If you had any doubts that the sequence might thrive after Candace Cameron Bure’s departure, Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New allayed these fears.
De-aging the characters labored exceptionally properly, and essentially the most questionable selection — to retain Marilu Henner as Aurora’s mother, Aida — gave the sequence an sudden tether to the sooner episodes.
There’s little question that this was a gamble that paid off handsomely for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
Once upon a time, Bure was Hallmark royalty. There’s a cause that she starred in 29 films between the 2 networks, a file that may quickly see Lacey Chabert, with 27, catching up and bypassing her.
Choosing a alternative for the longest-running thriller franchise could not have been straightforward with these massive sneakers to fill, however Skyler Samuels steps into the position completely.
To get a higher really feel for a way well-suited Samuels is for the position, I watched the sooner Aurora Teagarden films earlier than watching “Something New.” It had been a whereas, and it was essential to think about Aurora earlier than the franchise started.
“Something New” needed to re-establish the entire characters we have recognized so properly and their relationships for it to make sense. Although they’ve fairly completely different kinds of appearing, it was very straightforward to imagine that this Aurora was the Ro we might come to know.
It did not require Samuels to repeat Bure or to be anybody aside from herself, which is a testomony to the casting director. Their imaginative and prescient was additional cemented by the remainder of the solid.
Evan Roderick as Arthur and Kayla Heller as Sally not solely had the identical vitality as their predecessors, however they labored properly with Samuels and one another.
It felt just like the clock had actually been dialed again. There wasn’t a hitch. Everyone is a little much less jaded and more energizing in life and expertise.
And the sudden coup de grace was conserving Henner within the position of Aida. Somehow, she actually does look youthful than she did when the franchise started, and her presence is the glue that ties the brand new actors to the previous. It’s fairly sensible.
The hardest a part of this new journey is discovering new tales that would not have impacted the characters sufficient to hold on to the lives we have already witnessed.
You’d assume that Sally’s engagement ending when her fiance was carted away in handcuffs might need had that type of impact, however the film ended with a caveat: they had been by no means to talk Matt’s identify once more.
Thank goodness for that!
It was one other gamble, centering the primary crime Ro and Arthur solved along with the brand new solid round certainly one of their very own. Short of analyzing all earlier materials for any point out of their youth, this was a good wager.
Ro is dwelling from school to review for her grasp’s. She’s simply getting reacquainted with Aida and dwelling underneath her roof as a household once more. The greatest method to introduce her budding investigation expertise was by specializing in somebody near her.
Who higher than her greatest pal?
Aurora’s concern about Sally getting married after figuring out a man for a matter of months and standing by her it doesn’t matter what confirmed how a lot she cares for her pal, simply establishing these to be the Ro and Sally we have come to know.
Arthur, as a new recruit to the police division, could be extra keen to have interaction with Ro’s theories, too.
He’s thirsty for data, eagerly studying Aurora’s true crime strategies, and the 2 use what they’ve realized collectively to resolve a crime instantly affecting their pal.
Sally comes out trying the worst with the brand new case, however as soon as she noticed cause, she shortly pivoted and confirmed Matt the door — not that she had a selection, as he was being led away in handcuffs.
But the entire characters’ actions had been on par with the individuals they’d turn out to be. They’re younger and discovering their manner and don’t know what number of circumstances lay forward of their crime-solving future!
It’s additionally a problem to put in writing materials that may tease romantic relationships once we know the place the characters are heading.
Aurora has thus far and get to know individuals. She did as a lot earlier than she met and married Nick.
But discovering a stability between individuals she will date and who the viewers will not get connected to goes to be a particular dance the writers will cope with because the sequence continues.
Daniel, a budding chef that works with Aurora on the diner, has already taken a liking to her. They by no means made it on a date, however the possibility is hanging on the market like ripe fruit.
He was even astute sufficient to query whether or not Arthur had emotions for Aurora, which provided the proper alternative to close down any unrequited emotions between the previous mates.
I’m glad they addressed that shortly as a result of regardless of the friendship between Aurora and Arthur, Samuels and Rodering do look cute collectively, and their recent tackle established characters did beg the query if there was one thing extra between them.
If that future wasn’t set in stone, it would not be laborious to get on a RoArthur ‘ship. Alas, it’s, and we won’t.
The case we’d like by no means communicate of once more labored wonders to create new and lasting bonds between Aurora, Sally, and Arthur, and the stage is ready for a lot of extra mysteries to return.
Well earlier than the film launched, followers had been able to usher within the new technology with open arms. Now, we will fortunately report that “Something New” was a great success.
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Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a employees author and critic for TV Fanatic. She’s a member of the Critic’s Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of tv and movie with anybody who will hear. Follow her on Twitter and e-mail her right here at TV Fanatic.
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