Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Something New

I was SO EXCITED for the next Aurora Teagarden movie. I waited like a child waiting for Santa. I went from super excited to super, SUPER disappointed when I saw all these new, young actors playing the roles. Not impressed with my lump of coal.

Apparently, Ro was a foot taller when she was younger. And somehow, the town was more modern in 1995 than it is in the 2020s.

I really hope someone in the movie making business brings back our favourite actresses in mature roles instead of this fakery. I want so badly to see Candace C Bure, Lori Loghlin, Allison Sweeney in the original roles. I LOVE the original A Teagarden movies, the Garage Sale mysteries, and the Murder She Baked movies. They are the best. This young actors fakery is NOT it by a long shot. I won't watch another if this is the direction they're going.

Sadly I couldn't get into this movie - it would have been more convincing with the young actors from the previous movie continuing for this prequel. Marilu Henner is amazing but otherwise it looks like a different show too much, I just couldn't get my bearings - it reminds me of the Emmerdale soap special when they recast everyone except the character who got dementia, so they viewer would be just as confused! Maybe if this was a series I would settle into it better, because it is fun to explore the backstory and I'm quite sad this didn't quite work out as I hoped. Perhaps better on a second viewing - although the youngeractors' diction is faster and harder to follow than Bure and co. I hope Hallmark do more mysteries starring over 40s - and preferably without murders.

So, to start - Aurora is younger and while the actress that plays her is probably a good actress, she is not what I think of when I think of a young Aurora. Original Aurora was played, perfectly, by Candace Cameron. The original Aurora was bubbly and cute with a cute little voice and when she was exploring a crime she had emotions both in her face and her actions/reactions. I have the same to say about the rest of the cast. Sally was ok, and to anyone who decided to bring weight into a review, that was not a factor and advise was not necessary or needed. The actress was over the top for Sally. Arthur was tall and now as a young man is average height. Now, out of all of the actor's on this particular Aurora, he is the best. The story itself was mediocre. It was like everybody was pretending to like their characters. The person involved in the plot was no surprise and honestly all of the character's had figured it out. No surprises. I feel like Hallmark is trying to get back in with those of us who loved the original mysteries. Those actor's are gone. The mistake has been made. However, if they want to try again with young Aurora, they need to get one that reminds us of the original character who actually had emotions.

I am a huge fan of the Aurora Teagarden Mystery series on Hallmark and after seeing a trailer for this reboot of the series, I tuned in with some trepidation. I was really happy to see Marilu Henner back as Aurora's mom Aida...but that was all that was back. They even changed out all the sets in the fictional town Lawrenceton. The police station is new, Aida's home is new... the college campus is new. Everything is bigger, newer and sleeker...taking away that small town Washington feel. They didn't even show the stock footage with the waterfall from upstate New York they fans have grown to love.

Ok...so the sets are all new and the town is completely modern and different, what about the entire new cast?

Well, I was disappointed. I am going to start with the star, Skyler Samuels, who plays Aurora...she was definitely not Candace Cameron Bure. I didn't really feel that she embodied the character either. Her acting at times was campy and she didn't really connect with the fellow cast members. I understand she came from a Disney background and maybe that explains her overly bright and unrealistic approach to the character. Side note here.... the wardrobe was also very odd. This is supposed to be a prequel yet no attempt was made to have an older style of clothing or to keep the characters preferred colors or styles. Now on to the "new" Sally, who in the past has been the best friend to Aurora. She has been portrayed as a bit mousy or timid and unsure...she also is a reporter. Now the old her has a blog and is an amazing perfectionist party planner? It didn't really ring true to her character and the new actress Kayla Heller didn't seem to connect with Aurora on that best friend level in addition to coming across as far more bossy than Sally has been portrayed by the wonderful Lexa Doig (i would love to hear her thoughts on her character's personality change. The only returning character that I appreciated was the young Arthur, played by Evan Roderick. Although I am not sure the "just friends" rings true because I am fairly certain that they did date prior to his marriage to Lynn...in addition to being friends. I did think the character was played pretty closely to what I expected otherwise.

I do really like the actor Steve Bacic, I hope he will continue to be an excellent asset to this new series as Detective Cook.

The emphasis on library science was interesting...but I think unnecessary. Think the true crimes leaning is a better way to go (like the later series), but that is just my opinion.

And where is a younger version of our local librarian Lillian? Missed opportunity there.

The story follows Aurora who is home from college working at a diner and helping her best friend Sally with her wedding preparations, when Sally's fiancé disappears after an altercation with a mysterious stranger. When the stranger is found dead below the fiancé balcony, Aurora becomes concerned that Sally might be marrying a murderer...she and beat cop Arthur try to piece together who did it.

I have really enjoyed Hallmark's cosy mystery series with Aurora, Hannah Swensen and Mystery 101 being my favorites. I have always appreciated the large supporting cast that gave Aurora a small town community feel and I appreciated the writing. This taking the series back to a younger age I am finding a little disassociating. I am disappointed, but at the same time don't want to be discouraging. I know a lot of actors have left Hallmark...which is sad and may prevent some of my favorite series from ever continuing. But did they loose writers as well? If the writers are still there, I have hope because they have brought us some great material before and I am hoping they can do it again. This may need a fresh rewrite. Not a recommendation yet from me...but maybe in the future it will be? I hope.

I must began by saying that I really did like it. I do agree with another reviewer that they do need another Sally. She's a good actress but not tall enough. That makes a difference. Lexa Doig's daughter was good in the last Aurora Teagarden: Haunted by Murder. It was great to see Sally's aunt Gladys, Karen Kruper. She was a great addition. Also, seeing a young Arthur was also a treat. Marilu Henner was also a great touch, there was really no need to change her she looks young enough to be her mom. In summary it was a nice addition to the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries. I can't wait for more episodes in this series.