REVIEW: NINE PERFECT STRANGERS

#TBT: NINE PERFECT STRANGERS - Script analysis.

It's obvious that this limited series is based on a novel because it drags without intention using music to add mystery and suspense of something more going on here with nothing on the screen as evidence. Though, it does have some "what's in the food" HOMECOMING vibes.

The characters are inconsistent. Who we're told they are in episode one changes for two in particular by episode 2. The author, who doesn't seem to like people, follows the young girl who runs from the first therapy session, appears empathetic and even hugs her. The social media Influencer suddenly becomes fidgety. Her guard immediately down showing her insecurities making everything we were told about her null.

Because it's therapy, the characters are allowed to be on the nose, sharing everything. But they aren't sharing because of Masha. They seem to just vomit their problems to each other as if they're all self-aware. So, what makes Masha special and why do they need this retreat?

I do not care that someone wants to kill Masha. She's too mysterious for me to invest in or empathize with. While the patients should be the ones I empathize with, they are all signing up for the okie doke and I don't respect that. So, they can die too.

P.S. I can usually push through a series just to have an opinion on the end, but... I stopped like 2 episodes short.

Check out our Development Notes service to get personalized feedback from one of our Story Experts and take your screenplay to the next level!

---

AUTHOR

Shannan E. Johnson is a former creative executive at The Syfy Channel turned CEO + Head Consultant of The Professional Pen, a script consultancy that develops screenwriters from idea to pitch to become more confident storytellers ready for a professional screenwriting career, and consults with scripted development teams at entertainment companies to streamline their notes process to get to pre-production more efficiently.