'Love & Death' Episode 1 Review: A tale of temptation, betrayal, and payback
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: People can go to extraordinary lengths to get what they want and Candy Montgomery is one of the prime examples of that. When the case is controversial, it doesn’t come as a shock that it gets covered more than once. Last year, Hulu came forward with a series based on the murder accused and now, it’s HBO Max who has produced a mini-series on what happened in Wylie, Texas, on that fateful day. Titled ‘Love & Death,’ the series tells the true story of Candy (Elizabeth Olsen) and Pat Montgomery (Patrick Fugit) and Betty (Lily Rabe) and Allan Gore (Jesse Plemons) – two churchgoing couples enjoying their small-town Texas life until an extramarital affair leads somebody to pick up an axe.
The premiere starts by giving viewers an idea that Candy is undoubtedly unhappy with her married life. She has her own reasons and feels attracted to Allan Gore when he helps her during a volleyball game. That was the time she felt that she needed something thrilling in her life and didn’t want to lead a monotonous married life. Candy didn’t shy away from telling about her feelings to Allan and he reciprocated, meaning both of them needed to break loose from their average life. But that doesn’t mean what they did was right.
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In every true-crime series, a murderer is undeniably a crazy person who has a tragic backstory. But that doesn’t serve as an excuse for all the heinous crimes they committed. In every sense, they are just murderers. However, the first episode of ‘Love & Death’ doesn’t offer clarity on whether the person who committed the crime was actually murdered or not. If you have followed the real case, the first frame of the episode will make it clear who got murdered, but it’s important to showcase what led to the killing and that’s what this first episode does.
Why does Candy think of having extra-marital affair?
Extra-marital affairs are a reality and it happens everywhere. A lot of times it happens because of an unhappy marriage. Dissatisfaction with the marriage either emotionally or sexually is common. Sometimes, it is sheer boredom or a need to break the monotony of everyday life that is the reason for an extramarital affair.
The relationship between Allan and Candy starts because of two different reasons. Candy wanted to have some excitement and felt that she didn’t receive anything in return for the things she has done for her family. On the other hand, Allan seems to be having a lot of arguments with Betty and their life was crumbling. But one thing that makes this affair a bit problematic is that Candy seems to be catching feelings for Allan and was more invested in the affair. That’s where the episode becomes really interesting and the final shot turned out to be the most epic one. It shows us that the tale is only going to get weirder and weirder from here.
Olsen steals the show as Candy Montgomery
Elizabeth Olsen as Candy is breathtaking and owns every frame. On the other hand, Jesse Plemons is just spellbinding as Allan. Other cast members such as Lily Rabe, Krysten Ritter, Patrick Fugit, and Elizabeth Marvel are brilliant as well.
All in all, ‘Love & Death’ has started with a riveting chapter that has laid a strong foundation for a story that ends with a brutal murder. With stunning cast members like that and such a riveting story, the show is certainly going to get more interesting from here.
'Love & Death' returns to HBO Max with a new episode every Thursday at 3:01 am EST.
