Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gripping series has self-harm, tension, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Chloe
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
When they were kids, CHLOE (Poppy Gilbert) and Becky (Erin Doherty) were best friends. But then something irrevocable happened, and now Becky keeps an eye on Chloe's glittering life on social media as a distraction from her own lonely existence. She has few friends, a dead-end temp job, and lives in an unfashionable section of London with her unwell mother (Lisa Palfrey). But when Chloe's found dead, Becky is irresistibly drawn into a new existence, taking on a new persona and infiltrating Chloe's circle of friends to uncover the mystery of just what happened to a woman who seemed to have it all.
Is It Any Good?
Anchored by a mesmerizing performance from Erin Doherty, this series takes a well-worn premise and makes it gripping and new. By now viewers are familiar with the idea that one's online presence is consciously curated and doesn't necessarily reflect real life, but it's not until the end stages of Chloe that we find out just how messy Becky's former BFF's adult life was. In the meantime, this drama simmers with danger and intrigue as Becky comes close to being caught again and again but (almost) always manages to slip out through a combination of quick wit and utter nerve. Meanwhile, she circles closer to the truth of Chloe's life and death, while details about Becky's troubled past and the reasons the two friends became estranged are slowly revealed.
Sometimes it teeters on the edge of ridiculousness, particularly when Chloe's ex, Elliott (Billy Howle), begins taking an unduly ardent interest in Becky's comings and goings: Becky's quick with an excuse, but her behavior is extraordinarily odd, certainly more odd than a group of new friends would endure. Nonetheless, viewers will excuse the whiff of unreality because they won't be able to help caring about Becky: why she's on this quest, what she's getting from it. They also uneasily know that there's very little chance her charade can end well. And so the suspense and performances send you cresting over the nonsense, carrying you to the end, which is at least satisfying (if, indeed, not very happy).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Chloe. How intense is it? Does the risk of danger affect the level of the thrills? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
What's the best way for everyone to stay safe online? When should families start to talk about online responsibility?
Are any of the characters admirable? Are they intended to be? Who are we meant to root for/sympathize with?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 24, 2022
- Cast : Erin Doherty , Pippa Bennett-Warner , Billy Howle
- Network : Prime Video
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : February 7, 2023
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