although the show’s dark, twisted storyline does not lure me in, Ravenswood will probably be a successful series, considering the target demographic being generally younger and more impressionable, buying into the played out, and overdone paranormal thing.