The Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix TV Show Review)

When one thinks of a haunting, a few things that typically come to mind are mist on a lake with a mansion in the background, or the sight of Norman Bates' big Victorian house with Norman standing at the top of the hill with a kitchen knife in his hand. Stephen Kings' "The Shining," a cursed hotel filled with the ghosts of people who died there, is also a great example.

Within the paranormal genre sudden moments of creaks in the floor, whispers, changes in temperature, shadows in the windows, or God forbid clowns in the field, are all great examples of cliches Hollywood uses to excite the imagination of movie and tv show fans. If you're like me, a lover of paranormal stories; phenomenon not yet fully understood by science, then you will ABSOLUTELY LOVE "The Haunting of Bly Manor," a new tv show on Netflix. Starring some of the same cast members from "The Haunting of Hill House," also on Netflix, "The Haunting of Bly Manor," is a TV show about an exquisite haunted manor in Wessex England.

(Episode 1)

In the first episode a young woman, named Ms. Dani Clayton, moves to England from America escaping a troubled past. After being rejected from a job interview to become an au pair, a nanny, for the niece and nephew of a well-respected businessman named Mr. Henry Windgrave, Ms. Clayton in a casual manner reconnects with Mr. Windgrave at an English pub to reassure him she's completely capable of doing the job. After Mr. Windgrave explains why no one wants the job -- the children's parents had died on a trip, and the former au pair committed suicide -- he reconsiders his decision and hires Ms. Clayton.

After packing her things she sees an apparition of a ghost in the mirror; a shadow man with glasses lit like a flashlight. Who is this ghost, and why is he haunting Ms. Clayton?

Ms. Clayton's first impression of Bly Manor is one of extreme enthusiasm. The manor itself is stunning: several stories high with parquet wooden floors in the house foyer, high ceilings, steep dark staircases, long hallways, and the nights are long and dark there it seems.

Owen, a chef from France and a man whose mother is dying from dementia, is polite and welcoming to Ms. Clayton. He has a great sense of humor and shows sincere concern and love for the children's well-being, and like everyone at Bly Manor is happy Ms. Clayton is there.

The grounds keeper, Jamie, is laid back yet blunt -- quite a firecracker she is. She doesn't take flak from the children despite her love for them. Her garden is special to her and she spends most of her time there.

The housekeeper, Hannah Grose, is thrilled there is a new au pair at Bly Manor. Although pleasant and religious, Hannah seems to experience frequent moments of time loss. She'll be busy doing something in one moment, and seconds later she'll be somewhere else doing something different or speaking to someone she became lost in conversation with. The first sign of this is when Hannah meets the new au pair, Dani, at Bly Manor. "I'm sorry, um, goodness, I wa -- I was miles away." Other occurrences of Hannah's time lapses continue throughout the first episode.

The children, Flora who is eight years old and Miles who is ten, take well to Ms. Clayton; Miles, a little too well who is overly polite, a bit manipulative and occasionally violent. Throughout the first episode he does things that give a glimpse to his psychopathic tendencies, some which inevitably led to his expulsion from boarding school. Further along into episode one, he and Ms. Clayton are discussing bedtime which doesn't suit well with Miles.

"Good evening, Ms. Clayton." Miles says, staring out the window.

"Time for bed."

"Is it? I shouldn't think so."

"No more games, Miles."

"Do you like games, Dani?" He turns to Ms. Clayton.

"Not at bedtime."

"It’s the best time for games, really."

"Stop being weird Miles!" Laura shouts.

Despite how troubled Miles is, there is an evident reflection of a young man who is in pain from the death of his parents and from the death of the children’s' former au pair, Ms. Rebecca Jessel.

Flora is friendly and respectful but also a bit apprehensive. She doesn't like her dolls being touched or moved around. One in particular, a doll with dark hair and a white dress, she wants left beneath her dresser. She enjoys making dolls of sticks and wood. "A tiny game of Flora's to keep us all safe," Hannah Grose says.

(Paranormal Activity)

Throughout the first episode there are frequent paranormal moments, although cliche, that give insight to the mystery of Bly Manor. During Flora's bath time, Flora looks behind Ms. Clayton -- staring at someone Ms. Clayton doesn't see. Another apparition of the dark shadow man with lit glasses appears in the bathroom mirror. Also, during the first night at Bly Manor Ms. Clayton gets up from bed to make herself some tea in the kitchen. In the dark corners of the shadows there appears to be someone who is tall, wearing what appears to be an ancient doctor's mask; pointed and creepy looking!

The second day at Bly there is a moment when Ms. Clayton sees a man on the parapet, the old wing of the manor. She waves to him, but he doesn't move. He merely stands still. Later Ms. Clayton finds a wooden doll Flora made next to the concrete wall on the parapet.

The second night at Bly Manor after tucking Flora into bed, Ms. Clayton accidently kicks one of the dolls across the floor. Quickly Ms. Clayton picks it up. Miles comes into the room asking to have a fan from Flora's closet. As Ms. Clayton is searching for it, both the children lock Ms. Clayton in the cupboard closet. She has a panic attack from seeing the shadow man with lit glasses in the mirror. She wakes up awhile later ordering the children to bed.

Going outside for a bit of air, Ms. Clayton look up at the windows to see the children staring at her from the inside of their rooms, and that is the end of episode 1.

To Be Continued...