From Pretty Little Liars showrunner I. Marlene King, comes a new teen-targeted show, Famous in Love, adapted from Rebecca Serle's young adult novel. It takes an inside look at Hollywood and how a nobody can become a somebody in such a short amount of time as it did for the show's leading lady, Paige Townsen (Bella Thorne).
While Famous in Love is extremely cliché and lacks depth for the most part, it's hard to deny its appeal thanks to its soap operatic qualities in the likes of Days of Our Lives. There are some compelling characters, such as Jordan Wilder (Keith Powers), the famous actor with a dark past and Rainer Devon (Carter Jenkins), the reformed bad boy who Paige just can't stay away from. The fascination ends there, with Bella Thorne being the least tolerable of the cast. Just like every other drama, Famous in Love isn't without its own trusty love triangle. It's a plot point that drives Freeform's hit-and-miss spectacle, but unfortunately the show doesn't delve any deeper than that. It's nothing over and above, and audiences should be warned it's nowhere near as intriguing as I. Marlene King's previous hit. Yes, Famous in Love is melodramatic and has its downfalls, but it doesn't require too much of your attention and for that, it might just be your new guilty pleasure.
Creators: I. Marlene King, Rebecca Serle
Stars: Bella Thorne, Charlie DePew, Georgie Flores
Rating: ★★