Netflix’s New No. 1 Thriller Show Is Based on a Shocking Real-Life Murder Case

This HBO Max original show has made its way over to Netflix, and somehow it’s already managed to break into the top 10.

Love & Death is trending right now for a reason — it’s based on a macabre, real-life story involving adultery, deceit and murder. It also boasts a great cast, featuring fantastic performances from Elizabeth Olsen, Jesse Plemons and more

Watch With Us feels strongly that Love & Death should be your next binge-watch this weekend.

We break down why this true-crime drama isn’t something you should skip out on.

The True Story Behind ‘Love and Death’ Is Wild

Love & Death is based on the true story of a Texas woman named Candy Montgomery (Olsen), who lived the stereotypical life of a suburban housewife in the late 1970s and early ’80s. However, Candy decides to embark on an affair with her neighbor and church friend, Allan Gore (Jesse Plemons), who is also married. Allan’s wife, Betty (Lily Rabe), then turns up murdered, having been struck 41 times with an axe, and Candy is the prime suspect

Ultimately, Candy was acquitted of the charges — she pleaded not guilty on the grounds of self-defense, alleging that Betty discovered their affair and it was she who first used the axe against Candy. However, many still maintained that Candy was wrongly set free. The story didn’t just inspire Love & Death, but a Hulu series called Candy starring Jessica Biel, along with a 1990 TV movie that aired on CBS called A Killing in a Small Town, starring Barbara Hershey as Candy.

The Show’s Premise Is Seriously Twisted

Love & Death tactfully explores the boredom and ennui of suburbia during the ’70s and ’80s, particularly felt by women. While the crime itself is unique, the situations and emotions surrounding the case proved to have more universal appeal for viewers. The show offers an empathetic look at the stifling life of an American housewife in the 20th century, back when women often felt dissatisfied with their limited opportunities and struggled to find their identities beyond the labels of wife and mother.

Boredom and dissatisfaction are depicted as having driven Candy to the arms of her neighbor — but did they drive her to murder? You’ll have to watch the show to see what its opinions are on whether or not Candy’s motives were possibly out of spontaneous defense or premeditation, but writer David E. Kelley does a great job of empathetically articulating Candy’s repressed desires and the potentially violent outcomes such repression can cause.

Elizabeth Olsen and the Supporting Cast Are Fantastic

Olsen’s portrayal of Candy Montgomery was hailed as Love & Death’s standout by many, and it’s undeniably true. Olsen’s mesmerizing, nuanced performance anchors the show by balancing charisma and emotional depth in a role that requires viewers to find empathy for an alleged killer. In the end, Olsen’s work garnered her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress – Limited Series or Television Film, and she should’ve won for her terrific, multi-layered performance.

But the rest of the show’s cast is great as well, filled out by several terrific supporting players and character actors, including Rabe (American Horror Story), Krysten Ritter (Breaking Bad), Elizabeth Marvel (The Dropout) and Patrick Fugit (Babylon). Critics were also particularly impressed with Plemons’ embodiment of the passive but sweet Allan, who imbues his character with the necessary level of quiet desperation that might hide something darker.

‘Love and Death’ Tells a Real-Life Mystery Story You Can’t Resist

It probably won’t shock anyone to learn that the script for Love & Death was written by the same screenwriter as LA Law, Ally McBeal and, more recently, Big Little Lies. David E. Kelley is no stranger to stories about fraught housewives carrying dark secrets, and he writes Love & Death with the perfect amount of pathos and character exploration alongside well-crafted dialogue and smart thematic commentary.

Kelley gives Candy and Allan rich interior lives, digging into their psychological complexities and highlighting the flaws and human vulnerabilities that could have led to such a horrific crime. Kelley also manages to imbue a palpable sense of progressively building tension throughout the eight-episode arc, and critics additionally highlighted the courtroom scenes as some of the show’s best writing. Ultimately, it’s Kelley’s script that helps to set Love & Death apart from Hulu’s Candy.

Stream Love & Death now on Netflix.