Season 1 of Based On A True Story was like one of those "what if...?" ideas you should never take seriously — except Ava and Nathan did. Thus was born one of TV's most chaotic and captivating mixtures of dark comedy, tension, and questionable decisions.
An insane plan to save everything
Meet Ava and Nathan. Their marriage? Half-bankrupt. Finances? Bankrupt. Hope? Pending. Until they meet Matt—a charming plumber. Then, as though their lives were problem-free, things take an even darker turn, with Matt possibly being more than just a friendly plumber.
When Ava and Nathan begin to suspect Matt could be the "Westside Ripper"—the kind of serial killer that makes Los Angeles sleep with the lights on—do they call the authorities? Of course not! They have a bizarre epiphany: "What if we turn this into a true crime podcast and become millionaires?" Because nothing could go wrong, right?
The idea is brilliantly absurd. Armed with recorders and an unhealthy dose of optimism, our main couple starts documenting their interaction with Matt. But here's the problem: playing with a potential serial killer can be a deadly hobby.
A couple who loves danger (and denies the signs)
The brilliant mind behind the plan is Ava (Kaley Cuoco), who has an unhealthy obsession with true crime podcasts. She sees Matt as a golden ticket to escape monotony and maybe rekindle her marriage, blatantly ignoring the possibility that he might be the next Dexter.
Nathan (Chris Messina) tries to tread more cautiously. A former tennis player with a fragile ego and a shattered career, he joins Ava's scheme more out of desperation than conviction. But as the plan unfolds, it becomes clear he's also terrible at resisting a bad idea.
Matt—Villain, hero, or just an unlucky plumber?
Enter Matt (Tom Bateman). Charismatic, relaxed, and almost too good to be true, Matt is the perfect friend or killer. The series skillfully plays with this ambiguity, leaving them questioning themselves and us all on the edge of our seats. The relationship between Matt, Ava, and Nathan is so irresistibly chaotic that each interaction feeds a cycle of doubts and suspicions.
Matt never gives away anything concrete about being the "Westside Ripper." Still, small comments and looks, plus his impeccable timing of being in the right—or wrong—place, always raise suspicions. Meanwhile, Ava and Nathan oscillate between feeling they have the situation under control and a growing fear that Matt could be manipulating their every move.
What if Matt knew from the start that they plan to turn him into content? What if he's using the podcast for ulterior motives? On the other hand, what if Ava and Nathan are so immersed in their true crime obsession that they've created a fictional monster out of coincidences and assumptions? The dynamic between the trio is a psychological chess game where no one can predict the next move. Not them, not us. No one at all.
Plot twists, tension, and logic-defying decisions
With each podcast recording, Ava and Nathan's plan seems riskier. Lies begin to pile up, secrets leak, and the line between "well-intentioned protagonists" and "accomplices to a possible killer" becomes increasingly blurred.
Notable moments include the first confrontation between Matt and the couple, the clandestine recordings full of tension, and that final cliffhanger that left everyone wondering: who's fooling whom? And did Ava and Nathan realize too late that if Matt really is a killer, they might be the next victims?
What to expect from Season 2?
With such a finale, Season 2 promises more tension, more dark humor, and, of course, more doubts about who's in control. Will Ava and Nathan survive the consequences of their choices? Is Matt the "Westside Ripper" or not? And, most importantly, who will come out unscathed from this story, if anyone?
Now, Ava and Nathan face a new phase in their lives: the arrival of a baby. Desperately trying to return to normalcy after paying Matt to disappear, the couple seems to have finally found some semblance of peace. Their tranquility is shattered when Matt reappears, this time as the fiancé of Tory, Ava's sister.
This unexpected return of Matt promises to bring an even more complex layer to the narrative. How will Ava and Nathan react to Matt's constant presence, especially now that he's part of the family? And perhaps most intriguingly, is Matt trying to suppress his murderous impulses? The season seems willing to explore the possibility of a serial killer "reforming," raising fascinating questions about addiction, redemption, and how much we can really change who we are.
Fans are already speculating that Matt's presence in Ava and Nathan's life will catalyze new twists, especially with the arrival of other characters who might further complicate the plot. Some believe Matt might use this new position as part of the family to manipulate the couple or even protect his secrets if he is indeed the "Westside Ripper."
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With promised twists and the hinted possibility of a third cycle, Season 2 seems destined to elevate the tension and acid humor that made the series a success. The questions remain the same: Who is really in control? Will Ava and Nathan survive Matt's return—and their new family dynamics?
Check this out for yourself. Based on a True Story Season 2, now streaming on Peacock.
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