'Fatal Attraction' Episode 1 Review: Paramount+ series lacks the edge the '80s classic had

'Fatal Attraction' Episode 1 makes everyone wonder if reboots of classics are even necessary to begin with
UPDATED APR 30, 2023
Dan Gallagher and Alex Forrest meeting for the first time in 'Fatal Attraction' Episode 1 (Paramount+)
Dan Gallagher and Alex Forrest meeting for the first time in 'Fatal Attraction' Episode 1 (Paramount+)

Spoilers for 'Fatal Attraction' Episode 1

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ever since Paramount+ first announced a reboot of ‘Fatal Attraction’, everyone had their doubts and several questions. This is a reboot of an '80s classic, which had a few themes that might seem a tad problematic today, which is why it’s probably best to leave it in the past. Alas, Paramount+ thought it would be better to right the wrongs and divide the weighted blame.

'Fatal Attraction' Episode 1 gets off to a slow start which makes us wonder that if there had to be a reboot, it could have just been another movie. Nevertheless, the first episode of the series 'Fatal Attraction' Episode 1 is officially here, and everyone has some thoughts about it. This series features some brilliant cast members like Lizzy Caplan, Joshua Jackson, and Amanda Peet, so if for nothing else, you will find yourself pressing play for a stellar cast.

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A dull introduction to a classic tale

'Fatal Attraction' Episode 1 feels like a slow and underwhelming start, and we believe it would be best if you forgot about the 1987 movie while watching the latest series. The pilot episode of 'Fatal Attraction' starts with Dan Gallagher at a hearing where he admits to committing the murder of Alex Forrest. This scene sets the tone of the whole series, especially for the viewers who came into this expecting an exact replica of the original movie. In other ways, this also lowers the expectations of the viewers, and maybe that’s for the best.

The pilot also introduces us to a grown-up Ellen Gallagher, who is in therapy, thinking about ways to go about her relationship with her father when he’s out on parole. These little subplots are introduced early on in 'Fatal Attraction' Episode 1 to establish that this series isn’t about a manic woman or a crazy relationship, but everything that happened during and after that. Here’s the kicker when it comes to 'Fatal Attraction' Episode 1: if this was an episode not based on a movie, it would have worked wonders. Albeit, knowing that a classic tale might potentially be butchered, takes the charm away.

The story of Dan Gallagher and Alex Forrest

Despite the several underlying tones and subplots, the focus of the series has to remain on Dan and Alex, which 'Fatal Attraction' Episode 1 does to an extent. Instead of the crazy sexy love that it should have been, it looks a little more like puppy love with careful flirting. At this point of the episode, the viewers want to see more of Dan and Alex in action, whether its sexiness or craziness, but one has to understand, that a 2-hour long movie has been stretched to eight episodes, so if you aren’t up for a snooze fest, now might be the time to leave.

'Fatal Attraction' Episode 1 has done a slightly above-average job establishing the theme and characters, but only one question remains on everyone’s mind: Did Dan Gallagher really kill Alex Forrest?

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