MAX’s new series, Girls on the Bus follows 4 Female Political Reporters as they follow presidential candidates along the campaign trail. The series is produced by The Vampire Diaries Julie Plec. It’s also based on Journalist Amy Chozick’s memoir, “Chasing Hillary” about her time on the bus.

The series stars Melissa Benoist (Supergirl) as Sadie McCarthy. Sadie is a young journalist whose career almost imploded after the last Presidential Election. Now, she’s back on the bus and doing her best to fix her reputation along the way. Traveling on the bus with Sadie are Gen-Z Content Creator, Lola (Natasha Behnam), Legendary Journalist Grace (Carla Gugino), and the series version of a likeable Candance Ownens, Kimberlyn (Christina Elmore).

THE GIRLS ON THE BUS WAS VERY SURPRISING

It’s an election year and to the timing of The Girls on the Bus is on the nose. However, I don’t care. Going into the seriesI wasn’t sure what I was going to get. However, I was pleasantly surprised. As the series progresses we learn so much about each character – who they are, what they actually stand for, and who they want to be.

The Girls on the Bus is engrossing from beginning to end. The series presents a challenging narrative that reflects the harsh realities of the world. Despite its difficult subject matter, the storytelling provides a sense of catharsis for the audience. This makes it a compelling and thought-provoking watch. I think if people are open, it will hopefully spark a productive dialogue amonst viewers.

I found the series to be shockingly balanced when criticising each of the women. These criticisms allow the viewer to relate to all of them in a way we never saw coming. Each character goes through their own shocking revelation moments that makes them question who they are and what they stand for.

I will say, though I really enjoyed the series it does suffer from pacing issue. At times, the series appears to move slowly, almost crawling, while other episodes are filled with rapid developments. The show grapples with finding a harmonious balance between personal and professional elements, a challenge that remains unresolved throughout the season.

The Girls on the Bus premieres with two episodes Thursday, MARCH 14, followed by one new episode weekly through May 9 on Max.

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