NOW AND THEN on Apple TV+ is a crime-thriller series in eight episodes. It’s bilingual and has a great cast. In a nutshell, the plot is essentially an “I know what you did one summer night 20 years ago!” Also, it has a distinct Harlan Coben feel. Read our full Now and Then season 1 review here!

NOW AND THEN is a new Apple TV+ crime-thriller series. There are eight episodes in the season and it’s bilingual, just like the main characters. This means both English and Spanish is spoken, and since it takes place in Miami, it makes a lot of sense.

The title almost reveals as much (combined with the crime-thriller genres, anyway) and yes, we are in I Know What You Did Last Summer territory. Well, combined with the crime-mystery vibe of various series based on Harlan Coben novels.

MORE ALONG THE LINES OF NOW AND THEN

Check out our Harlan Coben tag for reviews of the various Netflix series, I’ll keep referring to >

Continue reading our Now and Then season 1 review below. The first three episodes are out on Apple TV+ on May 20, 2022.

Harlan Coben meets I Know What You Did Last Summer

In a nutshell, the plot of Now and Then on Apple TV+ is essentially an “I know what you did one summer night 20 years ago!” At the same time, the 20 years between now and then also give it a distinct Harlan Coben feel. After all, if you’ve watched one (or five) of the several Harlan Coben series on Netflix, you’ll know the drill.

They’re crime, thriller, and mystery hybrids that are very character-driven. Also, the plot tends to revolve around something that happened years ago and the implications of said event in the present. Which is essentially the plot of Now and Then and I Know What You Did Last Summer.

DON’T MISS OUT ON

Our review of the I Know What You Did Last Summer series on Prime Video >

As I said, the plot is very familiar when we’re talking about the “in a nutshell” synopsis. However, I still feel this series and story has enough of a fresh take that it can easily be justified. Also, I just like so many people in this cast!

Now & Then – Review | Apple TV+ Thriller Series

A bilingual series on Apple TV+

Also, I love that much (often most) of the dialogue is in Spanish. The story plays out in Miami with the core cast being Hispanic, so it makes sense that they would speak Spanish among themselves. And it also makes sense that they switch between English and Spanish in a very organic, fluent, and familiar way.

Yet again, this reminds me of the Harlan Coben series on Netflix, since many of them are not in English. One is even in Spanish, and if you like Now and Then on Apple TV+, then you should definitely check out that one as well.  It’s called The Innocent (org. title El inocente) and takes place in Spain.

YOU MIGHT LIKE

Review of the Spanish-language Netflix series The Innocent which also utilizes the whole “now and then” plotdriver >

The cast of Now and Then has both familiar faces and some that you might not recognize. Well, unless you watch Spanish-language productions, of course. The cast even features two Academy Award nominees in key roles. Marina de Tavira and Rosie Perez, who were both nominated for “Best Supporting Actress” for Roma (2018) and Fearless (1993) respectively.

Fans of Guillermo del Toro (and other huge Spanish-language directors) should also recognize Maribel Verdú. She was in Alfonso Cuarón’s Y tu mamá también (2001) and Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth (2006). Other faces that might be familiar are José María Yazpik (Narcos), Manolo Cardona (Who Killed Sara?), and Zeljko Ivanek (Argo, True Blood).

Watch Now and Then on Apple TV+

The bilingual Apple TV+ series Now and Then was created by Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés, and Gema R. Neira. All three have experience from various other TV series and co-created Cable Girls (Las chicas del cable) on Netflix. The three also have a new series currently in post-production. It’s the crime-thriller A Private Affair (org. title Un asunto privado) from Amazon Studios.

Together, Ramón Campos and Gema R. Neira were co-creators of the popular Netflix series High Seas (org. title Alta mar) and the rather awesome Netflix series Jaguar which you should definitely check out. You can find our review of Jaguar here!

Now and Then begins with the first three episodes being released, which should be enough to get you intrigued. Personally, I feel like I have seen this a bit too much. Again, this is due to both I Know What You Did Last Summer and various Harlan Coben productions. However, the fact that I’ve seen the whole flashback-storytelling a bit too much, doesn’t take away from the qualities of this production.

Now and Then premieres on Apple TV+ on May 20, 2022.

Details

Creators: Ramón Campos, Teresa Fernández-Valdés, Gema R. Neira
Writers: Gema R. Neira, Ramón Campos, Paula Fernández, Curro Serrano, Javier Chacártegui
Directors: Gideon Raff, Carlos Sedes
Cast: Marina de Tavira, Rosie Perez, José María Yazpik, Maribel Verdú, Manolo Cardona, Soledad Villamil, Željko Ivanek, Jorge López, Alicia Jaziz, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Alicia Sanz, Jack Duarte, Miranda de la Serna

Plot

“Now & Then” is a multi-layered thriller that explores the differences between youthful aspirations and the reality of adulthood, when the lives of a group of college best friends are forever changed after a celebratory weekend ends up with one of them dead. Now, 20 years later, the remaining five are reluctantly reunited by a threat that puts their seemingly perfect worlds at risk.

I write reviews and recaps on Heaven of Horror. And yes, it does happen that I find myself screaming, when watching a good horror movie. I love psychological horror, survival horror and kick-ass women. Also, I have a huge soft spot for a good horror-comedy. Oh yeah, and I absolutely HATE when animals are harmed in movies, so I will immediately think less of any movie, where animals are harmed for entertainment (even if the animals are just really good actors). Fortunately, horror doesn't use this nearly as much as comedy. And people assume horror lovers are the messed up ones. Go figure!
Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard
Latest posts by Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard (see all)