Astrid & Lilly Save The World is a bizarre show about two monster hunters that have no idea what they are doing — but it is up to them to save the world. This review is based on the first three episodes of Astrid & Lilly Save The World season 1.
Astrid & Lilly Save The World is a new Syfy show and right from the start if feels like a more comedic Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This show doesn’t really take itself seriously, which both helps and hurts it. If it went more for the dramatic aspects, it could easily be the next Buffy, instead it dives headfirst into the comedy. While there are a few laugh out loud chuckles in the first three episodes, there are more subtle comedic moments that will put a smile on viewers’ faces, but nothing more. That said, this series has serious potential.
In the first episode of the series Astrid and Lilly accidentally open up a portal to another world. In doing so they unleash a group of bizarre monsters and the only way to save everyone is to work together to steal body parts from each of the monsters and kill them. Since they are the ones that opened up the portal, they are the only ones that can close it. Brutus arrives from another dimension in order to explain this all to them and help them along the way.
The two leads are fuller figured women and while their weight is mentioned several times, it is still great to see a show like this. Astrid is very confident in herself, which is fantastic to see, but Lilly is more self-conscious. Her confidence does start to grow the more she kicks the butts of monsters, and I expect this trend to continue throughout the series. The show does focus on them as leads, of course, but it also doesn’t shy away from having others make fun of their weight, or even themselves mention that they are fat. This part makes me a little uncomfortable, and I wish they could just be two female leads and not labeled.
Either way, it is important for actors to be given the lead of shows based on their talent, and not by their looks, and trust me when I say both Jana Morrison (Astrid) and Samantha Aucoin (Lilly) feel perfect for these roles. They have a chemistry with each other that makes me truly believe they are best friends forever, and that they have been through it all. I love seeing them lift each other up when they need it, and kick monster butt together.
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The supporting characters are great too. We have all been to High School and know the trials and tribulations that are endured there. This cast truly makes this show feel like it is taking place in High School with the drama, the cliques, and of course, the crushes.
While the series very clearly focuses on Astrid, Lilly, and Brutus — all who are perfect casting choices — as well as the monsters they are taking down, it is important to have more characters that fill their roles, and they totally do.
Astrid & Lilly Save The World introduces a lot of bizarre monsters, who don’t look the best when it comes to the makeup and effects. Now, the screeners I was provided with say that the visual effects are not final, so this could be improved in the final versions of the episodes.
Overall this show gives off serious Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes, but it falls more to the comedic side than the dramatic side. The monsters are a bit out there, and while the High School drama grounds the show a bit, it is still too far out there for most people. If you are looking for a silly show about two monster hunters that have no idea what they are doing, Astrid & Lilly Save The World one is for you.
It is almost a bummer because if it took itself more seriously, I think it could appeal to a much wider audience, and become a long running show. The pilot starts off slow, but does eventually get there in terms of pacing and storytelling. With such a bizarre concept like this, it is understandable — so much needs to be explained and set up in that first episode. I am just not sure if it is worth struggling through it.
Seeing as this review is based off of just the first three episodes, it is hard to say how the rest of the season will continue. It slowly starts to find itself the longer it goes on, and by the end of the third episode it feels like it is finally heading in the right direction.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
About Astrid & Lilly Save The World
High school is hard enough when you’re different, but when outcast BFFs Astrid (Jana Morrison) and Lilly (Samantha Aucoin) accidentally crack open a portal to a terrifyingly quirky monster dimension, it gets a lot more complicated. It’s up to them to vanquish the creepy creatures and save the world, becoming the badass heroes they were meant to be. That is, if they can survive the horrors of high school.
“Astrid & Lilly Save the World” was written by Noelle Stehman and Betsy Van Stone, who executive produce along with Lance Samuels, Daniel Iron and Samantha Levine. Blue Ice Pictures will produce.
Astrid & Lilly Save The World premieres on Syfy January 26th at 10pm ET/PT.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.