Stars: 2.5/5

The new Hulu series “Light as a Feather” proves some fanfiction should stay on the internet and get out of the small and big screens.

“Light as a Feather,” adapted from a Wattpad fanfiction-turned-book series, follows Weeping Willow High School teenagers as they try to figure out why their friends keep dying. As it turns out, their innocent game of the slumber party sensation “Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board” has a deadly twist. After the participants’ deaths are guessed during the game, all but one of them will die as predicted. The lone survivor must continue the game to stay alive.

The main plotline is just as cliche as it sounds –– it’s not much different than a real-life version of “Bloody Mary” or the “Boogieman.” An unoriginal premise easily leads into even less original characters, with teen drama so bland it should be on Freeform.

The show didn’t surprise me with its weak and rushed storylines, but it was still disappointingly predictable. The screenplay focused too much on petty conflicts and saved the “horror” for the less-developed parts of the show. I know the world needs “spooky not scary” options for people of all ages, but anything Halloween-themed should at least try to push some boundaries.  

Hulu is understandably trying to appeal to a broader audience, but it should focus on creating groundbreaking shows before wasting resources on productions filled with cringeworthy YouTube, Vine and Disney stars. Though Netflix makes more questionable content now, the service began its legacy with hit originals like “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black.”

“The Handmaid’s Tale,” currently in a sophomore slump after a weak second season, will not be enough to keep viewers coming back to Hulu. “Light is a Feather” is obviously aimed toward a much younger audience, but children and young adults typically aren’t the ones paying for the service. Hulu must focus on its moneymakers before extending its reach to all demographics.

Ultimately, “Light as a Feather” is the opposite of a must-see if I’ve ever watched one. It’s good for casual viewing on a lazy Sunday afternoon, but by the end of its easily guessable conclusion, I wished I would’ve spent my few hours of free time on something more notable. I love a guilty please just as much as anyone, but some things are just too bad to be “good-bad.”