Now that Crystal Lake has a premiere date, here's what we hope to see in the Friday the 13th prequel

Image courtesy of Peacock

Friday the 13th fans received some major news last week when Peacock announced that Crystal Lake, a prequel series co-produced by A24, will debut on October 15, just in time for spooky season. The 8-episode series, which will focus on Pamela Voorhees, played by Linda Cardellini, marks the first new Friday the 13th content since the 2009 remake. Of course, fans are hungry to return to Camp Blood.

Now that Crystal Lake actually has a premiere date, here's what we're hoping to see in the series.

Crystal Lake should humanize Pamela Voorhees

We only really know Pamela Voorhees from Betsy Palmer's iconic performance in the 1980 film. Yet, by that point, she's driven by revenge and has very little backstory. We know that she killed the camp counselors because Jason drowned when the teens weren't paying attention. This isn't to diminish Palmer's performance, but Pamela is already a pretty crazed villain by the time the reveal happens in the last act. There's not a whole lot of humanity left in her, before Alice (Adrienne King) beheads her.

Crystal Lake sounds so promising, in part, because it's going to focus on Pamela, including how she gave up her singing career to tend to her special needs son. There's a lot of expectation for Cardellini to get the role right, and she needs to give Pamela some humanity before she turns into a killer. It's a big ask, but Cardellini's performances in DTF St. Louis, Dead to Me, and even all the way back to Freaks and Greeks prove that she's more than capable of playing a multi-dimensional characters. This role will need that.

Crystal Lake needs a little campiness, blood, guts and gore

One reason Friday the 13th maintains such a loyal and massive fanbase is because the movies are fun. They're campy and at times, very silly. They're symbolic of the 80s slasher craze. Hopefully, A24 doesn't remove that aspect of the franchise and doesn't create a series that's just trauma focused about a mother forgoing her career and then losing her son. I'd love to see a little self-awareness and meta comedy that say, Jason Lives had.

Additionally, because this will be streaming on Peacock, let's hope the powers that be allow a little blood, guts, and gore. After all, isn't that what we also want from a Friday the 13th movie? Bring on the beheadings, the hack and slash, and all sorts of grisly mayhem.

Crystal Lake needs to give some focus, but not all to Jason

We already know that Callum Vinson will play the young Jason. He'll obviously have a lot of airtime and most likely, several scenes with his mom. Hopefully, the series will explore his relationship with other kids at the campground, who, perhaps, bully him. Imagine Jason painted as an outcast because of his special needs. Would that flesh out the character and warrant more empathy for him? It would be an interesting twist and humanize a figue who transformed into a zombified killing machine later in the franchise.

Jason certainly warrants a little bit of backstory, but it also shouldn't take the focus away from Pamela, especially how she gave up her career. There's a lot to work with regarding these two characters, and hopefully, the writers get it right. Additionally, let's hope that we get a cameo or two from adult Jason by the finale!

Show us Crystal Lake in the snow and allow the campsite to feel like a character again

Other than various fan films, Crystal Lake hasn't been shown in the wintertime. Imagine how cool some of the kills would look during that season, with blood marring the snow. There's a lot of potential to step outside of the summer season that these movies are known for and do something different. Eight episodes allows more room to breathe and to diversify the setting, specifically the seasons.

Further, the last few Friday the 13th movies, other than the remake, veered away from Crystal Lake. Jason X was set in space, for example. It's time to make Crystal Lake feel like a character again, with cabins, a lake, and horny teenagers. It was confirmed that the crew filmed a few scenes in Blairstown, New Jersey, where much of the original film was shot and the campground is located. Hopefully, that resurrects and enlivens the setting.

Crystal Lake has a heck of a lot of potential, and at the very least, Friday the 13th fans are finally getting a new story and eight episodes to enjoy. We can't wait to tune in.

Crystal Lake premieres on Peacock on October 15.

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