Content Warning: violence and death

Published: 27/05/2023

HBO are bringing another award season favourite to our televisions. Love & Death’s star studded cast and crew along with the intrigue of it’s “based on a true story“ tagline has brought in an impressive viewership and holds steady positive reviews over it’s 1 month airing period with 7 episodes. Between the main cast of Elizabeth Olsen, Jesse Plemons and Lily Rabe and names such as Nicole Kidman with producing credit the series had eyes on it anticipating great television since it’s green light in early summer 2021.

One of the main criticisms the show is receiving is it’s close release from last years Hulu series Candy which told the same story of Candy Montgomery and Betty Gore’s murder. The general series of events that both shows are inspired from is how in 1980 Candy Montgomery (in HBO’s case portrayed by Olsen), murders her friend and neighbour Betty Gore (Rabe) with an axe, who’s husband (Plemons) she was previously having an affair with.

I have not yet watched Candy, with Jessica Biel in the title role, so cannot comment on the comparisons or which show conveyed the story and issues more effective. I can confirm that while some of the middle episodes of Love & Death felt slightly dragged out. I do wish they gave us more time seeing Candy and Betty’s friendship before the affairs and eventually fatal argument. I think it would have made the fight between the two more effective in getting an extreme audience reaction. However, the show did start off incredibly gripping and ended the same way despite slowing down in the middle few episodes.

I believe it is safe to say that Olsen has most likely secured herself nominations in the limited series categories for the next award season for her performance as Candy. Before the series even released it’s final episode there was buzz circling for her performance and already having her name on many peoples prediction lists. Olsen’s performance was powerful and , staying true to how the writing chose to perceive and dramatise the events.

However, two shows releasing within a year of each other with large studios backing them, less than 40 years since the events that are being written about, I think could be partially insensitive. Again, I cannot talk on Candy but Love & Death did have an underlying theme of victimising Candy Montgomery. We know from the show that the children of Betty Gore were under a year old and around 7 years old at the time. Both now dealing with television shows in parts victimising the woman that killed their Mother and dedicated fanbases such as Olsen’s sympathising with Candy online.

You can currently stream all episodes of Love & Death on Max in the US. For UK viewers the entire series will be available on ITVX this autumn, specific dates to be announced. All episodes of Candy are available to stream on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in UK.

sshhhh…

Letterboxd Review on Love & Death

Love & Death, dir. Lesli Linka Glatter and Clark Johnson

Release: 27 April 2023

Uk release: autumn 2023 (tbc)

Lara Edwards.