Perhaps the biggest deal in the entertainment industry is Netflix’s agreement to acquire Warner Bros. and its HBO Max library for $82 billion. While it might not directly correlate just yet, Netflix has already started adding some HBO Max content. Even before the acquisition announcement, WBD had begun licensing select streaming titles to Netflix.
One of the most notable additions is “Love & Death,” which premiered as an HBO Max original back in 2023. Added to Netflix a week ago, it’s already crashed the top 10, climbing to the No. 5 spot in the past few days. While the novelty of streaming an HBO Max original on Netflix may be a contributing factor to its surge in popularity, I think the fact that it’s a thriller based on a shocking true story is what makes it most appealing to Netflix subscribers.
“Love & Death,” starring one of my all-time favorite actors, Elizabeth Olsen, is based on real-life events. The story centers around a true crime story in 1980 Texas, when a suburban housewife was accused of killing a friend after a hidden affair came to light. If you’re already intrigued, here’s everything you need to know about “Love & Death.”
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What is ‘Love & Death’ about?
Love & Death | Official Trailer | Warner Bros. Entertainment – YouTube
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“Love & Death” dramatizes the real-life story of Candy Montgomery (Elizabeth Olsen), a seemingly ordinary suburban housewife in late-1970s Texas. Though she appears to lead a picture-perfect life with a loving family, Candy becomes restless and unsatisfied, ultimately entering into an extramarital affair with Allan Gore (Jesse Plemons), a fellow church member.
The longer the affair continues, the more cracks start to show in their marriages, including Allan’s strained relationship with his wife, Betty (Lily Rabe). As soon as their secret is revealed during the summer of 1980, chaos follows, leaving one of the wives dead and Candy on trial for murder. The show traces the affair, the confrontation, the crime, and the courtroom proceedings, as Candy is forced to face the consequences of her choices.
Should you stream ‘Love & Death’ on Netflix?
(Image credit: HBO Max)
Whether you stream “Love & Death” depends on your taste in true crime and whether this genre is something you typically gravitate toward. Of course, this is a dramatization stretched across seven episodes for ideal binge-watching, but like many true crime dramas, it takes the time to provide a deeper exploration of Candy’s character.
Based on the true story that unfolded in 1980, Candy Montgomery was a 30‑year‑old suburban housewife in Wylie, Texas, who was accused of murdering her friend Betty Gore. On that day, Betty confronted Candy about her secret affair with Allan. According to Candy’s account during the trial, Betty attacked her with an axe, triggering a violent struggle in which Candy claimed she acted in self‑defense. “Love & Death” explores not just the shocking crime itself but also the complex emotions, relationships, and motivations that led up to it.
(Image credit: Jake Giles Netter / HBO Max)
Penned for TV by David E. Kelley, the creative mind behind shows like “Big Little Lies,” “The Undoing,” and “Nine Perfect Strangers,” “Love & Death” carries the same polished production values as his previous work, but with far less of the excessive melodrama. Given that it’s based on a real-life tragedy, this restraint is a welcome choice. In fact, there’s no denying that Olsen is the show’s strongest asset, as she plays not just a devoted mom but also a jealous ex, a dissatisfied partner, and a withdrawn defendant.
“Love & Death” largely sticks to a straightforward retelling of events familiar to anyone who knows the story, and like many true crime adaptations, it doesn’t entirely justify its own existence. Fortunately, the show’s real strength lies in its focus on the people affected rather than the sensational headlines. But fair warning that the show includes a violent depiction of the crime, which may be off-putting to some viewers and is harrowing in itself.
(Image credit: Jake Giles Netter / HBO Max)
By June 2023, “Love & Death” actally ranked among the top five biggest global launches for an HBO Max original, and now that it’s streaming on Netflix, it’s reaching an even wider audience. If you prefer to look at the reviews beforehand though, you’ll be pleased to know that this series actually earned some solid ratings.
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Over on Rotten Tomatoes, the show has a 63% score from critics, with audiences rating it even higher at 87%. The site’s consensus reads: “A terrific Elizabeth Olsen gives Love & Death some life, but this rote retelling of a grisly murder does little to distinguish itself from other true crime tales.”
If you typically enjoy true crime dramas and character-driven storytelling, “Love & Death” is well worth a watch. With Olsen leading a compelling cast and a careful balance between suspense and real-life tragedy, it offers both gripping drama and thoughtful exploration of the people behind the headlines. Just be mindful that some scenes can be really intense.
Stream “Love & Death” on Netflix.
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