I used to LOVE Katherine Heigl. At the height of her career, she had some pretty memorable rom-coms and TV shows to her credit. At some point she completely disappeared and I often wondered where and why. Seeing her again in a TV show had me pretty excited – so I spent 3-4 days and binged watched the first season of ‘Firefly Lane’.
PLOT: The show is based on the book with the same name. Tully and Kate despite form an unlikely and unbreakable friendship as teenagers growing up on the same street – Firefly Lane. The show follows their lives and their friendship through the decades – from teenagers to twenty something year olds to their forties. Now as adults they deal with career issues, divorce, kids while having each other’s back.
REVIEW: The plot was interesting enough to have me want to binge watch the show. Having grown up with my two best girl friends – I looked forward to seeing their friendship and the turbulence that comes from growing up and apart. As teens – the girls are shown dealing with typical school issues – boys, bullies etc. as well as issues like drug addiction, rape, etc. As 20 somethings, we see them dealing with love and career. It’s nice to see that they are both focused on their careers even though Kate is shown to want to settle down and have a family. As 40 somethings, it was nice to see that realistically they show them still growing up and understanding life. I’m not writing a more comprehensive review because I want to avoid spoilers since it’s a very new show.
WHAT I LIKED:
- I love any show that revolves around female friendships. More often the entertainment industry loves to pit woman against woman – so I like shows that glorify women friendships.
- How career focused Tully is – her sole goal in life is to become something and she doesn’t let anything come in her way – family, friends, love etc.
- Realistic portrayal of the friendship between Kate & Tully – they have their ups and downs – they fight, make up and are there for each other.
- The transitions between the three ages – their teen years, their 20s & their 40s – it is very well connected.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:
- Weird love triangle in the show – that just complicates the entire plot and kind of makes you wonder why the women are even friends.
- The handling of some serious issues – like drug addiction, cheating and teenage rape – are just handled so lightly and not dealt with properly.
- Katherine Heigl & Sarah Chalke play 20 yr olds – it is so unrealistic and not passable at all despite the wigs and a weird filter.
- Sarah Chalke’s expressions – I’m sorry but she just has this very apologetic expression on ALWAYS and it is so fricking annoying.
- Both the main characters are very annoying – Tully is so self-centered and controlling, it almost makes you wonder why anyone would like her but then you have all the people in the world falling all over her. Kate’s character is shown to be so weak and spineless.
- The acting – honestly, the two main leads weren’t the most convincing. I love Katherine Heigl but her acting seemed so over the top. Sarah is the exact opposite her performance is very underwhelming. The two actors playing the teenage girls were way better.
- They keep exchanging clothes – THIS IS SO UNREALISTIC – they are both clearly not the same size but they easily fit into each other’s clothes, shoes, lingerie – how?
VERDICT – Did I enjoy the show? NO! I still binged watched it but it was just one of those things where you watch it just to watch it. Definitely not recommending this to anyone but if you have time and are nostalgic about Katherine Heigl – you could give it a watch. 5/10
Have you watched the show? Did you like it?
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Happy Panda 
You know not until you watch the show. Great review but.
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That’s true – or wait for someone’s honest review like this. 😛
Thanks ❤️
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Yes.
Welcome (Heart)
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Omg —I too just watch things for the sake of watching it😂🙈
Thank you for the review, I was thinking of watching it but ney!
I would rather re-watch Katherine Heigl’s movies —I was in love with her after 27 dresses💕 xx
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Sameee. I thought I’m weird – because so many times you start something but it turns out real average but I’m like let it play in the background. 🙈
27 dresses, ugly truth, Grey’s anatomy 🥺 – I loved her! But the show is 🤷
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I was actually surprised and happy to see Katherine Heigl in something again.
I agree with your thoughts but ignoring a lot of the acting and things that didn’t make sense, I liked it 😂
A strange and maybe dysfunctional friendship lol
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Samee – I loved her work 10 years back!
Hahah I guess most relationships are dysfunctional. It just got absurd after one point for me because there was not one succesful relationship in the 100s of relationships they showed. 🙈🙈
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That is true actually 😂
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Don’t have Netflix or care for either of those actresses lol but this was a good, in depth review 🙂
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I totally agree with you on this show. I was really dissapointed by the way they handled and portrayed teenage rape. It also seems to me that the 2 leads don’t have enough chemistry to pull off the characters.
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I agree – their chemistry was so off!
They literally just ignored the teenage rape – that’s not a lesson you want to pass on to the younger generations watching the show. 🙈
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Thanks for posting this! I’ve been meaning to watch this show, and have wondered whether or not I would like it. With the podcast I’m part of, we’re always on the lookout for positive depictions of female friendships, and they’re honestly quite hard to find. I’ll have to make some time this week to watch.
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I agree – it is so hard to find a positive and realistic depiction of female friendships in the entertainment world. I really liked Dead To Me – it wasn’t about childhood friends but it was a realistic portrayal of adult friendships. Might want to check that out. 😊
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Oh, thanks! I’ll add it to my list!
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Hahahha your honesty is hilarious! I’m on episode 6 and I’ve noticed everything you have mentioned. I don’t understand how they can be using drugs in the office like that, or how they seem to be in love with the same people… it’s gross!
Also, Katherine Heigl disappreared because of her character in the work space shhhh! I liked her on Grey’s Anatomy and did some digging.
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I know right! After reading this review i began to consciously notice stuff that she’s mentioned and god it is disturbing. Firefly Lane is like a one time, for the sake of it and Katherine Heigl watch. I loved her as Izzie, hated the change in her character story towards the end.
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I was so put off by how they handled the teenage rape bit considering a lot of impressionable young adults watch these shows.
I agree – it’s a one time watch for old times sake.
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Yeah exactly
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Hahaha 🙈 they were pushing so hard to show a realistic glimpse into the 80s and felt the need to show news people openly doing drugs in the work place. 🤷 And those two leading ladies could not pull off looking like 20 something year olds. Also, that love triangle would destroy any friendship!!!!!
I had heard something when Izzy was written off. It was very surprising that she disappeared at the height of her career since she did some pretty big rom-coms at that point – The Ugly Truth, 27 dresses!
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Wow, I’m glad I read this through ahah, I was very intrigued when it popped up on Netflix, but after reading your review I don’t think I will watch it – too bad though because the initial concept seems pretty good!
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Same – I got intrigued by the story line but boy do I regret wasting my time. 🙈 It wasn’t bad – it wasn’t good either. There is so much better content out there.
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Just started watching this! I had a lot of the same thoughts as you… but I will probably keep watching just to see what happens 🙂
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I binged watched the full show. I just kept hoping it would good better and it did in pieces only to get worse. But I think the Katherine Heigl nostalgia kept me going. 🙂
Definitely share notes once you’re done!
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