The Baxters Season 1 Story: Elizabeth and John Baxter, along with their five children, are the main characters in this family drama. The family goes through a difficult time when one of the daughters, Kari, finds out about her husband’s adultery.
The Baxters Season 1 Review: Karen Kingsbury’s best-selling Baxter family series served as the model for “The Baxters.” It’s unlikely, though, that the television adaptation will be as successful. The show has a soap opera vibe to it, which makes it a little inappropriate for a streaming service that might not support its story of faith. Its storytelling structure would have worked better on regular television in a serialized weekly basis. “The Baxters” may seem muted to viewers used to the fast-paced, innovative entertainment found on streaming services, providing a reassuring but uninteresting viewing experience. The story, which is firmly based on Christian doctrine and centers on a pious family, appeals mostly to a specific type of viewer who is looking for topics with a gospel feel.
“The Baxters” centers on the lives of Elizabeth (Roma Downey), John Baxter (Ted McGinley), and their five children: Erin (Reilly Anspaugh), Kari (Ali Cobrin), Brooke (Emily Peterson), Ashley (Masey McLain), and Luke (Josh Plasse). This close-knit family routinely attends church and places a high value on their faith. Even after their children have grown into adults, the parents, who are incredibly committed to them, still provide them love and support. Kari is devastated to learn that her spouse Tim is having an extramarital affair with one of her students. Things get worse when Kari finds out she’s pregnant and Tim files for divorce. Kari turns to her family for comfort, and her parents and siblings provide her with steadfast love and support throughout her suffering.
The Baxters give the impression that they are the epitome of the perfect family and that they are doing a perfect job of parenting their kids. However, beneath this façade comes the reality that they struggle with their own heartaches and disappointments just like any other family. The show takes advantage of this relationship, telling a story in which the Baxters experience their fair share of hardships. The other siblings are relegated to secondary roles in the plot, which is mostly focused on Kari. The short 22-minute episodes are only made longer by the soap opera-like atmosphere, and the arrival of Ryan Allyn, Kari’s ex-boyfriend, gives the story an obvious turn.
Thankfully, the show’s performers keep you interested. The performers do a convincing job of capturing the close-knit family dynamic, so they feel real. In his portrayal of John Baxter, Ted McGinley captures the essence of the charming father figure with genuineness. While both Ali Cobrin as Kari and Brandon Hirsch as Tim give heartfelt and authentic performances, Taylour Paige—who plays Tim’s pupil and the other woman—shines and steals the show. Every episode of this family drama seems to be strongly infused with tainted biblical lessons. This show might not be for you if you’re short on time because it doesn’t adhere to the idea of “instant gratification.” But this series might just pique your interest if you’re inclined to slow-paced family dramas that provide an idealized family portrait.
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