We’ve all had times in our lives when we’ve felt existentially bored – perhaps you’re coasting in your office job or have fallen victim to an ironclad routine – but how do you get out of the rut? Maybe pick up a new hobby or fly abroad for a holiday? Well, Texan housewife Candy Montgomery opted for an more extreme option: an affair. The rollercoaster crime drama Love & Death tells her chilling true story – and you’ll want to binge it one go.
From the writer behind Big Little Lies, David E Kelley, the rollercoaster crime drama recounts the shocking true events that unfolded when the church-going Texan housewife, played by Elizabeth Olsen, came down with a severe case of ennui in the 1980s. She decided to get her fix of fun by starting an affair with a married man – and the repercussions land her in handcuffs.
With the series now airing on ITVX, here’s everything you need to know about Life & Death, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Love & Death about?
The seven-part series, which first aired in 2023, introduces us to Candy Montgomery (Elizabeth Olsen), a 1980s housewife who’s the epitome of picket-fence Texan suburbia – she has a perfect home, a loving family and is an active member of the church. But behind the picture-perfect facade, she’s unable to shake off her boredom and finds a dangerous thrill – a heated exchange with fellow church-goer Allan Gore (Jesse Plemons) at a volleyball match is the start of a scandalous affair.
Candy reassures her friend Betty (Lily Rabe) that her husband wouldn’t cheat, while actively pursuing him. Allan decides he wants to reprioritise his marriage to Betty and they go to a Christian church retreat – but Candy and her husband, Pat (Patrick Fugit), go on the same trip.
The affair is seemingly behind the lovers but, when the secret comes out, someone picks up an axe and Betty is brutally murdered. Allan reveals the affair to the police and Candy is arrested and charged, facing an intense and unpredictable trial. But will she be convicted?
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Who’s in the cast of Love & Death?
The cast of Love & Death includes:
- Elizabeth Olsen (Seven Sisters) as Candy Montgomery
- Jesse Plemons (Bugonia, Breaking Bad) as Allan Gore
- Lily Rabe (Shrinking) as Betty Gore
- Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous) as Pat Montgomery
- Krysten Ritter (27 Dresses) as Sherry Cleckler
- Tom Pelphrey (Task) as Don Crowder
Is Love & Death any good?
Yes – it’s an absolutely riveting and intense crime drama, taking us through the psychological unravelling of two marriages. What’s more, the series is based on real events, adding an extra level of shock factor. Elizabeth Olsen steals the show with her compelling portrayal of Candy, a contradictory and complicated woman.
Is there a trailer for Love & Death?
Yes – you can watch the trailer for Love & Death below.
How can I watch Love & Death?
You can watch Love & Death now on ITVX.
What other crime dramas can I watch now?
If you’re after another compelling crime drama, we’d point you towards ITV’s The Widow, where we meet Georgia (Kate Beckinsale), who flies out to the Congo to try and find out what happened to her husband who died in a plane crash three years earlier – or did he? You can watch The Widow now on ITVX. If you’re in the mood for a British crime drama, we’d point you towards the series From Darkness, which first aired in 2015, where we meet Claire Church (Anne-Marie Duff), a former police officer who’s moved to a remote Scottish island to start a new life. Then, a chilling discovery on her former Manchester patch forces her to confront the past she’s tried so hard to flee from. You can watch From Darkness now on U.
