When the Streetlights Go On (TV Series 2017–2020) Poster

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8/10
Highly recommend watching
michellepowell-4418218 August 2020
Great show. was confused at first with each episode only being 9 minutes long but the show was done perfectly. acting was great storyline was amazing.
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7/10
P.O.'d
supermario115 April 2020
What the eff happened? The set up in episode one hooked you. The main characters were great. acting was solid. Then the final episode, #10, really made me mad. It's like out of nowhere, bam! A couple twists and it's done... and not in a good way IMO. What a sad, sad away to end it.
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8/10
Quibi has a bit hit and Hulu missed out
danielbrongo15 April 2020
First, I would just like to say I wanted to give this show a 10/10 but it could of used more content. You get about 80 mins of show time, so an 1 hour and 20 mins. Quibis main idea is to have a movie divided into chapters and seemingly so it works for some shows. However, a show like this that could have been filled with so much more content leaves you slightly disappointed. The show in general was excellent, the mystery stays until the end and it surely surprises you. I only wish that we gotten more out of it. The characters play so well together and you can see connections and bonds between them. I think Quibi did a well job of expressing the story through the short bits. I could see this having been on Hulu, and I think it might have been even better with this cast. I think the cast truly made the show, the writing was well written and the narration aspect was a sure hook. Only wish i could have gotten more from. It almost feels as though this was a book beforehand. It's worth the watch.
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7/10
Street lights are a metaphor. That's deep...
shaunephillips2817 October 2021
Over all it's a pretty good show. It's old territory done many times over, but 90s. I guess that's supposed to be something interesting using 90s angst and esthetics. Honestly, I'm okay with that. Especially with today's overt plastic people and constant use a cell phones.

The show deals more with the fallout of a tragic murder than a killers bodycount. So, for some, it may not be what they thought it was going to be. The acting is very good and so is everything else. There really isn't anything to complain about. Nor, is there anything to get super excited about, either.

I think the most interesting thing was seeing these kids from the 90s use thin laptops. 90s laptops were as thick as bricks. It's just funny knowing people making the show don't care about the little details because they know some 17 year old isn't going to know laptops were 2 inches thick, but to me, it's stuff like that which hinders the show.

Also, the 10 minute format doesn't work for the show. We just end up watching title card after title card. The momentum gets a bit lost everytime the credits and title card roll in. Besides a few little things, When the Street Lights Go On is well acted, well made and worth a watch.
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6/10
Meh.
jackrowell-0020018 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This show was alright. Personally, I did not like it as much because they did not focus on the mystery aspect AT ALL. There are a few scenes of Queen Latifah as a cop interrogating kids but not nearly enough to make it a mystery. Then, we find the killer is some random guy who's motive for killing was they looked HAPPY??? Im sorry, but this was a huge letdown. It started off strong but it fell right off. Also, what does this show have to do with streetlights? Most of the story takes place indoors so I have no idea what that is all about. But, I loved Chosen Jacobs in this and think most of the cast did amazing. It's just a meh from me
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10/10
Great acting, deep plot and yes not all is answered
vickygraceli19 April 2020
I see a lot of reviews complaining about the ending being too abrupt, but I feel it's absolutely aligned with the whole story because you see - that's life. Not everything in life has an explanation, not every single sad episode has a saving and you certainly will not find all the answers you are looking for. That's what this great quibi flick is about, their teen lives during that summer and how it impacted what their future would be. I loved it, and if you like a bit of poetry, even if not all ends well and explained, you will love it too.
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7/10
Strong start to abrupt overly tidy end
wagne-2636121 April 2020
I was expecting at least two more episodes to finish the narrative as elegantly as it started. Instead, it was too tidy and makes me look back at wasted space in the story that should have been better used on fleshing out the story.
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9/10
It's shocking and sad and amazing.
iamkeysersoze-1322815 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
When The Streelights Go On is brilliant. It hooks you from the start. It's tense, raw and sad. And having each episode under 10 minutes works surprisingly well.

Sophie Thatcher was absolutely brilliant and she completely steals the show. I can't wait to see more of her in the future. By the time the ending comes around it's emotional and shocking and it all works incredibly well. That's mainly thanks to her.

Everyone is terrific here though, they all give great performances. The characters are all fantastic even the minor ones. That's really rare to say.

As far as flaws go, I genuinely don't have anything although it wrapped a quicker than I thought I would. It still worked insanely well though. It's a show which actually felt shocking and sad. It didn't feel hollywood and I really loved it when shows aren't like that.

It doesn't really go the way you think. There are constant surprises but those last 3 episodes are seriously terrific.

Overall it's downright brilliant. It's around 90 minutes and it's just a ride to watch. Highly recommend checking it out
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7/10
Doesn't look like the 90s
ellabee-6581630 October 2021
Who designed the wardrobe and hair for this show? Nothing looks like the 90s. Girls weren't wearing shaggy mullets in 1995. Mullets were not "grunge."

Other than that, the story is good.
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5/10
TOO SHORT!!!!
pmcorso18 December 2021
I would have given this 10 stars because it could of been so much more!!! What happened to the writer/director of this film? Very disappointed because it was such a great story line.
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10/10
I like this...but, I don't like it. But, I like it enough.
kcwlsw31 May 2020
This show is good. It's worth watching. But, I'm willing to bet that a lot of people are not going to like the way that it ends. This TYPE of show is so good. The story is intriguing and captivating. It's easy to empathize with the characters. But, the format of this show would be better on EITHER another platform where each episode could delve into more character storylines and plot points OR have a heck of a lot more episodes than just the 10 that were released for this 1st season. I hope that this show continues for a 2nd season. Heck, I hope Quibi will survive...
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6/10
It's ok
jhall_moviereviews18 August 2020
It's definitely watchable but the ending sucked. Took me back to memories when I was in high school. The kid Chosen Jacobs is a pretty good actor.
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5/10
Tense Start, Lacklustre Finish
kyleshabet2 December 2021
Another one of Quibi's short form series, When the Streetlights Go On gives the audience a possibility of being something great but isn't suited to the format we're given.

A small town is rocked by the murder of girl next door Becky Monroe (Kristine Froseth) and as one student (Chosen Jacobs) tries to piece together what happened, the tragedy ripples through Becky's family and friends.

It's a dark start to the show and from there the story does get interesting as we begin to explore the murder and Becky's sister, who begins to spiral. Unfortunately the series veers off course after just a few episodes into pure teen drama territory instead of really getting into the thriller and mystery that we were promised.

As others have stated, the climax to the crime story is brushed off in a 60 second monologue, which I could forgive if it wasn't so ridiculous and ill thought out.
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7/10
Starts off with a bang, ends with a fizzle
the_malbogia4 October 2020
This show definitely has a super strong start. Its a coming to age story set in a fictional 'retro-modern' 90s. Retro modern meaning its a specific time, but has the modern values of today.

The story sort of follows 2 characters, and how their lives are basically changes by a traumatic event that happens that affects the how town.

This show does a lot of setup in the very beginning, and begins to feel somewhat like a drama mixed with a mystery, but by the last 2~3 episodes, it sort of ends with this 'And life happens' vibe. It does not give any satisfying payoffs to everything the story setup. It feels like it semi lost what it was trying to accomplish early on.

The actors are great, the quasi-story is interesting, the world building is also pretty interesting. Its not so much the 90s I remember, as I mentioned, it has a lot of the modern day values (and tech in some places) but its a world that doesn't feel too far fetched, but it all goes no where.

I wonder if the Quibi format hurt this show, or if they ran out of money/steam. Watch it because it starts out good, but dont expect it to keep that same momentum throughout.
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10/10
very well executed and creepy from the start
kristoffe-brodeur12 October 2020
A very awkward intro scene in segment one made me think bandwagon time. Just watch it and think of current 2019-2020 events. It has a voiceover like Stephen king's 'it' and it works well. Worth a bIng watch through.
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10/10
Amazing
benjamin-9403716 April 2020
Wish I was longer but one of the best shows I have seen in along time simply amazing characters and story
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5/10
Wait, what?
tremolay16 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This show starts off incredibly. Hooked by the time period, the acting, and the twists. Then it just falls off. It may be a symptom of this being a show that wasn't picked up by Hulu. It feels truncated in the last few episodes. I really felt like I missed something and we're left with a very anticlimactic ending.
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8/10
I liked it.
AjiraAirways3163 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Who does NOT love the 90´s vibe and murder mysteries ? The performances are on point as well as the settings. Is that kind of summer show, you know it. A second season without Becky or Casper would make no sense, but with different story lines while keeping the theme would be interesting to watch.
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3/10
Really??? What the eff was that ending?!?
christina-velasco1417 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The show starts off great. I'm really into it and the first few episodes really hook you. Then all of a sudden on episode 10 it just ends in a very anticlimactic way. I was really stoked on this show but it really flopped.
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8/10
Sometimes the right ending is the most satisfying
Preacher-63 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The series has the feel of Stand By Me, or IT (without the supernatural). A narrated story of when the narrator was young and things were simpler. That simpler time in this case being the 90s.

I think the challenge of this show for the viewer is that it isn't really a mystery, it's a story of being a certain age and how a terrible event can stay with a person.

Sometimes the right ending might not be the most satisfying. Like many of the other reviewers, I was surprised by the abrupt finish to the story, but upon reflection it is the ending that make the most sense thematically.

It doesn't resolve like a murder mystery because it isn't really a murder mystery. The final moments don't even involve our narrator because he was only telling his own role in the story.

What is most interesting to me is that about halfway through the series, a teacher tells the narrator what the ending of the story will be. The teacher (played by the understated Tony Hale) says that a similar murder took place when he was young. Everything the teacher says about what happened to him is what finally resolves in this story too.

Quibi's short story style makes this a tight tale. Probably best enjoyed in quick succession rather than once a week.
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8/10
Nice
antrikshnarang-439-89055818 November 2020
A great watch. Entertaining. Story of life. Sweet and short!
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3/10
Horrible Ending
johninbelmont22 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The writer(s) of this piece of junk should their memberships to the writers guild revoked. The ending of this series is so underwhelming... there is no mystery solved. No one you ever saw prior to the last 5 minute was involved. They simply picked a random person and said they did it... and by the way, the narrator wants you to know that he attended his class reunion. Wow..... don't bother, don't waste your time.... oh, and the unbrushed wig or dead animal of the sisters head... embarrassing... i knew this would be a bad show when the jock boyfriend showed up at the funeral carrying a flask n his hand as he cried on the casket and no one did anything...
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9/10
A mystery with an unexpected ending.
lukemorrison-9227829 November 2020
A show that starts with a crime mystery and follows with many high school drama with twist and turns and unexpected fates. It's another life lesson type of show that will hooked you from the start. The ending felt rush but satisfying and of course it makes you want more. Well for me it does.
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3/10
Starts off strong then loses the plot crappy ending
paulmueller-858-53992915 October 2021
Starts off very strong and gets weaker as it goes killer on the loose you have zero chance on figuring out who it is as they never introduce you to the character till the end of the series but when your introduced to the murder for the first time you instantaneous know who it is because the dialogue is so random and out of place it's blatantly obvious to anyone older than probably 20..... very reminiscent of the Daniel Washington Angela Jolie movie the bone collector where there's no way you would get the killer and the explanation of why he did it in either movie is the same you watch 1.5 hour of a movie no chance of solving and 30 second explanation. Super disappointing.
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8/10
So real
melopavel25 August 2022
Yeah so this things happens.. This series documented the reality real good, especially the ending. Been there and this things made me a forensics detective, and yes its mostly that scenario that happens in reality. Its good, people should take a look, its bittersweet nostalgia at 90's and its well written...
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