I hate musicals. They make me uncomfortable. Maybe it’s because when I was a cheerleader in 8th grade, I used to walk around in public miming my cheers like a mental patient.
Or it’s probably because, in high school, I was at a theme park with my boyfriend, his friend, and his friend’s girlfriend, and while watching the boys drive go-carts, the friend’s girlfriend busted out in song singing “You Win My Love” by Shania Twain. And insecure ME joined her.
As you can see, random unnecessary singing and dancing is a problem for me. So what a delight it was to watch a show that took the one musical I think is somewhat tolerable (and it’s only because of the murders), took out the absolute worst pieces of it, and turned it into a treat.
The Horror of Dolores Roach
The Horror of Dolores Roach is an addictive and entertaining adaptation of the wildly popular podcast of the same name.
Dolores (Justina Machado) has just been released from prison following a 16-year stint that she did for her boyfriend. She emerges to discover her boyfriend has abandoned her, and everything is completely different except for a small restaurant that offers her some much-needed comfort.
Here, she can get back on her feet and get revenge for her years of being wronged. Dolores has a lot to be pissed about, and eventually, anyone who so much as looks at her sideways gets theirs.
The Horror of Dolores Roach is very Sweeney Todd meets Dexter meets Why Women Kill (another good show that deserves a watch).
Meet your new favorite serial killer and watch The Horror of Dolores Roach, streaming now on Prime.
Like Dolores, I, too, am drawn to nostalgia. I grew up in a huge Mexican family, and our get-togethers were the best, even the one where one of my aunts and cousins got into a fistfight over a pinata. And though our last get-together was at my grandma’s funeral, where all my aunts wanted to murder one of my uncles and another uncle was pretending to be blind to get disability, I miss them.
Fortunately, there are a couple of shows that do a great job of filling in. One of them is the absolutely hilarious Primo on Prime/Freevee.
Primo
Created by San Antonio’s own Shea Serrano, Primo is based on the writer’s younger years with his mom and five uncles. Though some of it is fictionalized, the dynamic is 100% accurate and real.
Rafa (Ignacio Diaz-Silverio) is a 16-year-old high school student navigating what is universally known as a difficult time in any teen’s life. Rafa’s support team is solid and also a little crazy.
Each uncle brings a unique personality to the family, with Rafa’s mom, Drea (Christina Vidal), being the anchor of the unit. Every situation is hysterical and familiar. I, too, have a relative that calls their certificate a “degree.” Through all the riffing, however, they remain close and protective of one another. That is what family is all about.
There’s a lot to choose from on TV these days, but not all are as good as these two shows.
Give Primo a watch; we need a season 2. And while I’m not sure if there will be a season 2 of The Horror of Dolores Roach (you’ll see what I mean), at the very least, we need more awesome storytelling like this.
Let’s make sure Prime keeps churning out these bangers. Stream Primo and The Horror of Dolores Roach now.
The Horror of Dolores Roach Photo by: The Daily Beast | Primo Photos by: Today
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