Amanda M. Castro is a Network TV writer at Collider and a New York–based journalist whose work has appeared in Newsweek, where she contributes as a Live Blog Editor, and The U.S. Sun, where she previously served as a Senior Consumer Reporter.
She specializes in network television coverage, delivering sharp, thoughtful analysis of long-running procedural hits and ambitious new dramas across broadcast TV. At Collider, Amanda explores character arcs, storytelling trends, and the cultural impact of network series that keep audiences tuning in week after week.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Amanda is bilingual and holds a degree in Communication, Film, and Media Studies from the University of New Haven.
Apple TV has become known for prestige hits like Severance, Slow Horses, and Silo, but not every ambitious series has found the same audience. Suspicion was one of the streamer's first original productions, featuring a star-studded cast and an interesting concept, and it was full of all the elements of a nail-biting conspiracy thriller, but just as quickly as it came, it disappeared.
The eight episodes featured a diverse cast, including Uma Thurman, Kunal Nayyar, Georgina Campbell, Elizabeth Henstridge, Elyes Gabel, and Noah Emmerich. Although it received mixed reviews, it was ultimately canceled after just one season. Many critics blamed the mystery's increasingly convoluted nature for their frustration with the show’s pace. However, four years later, Suspicion can be appreciated for what it is: a fun, binge-worthy ride that features plenty of twists, many secrets, and sufficient paranoia throughout the series to keep viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end of each episode.
Suspicion begins with a striking setup. Leo Newman (Gerran Howell), the son of Communications executive Katherine Newman (Thurman), was abducted from a hotel in New York City by assailants wearing masks of British Royal Family members. When the security camera footage of the kidnapping goes viral, investigators narrow their search to five British guests who were at the hotel.
None of these British guests seems to have anything in common. Natalie Thompson (Campbell) is getting ready for her wedding, Aadesh Chopra (Nayyar) is a frustrated cybersecurity expert stuck working for his family, Tara McAllister (Henstridge) is an Oxford academic juggling professional and personal problems, Eddie Walker (Tom Rhys Harries) is a wealthy university student, and Sean Tilson (Gabel) may be hiding way more secrets than anyone. While authorities in the USA and the UK try to solve the case, the five suspects are becoming ensnared in a web of increasingly complex lies, misleading information, and hidden agendas.
From the premise alone, Suspicion was reminiscent of some 80s conspiracy-type thrillers that were based on a lack of trust and constant changing alliances. The premise naturally invited comparisons to Homeland, especially given that both series originated from Israeli productions developed by Keshet, and despite Suspicion never reaching those heights, it always had enough momentum to keep the story moving.
Despite its promising setup, Suspicion struggled to generate much enthusiasm among critics. Reviewers frequently praised the cast and slick production values, but many felt the mystery became too convoluted and that some of its biggest stars, particularly Thurman, were underused.
Weekly releases may not have helped either. The series depended heavily on cliffhangers and steadily unfolding revelations, which meant viewers often spent more time waiting for answers than receiving them. By the time major pieces of the puzzle fell into place, some audiences had already checked out.
Apple officially canceled the series in 2023, ending any hopes for a second season. The decision wasn’t particularly surprising. Streaming services have become increasingly selective about which shows receive additional seasons, and Suspicion never developed the kind of cultural momentum enjoyed by some of Apple TV’s biggest successes. Still, cancellation doesn’t necessarily mean a show has nothing to offer.
Watching Suspicion four years later reveals something many viewers may have missed during its original run. The series functions far better when consumed over a few days rather than over two months. Without weeklong gaps between episodes, the increasingly tangled story becomes easier to follow, and plot twists feel less frustrating because the answers arrive quickly. Even some of the show’s more outrageous developments become part of the fun. That’s especially true for viewers who simply want an old-fashioned thriller. Suspicion doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it embraces many of its most enjoyable elements. There are double crosses, secret identities, international intrigue, corrupt institutions, and enough unexpected turns to make every episode end with the urge to immediately start the next one.
At times, the mystery becomes too complicated to follow, and those who might be looking forward to a star-studded performance by Thurman might be disappointed when they see very little of her in the series. Some twists are more satisfying than others, and although the series evokes the classics of its genre, it never quite reaches its artistic heights.
Not every canceled program is misunderstood or a work of art, but there is still merit in watching a series given a second chance. Sometimes a series just shows up at the wrong time, or its story requires viewers to invest fully before it can be fully understood. After four years on the platform, Suspicion continues to be an excellent thriller filled with twists, and it is precisely what conspiracy fans are looking for, and it can give you satisfaction and require less of your time than solving the mystery does.
