Freeform’s New Crime Drama “Guilt” More Than Just a Guilty Pleasure
Regardless of the television season, there’s always a place for a classic murder mystery series, and Freeform’s newest drama seems poised to fill that role, albeit with several modern twists. Loosely based on the real-life Amanda Knox case, the series opens with Grace (Daisy Head), a wealthy American girl living in London, who, along with her French boyfriend, finds herself the focus of an intense murder investigation after her flatmate, Molly, is slain in their apartment. However, as the episode progresses, we quickly learn that the events surrounding the life and death of Molly are much more entangled than they initially appeared to be. Over the course of the show’s pilot, we are introduced to a variety of colorful characters, including Grace’s Boston-based attorney sister, Natalie (Emily Tremaine), their arrogant stepfather James, played by the legendary Anthony Stewart Head, and the snarky lawyer hired to defend Grace, played by the immensely talented Billy Zane. In addition, we discover that there were many people in Molly’s life—including a member of the Royal family and an as-yet-unidentified stalker—who could’ve played a role in her death.
Ultimately, this show has all the ingredients necessary to become a compelling dramatic series: a stellar cast, an intriguing storyline and a breathtaking setting. While some of the writing and dialogue at this stage comes across as a bit stale, there’s enough spice to promise improvement in the future. Moreover, the writers have left a lot of room for some impressive character development down the line. Billy Zane’s Stan Gutterie, in particular, is one to watch—and can we all take a brief moment to chuckle at the fact that the writers gifted a shady attorney with a last name that includes the word “gutter”?
Therefore, Guilt is definitely worth the time needed to check it out. But if you still aren’t convinced, check out the series premiere on the Freeform app or below. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Guilt airs on Freeform on Monday nights at 9:00 pm ET/PT.