logline: After joining forces with a veteran bounty hunter, sixteen-year-old fraternal twin sisters Sterling and Blair dive into the world of bail skipping baddies while still navigating the high stakes of teenage life.

Source: IMDb

I was not expecting this show to be this good. Based on the trailers, it seemed like your run of the mill cutesy teenage girls who are also bounty hunters that we’ve seen a thousand times before. I was expecting the show to be scattered and have annoying characters and be a more action-heavy show. I thought I’d have to slog through 10 hours of boring television. But it’s nothing like that. It’s so fun and enjoyable. But it takes a while to get going. The first few episodes are kind of slow and have no real intrigue. They definitely find the balance later in the show. It has all the action you would expect from a show about bounty hunters with all of the perky earnestness from a teen show. But doesn’t fall into any of the pitfalls of a normal teen show. It’s witty, clever, and sincere. That’s much better than what I expected. This show has phenomenal and clear characters which is hard to find in a Netflix Original. Every character is distinct and although they start out as stereotypes, they subvert them and become well-rounded characters. There is no way you’ll ever confuse two characters based purely on their personality. Though you would be forgiven for confusing the likes of Sterling and April for they do resemble each other. The character development is wonderful and slightly foreseeable. Unlike some other shows of its kind, there is almost no deeply rooted trauma to speak of amongst the characters. The character arcs are not propelled by underlying trauma but by actual genuine character interactions. The two lead actresses are amazing, with the perfect sibling relationship. The relationship of bickering and spiting but always loving each other in the end. It’s also kind of empowering to see two girls with so much agency in their life. They kick a*s and take names with really modern takes on womanhood and girlhood. They both have love lives. But they are not intrinsic to who they are as people, it’s just an extra thing that they have. That take is refreshing for a show because it doesn’t rely on romantic entanglements to enhance the characters. Despite the two main actresses being 25 and 26, they somehow still look like teenagers. They don’t look like 25 year old 15 year olds. They look like 15 year olds despite being 25. A female-lead show about crime solving with perfect character and narrative structure, sign me up!

My Favorite Characters:

Maddie Phillips as Sterling Wesley: the character development is immaculate. Much like the character herself. She is the goody two shoes “good Christian girl” that slowly learns that the title is not one she needs. Maddie Phillips is sooo good in this show. She has the same awkward energy that the majority of teens can relate to. She just wants to love and be loved and that’s all a teen could want. Her chemistry with every character can be felt through my laptop where I watched it. I just wanted her to be happy in whatever way she wants.
Anjelica Bette Fellini as Blair Wesley: the other half of the amazing Wesley siblings. They have an amazing relationship that is reciprocal. Blair, on the surface, seems like someone who is carefree as opposed to her Type A sister. But beneath the insouciant demeanor is someone who cares a whole lot. But she only cares for specific people. Whether it be her sister or her beau, she will do anything for the people she cares about. Fellini is also amazing in this show.
Devon Hales as April Stevens: her arc is amazing. From the stereotypical mean girl at school to sympathetic love interest, I adore her. She had a tough emotional exterior that slowly eroded to reveal a heartfelt and caring girl. She had a tough home life that was only one facet of her personality and not the cause of everything.

This show is rated TV-MA. Here’s why:

Sexual Content and Nudity
Violence and Gore
Language
Alcohol and Drug Use

Favorite Part: Episode 8: From Basic to Telenovela is my favorite episode. It has the main plot of classic sitcom proportions. Blair has to be in two places at once. On a date with her boyfriend and on a bounty hunting mission. But to subvert the trope of having to be in two places at once, she doesn’t work it out. Usually, their absence goes unnoticed by the general public. But SPOILERS. Her boyfriend breaks up with her because she couldn’t be there. The subplot is Sterling’s blossoming relationship with April which they have to hide from everyone. Sterling was supposed to assist with the mission that would allow Blair to go on the date and do the mission. But Sterling’s relationship didn’t allow her to help. So it was partially Sterling’s fault that Blair and her boyfriend broke up. This episode has great acting from Blair and Sterling as they deal with their various feelings.

Where to Watch:

IMDb:

Teenage Bounty Hunters

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