My Review & Thoughts on Crystal Lake Season 1 👇
Crystal Lake is a very competently made prequel and reimagining of the Friday the 13th universe. I really loved how they expanded on the whole Friday the 13th mythology & lore, with some of the creative decisions that they went with here.
By far this 1st Season of "Crystal Lake's" biggest strength though is, and it goes without saying "Linda Cardellini" as "Pamela." She really embodied & disappeared into the character of "Pamela Voorhees." It was as if "Linda Cardellini" was born to play this role she was phenomenal all the way through this 1st Season. She didn't put a foot wrong.
Also just both how "Pamela" was potrayed by "Linda Cardellini" and with how the character was written, has really given "Pamela" a lot of staying power for the "Friday the 13th universe.
I also loved the way they kept "Jason" totally in the background, and just seeing him in flashes after his drowning in the Opening Episode was a smart move imo; because it felt his eventual reveal as an adult where we see him full on in the final Episode, 💯 felt earned and it was a great payoff for this Opening Season.
The whole revelation of why "Jason" can't die and why he was born the way that he is, was also another major highlight for me. It made total & utter sense and I don't think creatively they could have come up with a better explanation for "Jason's" abilities. I'm 💯 on board with it 👏👏👏
And on top of that at the same time, they've made "Pamela" a very tragic & sympathetic character, even though she's a villain. When they were showing the backstory of "Pamela's" earlier life in Episode 7, I couldn't help but feel sympathetic for the character. She wasn't born a psycho, she was made into one, and that's one of the main elements of Season 1 that for me, they absolutely knocked out of the park, I bought it.
And a lot to do with this Season having the feel, look, vibe & atmosphere of the 80's films with them filming this Season in the same locations, that the old Friday the 13th movies were filmed in. That did make a massive difference as well, in keeping the Friday the 13th DNA 🧬 there. I loved that.
Overall a very strong Season that imo stuck the landing on what it was going for. It took some massive swings which I totally admire abd in this case it payed off, well at least for me anyway. However some of the creative decisions they took here will cause division between "Friday the 13th" fans, but I'm on the side that's championing what they've done here. I liked how everything all came together in the last 2 Episodes, just a very well done and made Season of television.
My Personal Ratings/Scores for Crystal Lake Season 1 is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ & a 10/10
