Hulu’s 10-Part Mystery Thriller Is A Perfect Miniseries

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Despite being canceled prematurely, the mystery thriller Cruel Summer was a truly exceptional show and deserved more recognition. Its creator, Bert V. Royal, has long been interested in exploring the complex inner worlds of teenagers, a theme he first explored in his 2004 play, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead.

As a total cinema and comic strip fan, I was really intrigued by this play. It takes the beloved Peanuts characters and reimagines them as troubled teens dealing with really mature stuff – figuring out who they are, experimenting with drugs, all of it. It’s completely unofficial, of course, but the way the playwright handled such a crazy idea actually launched their career. It’s wild to think that same energy led them to direct Easy A just a few years later!

The teen comedy Easy A is a clever and funny film that helped launch Emma Stone’s career. It playfully updates the classic story of The Scarlet Letter while also offering a smart and humorous take on the unfair judgment and shaming of girls and women.

Cruel Summer’s Twisty Story Is A Classic Mystery

Royal demonstrated a talent for realistically portraying the complex experience of being a teenager – that space between growing up and still acting on impulse – in both of these projects. While the popular Netflix series Adolescence successfully attempted to capture this voice within the crime drama genre, Hulu’s ten-episode mystery Cruel Summer did so even more effectively.

The first season of Cruel Summer takes place in a small Texas town between 1993 and 1995. It centers around Kate, played by Olivia Holt, who’s popular, and Jeannette, played by Chiara Aurelia, who’s quiet and overlooked. When Kate goes missing, Jeannette transforms herself, essentially becoming a copy of Kate, and starts to win over Kate’s friends.

Let me tell you, Cruel Summer really throws you for a loop. It’s not until Jeannette takes Kate’s place that things really hit the fan – Holt’s character comes back, and the reveal he drops completely changes everything for both girls. The show is full of shocking twists that, honestly, could have easily felt cheap or over-the-top. But it avoids that pitfall thanks to some truly phenomenal performances from its leads. It’s a masterful piece of television, genuinely gripping from start to finish.

Honestly, after the first season of Cruel Summer, I was totally conflicted! The show did such a good job of revealing the good and bad in both main characters that I didn’t even know who I was supposed to be rooting for. It’s a really twisty show that keeps you guessing, and while I felt for both girls, it didn’t make their mistakes okay. It’s amazing how much empathy the show builds for them, even when they mess up!

Cruel Summer Avoids The Worst Failure Of Teen TV Shows

What really sets Cruel Summer apart is that it avoids a common pitfall of teen dramas. The characters sound like actual teenagers – not like adults pretending to be teens, or like they’re still children. For years, this has been a major problem with shows trying to appeal to this age group.

Many teen shows, from Saved by the Bell to Victorious, had characters who seemed like they were still in middle school, even though they were supposedly in their late teens. Even popular shows like Gossip Girl, Skins, and Pretty Little Liars often featured actors in their twenties playing teenagers who sounded much older – more like the writers themselves. Thankfully, Cruel Summer managed to avoid these issues.

Even though shows like HBO’s Sharp Objects depict more intensely disturbing events, Cruel Summer creates a genuinely unsettling story without relying on shocking moments. The show focuses on two main characters, realistically portraying their emotional pain while also acknowledging the harm they cause to others, whether intentional or not.

As a big fan of psychological thrillers, I really enjoyed the first season of Cruel Summer, so I was excited for season 2. While it was still a good watch, it didn’t quite hit the same heights, probably because it introduced a completely new set of characters and a story that wasn’t connected to the first season. It reminded me a bit of what happened with Homecoming – that show had a fantastic first season, but the second felt a little less impactful. It’s a common problem for these anthology series, unfortunately.

Because Cruel Summer changes its story and characters each season, season 2 faced a tough challenge: it needed to feel connected to the first season while also telling a completely new and compelling story. This is difficult for any show, but the first season was so good that it raised the stakes even higher.

Why Cruel Summer Season 3 Is Taking So Long

While many expected Cruel Summer to end after two seasons, it was disappointing because the second season was still enjoyable, even if it wasn’t quite as good as the first. So, it was a pleasant surprise when the show was renewed in August 2025.

Rumors are circulating about a possible third season of Cruel Summer, suggesting the show might not be finished after all. This is exciting news, as Cruel Summer has remained one of the best teen mystery thrillers since its debut in 2021, standing out from most others in the genre.

It’s still uncertain whether season 3 of Cruel Summer will continue the story from season 1 or start fresh with a new plot and cast. But, thanks to the excellent writing in the first season, any return of Cruel Summer will likely be well-received.

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2026-02-18 22:39