ABC Family (soon to be Freeform come January 12th) has released a “mini-binge” on select platforms (Hulu+ and On-Demand) for its newest drama “Recovery Road” and pardon the pun but it’s ADDICTING! Based on the 2011 novel by Blake Nelson, the first three episodes are filled with so much promise that I can not WAIT for this show to finally premiere. Weekly recaps will be coming your way as the show progresses but read below as I review the pilot.
(ABC Family/Eric McCandless)
The show stars Jessica Sula as Maddie Graham, a teenage hot-mess who is forced to get her life together by her mother Charlotte (Sharon Leal) and her high school guidance counselor Cynthia (Alexis Carra), who has a secret of her own that will alter the way Maddie views her. Maddie’s journey to recovery begins when she is sent to a rehab facility run by Craig (David Witts), who along with patients Wes (Sebastian de Souza), Vern (Daniel Franzese), Trish (Kyla Pratt), and more help Maddie rediscover that live doesn’t have to be a constant party.
HERE WE GO! First off you guys… This was probably one of the best pilots I have seen in a long time! I want to save all of the details for my recap coming when the show actually premieres so this will just give you some highlights on what you can expect from the pilot. It was beautifully shot with amazing jump cuts to Maddie partying, showing the audience just how messed up her life and addiction has become. From the top of the hour, the show has managed set a tone not only visually but emotionally. You can tell from the beginning how much of a toll this disease is taking on Maddie and the people close to her, even if she doesn’t yet realize it herself.
Jessica Sula who plays Maddie is a star on the rise! A relative newcomer to American audiences, seeing as how she got her start on the british (and original) version of Skins, has really made such an impression on me. Her ability to play so many different layers of complicated all at once is really such skill that not every young actor has. She has the capability to being snarky and make awful choices but at the end of the day you root for her because she is misguided, young, and has a good heart that she just hasn’t realized the full potential of yet.
The other wonderful thing about this show is the supporting cast. Each and every actor/character has such potential and meaning. They all bring qualities that make them so relatable even if you have never gone through something like this in your life. The way each character has been written really makes you want to dive right in to their storyline each week. So far there isn’t a character who is a weak link.
The writing is fantastic. Each twist and turn is perfectly thought out and you can tell that the writers are trying to show the audience just how complex addiction and teenage life really is. They are sure to help show you that sobriety and change is hard work that you have to want and be willing to do.
I cannot wait for January 25th to come so we can all start to follow and enjoy “Recovery Road.”
“Recovery Road” will premiere on January 25th on Freeform right after the season 3B return of The Fosters (which I will also be covering!)
Feel free to send me your own thoughts on “Recovery Road” on Twitter @DustinB3350 and Instagram @dustin3350. Also be sure to follow PopHeartsTV on all major social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, & now Tumblr by searching @PopHeartsTV!
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