Candy

The comparison between Candy and Love & Death is absolutely fantastic. Two miniseries based on the same true crime case filmed around the same time for different networks. Love & Death is a more charming, entertaining HBO drama with attractive actors and a grand courtroom atmosphere in the style of David E. Kelley. The flirtatious Candy gains sympathy because she is beautifully portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen. While Candy, backed by Hulu, presents a more authentic depiction of the period's realities, it's not as attractive but overall much more realistic. Surprisingly, the more sympathetic character here is the desperate Betty, played by Melanie Lynskey (the brilliant queen of New Zealand cinema). The bored Candy deals with her unsatisfactory life in the suburbs of a small town by reading letter porn and decides to start an affair with the first man she lays eyes on. Unfortunately, she chooses the husband of her neighbor, who is struggling with depression, postpartum weight, and an unsatisfactory career and role in the local community. The final courtroom scene isn't as convincing as in the competing series, but it's truly beneficial for the audience to see the story from a different perspective. (04/06/2024)