Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Marvel's Spider-Man Secret Lair promotional image

    Get a Look At the Secret Lair x Marvel’s Spider-Man Superdrop

    09/08/2025
    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions gameplay still

    Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions Is All About Adventure (with Friends)

    09/08/2025
    Chord in Persona 5 The Phantom X

    Now Is The Perfect Time To Jump Back In ‘Persona 5: The Phantom X’

    09/05/2025
    Cosmic Spider-Man card details

    [EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW] The Spider-Man Set Gets A 5-Color Legendary Spider

    09/02/2025
    Lee Corso from College Football GameDay in EA Sports games

    EA Sports Always Understood Lee Corso’s Legacy

    09/01/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » TV » REVIEW: ‘Candy’ is Propelled By Its Lead

REVIEW: ‘Candy’ is Propelled By Its Lead

Kate SánchezBy Kate Sánchez05/09/20224 Mins ReadUpdated:06/01/2022
Candy Review - But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Candy Review - But Why Tho

Hulu has embraced ripped from the headlines series and this month offers up a mini-series that is propelled by its lead. Candy is a five-episode mini-series released daily on the streaming platform that unwraps the life and crime of Candance Montgomery, a bored with life housewife.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

The series is created by Robin Veith and Nick Antosca and stars Jessica Biel, Timothy Simons, Melanie Lynskey, Pablo Schreiber, and Raúl Esparza. Set in 1980, Candy is the ideal housewife. She’s an attentive mother with a good husband, two kids, a nice house, and a love of erotic novels. Her life is so buttoned-up that she even plans her transgressions. When her life can’t keep her interested, Candy ventures out to have a well-thought-out affair with boundaries, reasons, and an escape plan. Then, one day, she snaps.

Based on true events, the mini-series follows Candance, Candy to her friends, her life, and then her crime. However, much of it isn’t spent unpacking the why of it all, instead, Candy is a pure retelling clearly put together from our lead’s perspective. There is no apologetics in this story, thankfully. However, we don’t get a full sense of her victim’s life. Beyond that, the crime itself is a relatively small element of the series.

This makes the mini-series easily feel like a fictional period piece and not a mini-series based on a real event. By taking time to slowly build-up to the crime and unravel the moments leading up to it, the bulk of the episodes are just about Candy living life even if we initially see the fallout of the event. We wind up in this weird state of what looks like justification but also looks like condemnation depending on what scene is happening. This may be due in large part to Biel’s performance.

As the woman at the center of it all Biel is unrecognizable from herself. In her most transformative role to date, there is a calculation to every move that shows a callousness not only in the crime she commits but in every relationship we see formed on the screen. Biel manages to play a housewife deadset on meeting expectations while also bringing out the aggression that that calls for. There is no malice, only the need to succeed in her goal whether that is her transgressions or being the dutiful housewife. Of all the episodes, however, the manipulation and logic we see from Candy, devoid of guilt in the mini-series finale make it worth the watch. Ultimately, Candy is propelled by its lead.

Additionally, the series extended cast give good performances but none meet Biel’s one-to-one. However, the standout next to Candy is Pablo Schrieber’s Allan. A weak-willed man with a wife and kids he seems utterly disinterested in, Schrieber as Allan is unrecognizable. While currently bringing to life Paramount+’s Master Chief in Halo, Schrieber has the gravitas needed for that iconic role. But in Candy, he shrinks himself. While visually, he is a large man, Schrieber transforms into Allan by slouching, doubling over himself, and speaking softly in a way that draws you in. It’s a role we haven’t seen the actor in before and he rises to the occasion.

Despite Biel’s transformative performance, Candy, at times, is as boring as the life that the lead character is trying to push back against. With five one-hour episodes all surrounding one event, there isn’t enough build-up or exploration to warrant the episode order. In fact, a more focused look at Candy and her crime could have been distilled into a feature film to have the same effect.

While Candy isn’t thrilling, outside the first and last episode, Biel’s performance as a manipulative and calculating housewife is what makes this mini-series worth watching. Sure there are elements that don’t land, but Biel alone is worth tuning in. Slow and steady, Candy works its way towards a strong finale on Biel’s talent alone.

Candy is streaming now exclusively on Hulu. 

Candy
  • 6.5/10
    Rating - 6.5/10
6.5/10

TL;DR

While Candy isn’t thrilling, outside the first and last episode, Biel’s performance as a manipulative and calculating housewife is what makes this mini-series worth watching. Sure there are elements that don’t land, but Biel alone is worth tuning in. Slow and steady, Candy works its way towards a strong finale on Biel’s talent alone.

  • Watch Now on Hulu with Our Affiliate Link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Dr. STONE,’ Volume 21
Next Article ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Hulk vs. Thor: Banner of War Alpha,’ Issue #1
Kate Sánchez
  • Website
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram

Kate Sánchez is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of But Why Tho? A Geek Community. There, she coordinates film, television, anime, and manga coverage. Kate is also a freelance journalist writing features on video games, anime, and film. Her focus as a critic is championing animation and international films and television series for inclusion in awards cycles. Find her on Bluesky @ohmymithrandir.bsky.social

Related Posts

Helluva Boss Season 2 But Why Tho
9.5

REVIEW: ‘Helluva Boss’ Season 2 Is A Deeper Dive Into Love And Power

09/11/2025
Helluva Boss Season 1 Episode 7 But Why Tho
9.0

REVIEW: ‘Helluva Boss’ Season 1 Is Full Of Violence, Chaos, And Heart

09/11/2025
Sandra Yi Sencindiver stars as Yutani in Alien Earth Episode 6
9.0

REVIEW: ‘Alien: Earth’ Episode 6 — “The Fly”

09/10/2025
Task promotional key art featuring Mark Ruffalo from HBO
7.0

REVIEW: ‘Task’ Episode 1 — “Crossings”

09/08/2025
Aneesha Malik in Invasion Season 3 Episode 3
9.0

RECAP: ‘Invasion’ Season 3 Episode 3 — “Infinitas”

09/07/2025
Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 3
9.0

RECAP: ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 Episode 3 — “Another Rick Up My Sleeve”

09/06/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
The Long Walk (2025) film review promotional image
9.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘The Long Walk’ Is The Most Heartfelt And Heartbreaking Stephen King Adaptation

By Kate Sánchez09/11/2025Updated:09/11/2025

The Long Walk is a brutal watch. Equally heartfelt and heartbreaking, it’s one of the best adaptations of Stephen King’s work.

EA Sports FC Icons Match promotional image from Nexon News

2025 Icons Match Returns With Football Legends Bridging The Pitch And Video Games

By Kate Sánchez09/03/2025Updated:09/03/2025

NEXON has announced the return of the ‘2025 Icons Match,’ a live event that brings a full roster of legendary players to the pitch.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 11
8.5
Anime

REVIEW: ‘DanDaDan’ Season 2 Episode 11 – “Hey, It’s a Kaiju”

By Allyson Johnson09/11/2025

The ragtag group faces down the mysterious kaiju in the thrilling and beautifully animated DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 11.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here