Is Candy Hulu Miniseries Worth the Hype?

What is Candy Hulu?

Candy Hulu is a popular streaming television miniseries that premiered for the first time on 9th to 13th May 2022, on Hulu. This American biographical crime drama series was created by Robin Veith and Nick Antosca. The series is based on the true story of the famous Candy Montgomery, a Texas housewife who was accused of using an ax to kill her friend Betty Gore in 1980. The series features Jessica Biel as Candy Montgomery and Melanie Liskey who acts as Betty Gore. The two are the main stars of this miniseries. 

Other actors included are:

• Raul Esparza
• Timothy Simons
• Pabro Schreiber

With a total number of 5 episodes, this miniseries has been acknowledged for its performance, its suspenseful plot and its accurate adaptation of the true story. The series has also become one of the most-watched original series on Hulu.

Who is Jessica Biel? (Acted as Candy Montgomery)

Jessica Biel is an American actress, producer and model. She is known for her roles in the films The Rules of Attraction (2002), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), and Elizabethtown (2005). She also featured in the television series 7th Heaven (1996-2007) and The Sinner (2017-2021).

In 2022, Biel starred as Candy in the Hulu limited series Candy. Her performance in the series was highly praised and as a result, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress- Television Series Drama.

She was born in Ely, Minnesota and raised in Boulder, Colorado. She started her modeling career when she was 11 years old and made her film debut in the film Ulee’s Gold in 1997.  She was the star in The 7th Heaven for 11 seasons and she also starred in many other successful films. 

In 2012, she married Justin Timberlake and they have two children together. Biel is also the founder of the production company Iron Ocean Productions. Besides that, she is a successful producer and businesswoman. 

Who is Melanie Lynskey? (Acted as Betty Gore)

Melanie Lynskey is a New Zealand actress who is known for her roles in different films and television shows.  She was born on 16th May 1977 in New Plymouth. New Zealand. Lynskey started her acting career at a young age but she gained international recognition due to her role as Pauline Parker in the 1994 film “Heavenly Creatures. This film was directed by Peter Jackson. In the Hulu miniseries Candy which premiered in 2022, she acted as Betty Gore. 

How was Candy Hulu Produced?

In the year 2020, it was revealed that there was a series by UCP that was being developed about Candy Montgomery. Robin Vieth was to be the scriptwriter while Nick Antosca was to be the executive producer. In December 2020, it was discovered that Hulu was privileged to land the series. Elisabeth Moss was to act as the main star Candy, but in October 2021, she opted to drop out because of some scheduling conflicts. That is when Jessica Biel acted on her behalf. 

When was it filmed?

The filming of this miniseries took place in Austell Georgia and it started from December 2021 to February 2022. The release dates for the 5 episodes were as follows; 

• EPISODE 1: “The Secret”

This episode was released on 9th May 2022 and it introduces Candy (Jessica Biel) as an ordinary housewife who lives in Wylie Texas in 1980. However, there is something unusual lurking beneath the surface.  This woman is having an affair with Allan Gore the husband of her friend Betty Gore (Melanie Lynskey).

• EPISODE 2: “The Fight”

The second episode was released on May 10, 2022. In this episode, the affair between Allan and Candy comes to an end when Betty finds out what was going on.  Betty and Candy are seen having a heated argument where Betty threatens to tell Candy’s husband Pat (Timothy Simons). 

• EPISODE 3: “ The Murder”

On June 13, 1980, Betty is found brutally murdered in her home, Candy is the prime suspect but she denies any involvement in the crime. 

• EPISODE 4: “The Trial” (May 12, 2022)

 Candy goes on trial for Betty’s murder where the prosecution argues that she killed Betty in a fit of rage. The defense claims that Candy was acting in self-defense. 

• EPISODE 5:  “The Verdict” (May 13, 2022)

The jury finds Candy guilty of murder and she is sentenced to 25 years in prison, 

Is the Hulu show Candy a true story?

Yes, the Hulu show Candy is based on a real story of how Candy Montgomery murdered her friend Betty Gore in 1950.  The show is based on the book “Evidence of Love” by Jim Atkinson and Job Bob Briggs. It is also based on news reports and court transcripts from the case. 

The show tries to relate closely to the real story although there are some extra creative aspects included. For example, the show portrays Candy as having a more active sexual relationship with Allan Gore than she did in real life.  Apart from that, it condenses the timeline of events meaning that not all trial details are included. 

It also explores some of the psychological factors that may have contributed to Candy’s actions. For example, it suggests that Candy may have been suffering from post-partum depression and that she may have been triggered by Betty’s confrontations. 

Overall, the Candy Hulu show is a fairly accurate portrayal of the Candy Montgomery case. It is a well-made and suspenseful show that tells this fascinating story. The case is a complex and tragic one since there are no answers on what exactly happened on that day. As a result, it does not provide answers but it offers a thoughtful look at the events that might have led to the murder. 

What’s the relevance of Candy Hulu?

This miniseries is relevant for many reasons. For instance, it offers a glimpse into the mind of a murderer. Candy is a seemingly ordinary woman who commits a horrific crime. The miniseries explores her motivations for murder which are complex and multi-faceted.

It also examines the role of gender-based violence. Candy is a woman who is often overlooked and underestimated. She can get away with murder simply because she is seen as a harmless housewife. This miniseries highlights how women are often not taken seriously as perpetrators of violence. 

Besides that, the miniseries raises questions about the nature of evil. Is Candy a monster? Or is she just a product of her circumstances? This miniseries does not give direct answers to these questions. Instead, it leaves viewers to grapple with the complexities of human nature.

The relevance of Candy is not limited to its historical accuracy or its exploration of complex themes. The miniseries is also relevant since it is a well-made and suspenseful piece of entertainment.  The performances are strong, the direction is assured and the writing is very sharp.

What happened to Candy Montgomery after the trial and what was Candy Montgomery charged with?

After she was acquitted of Betty Gore’s murder in 1980, Candy Montgomery and her husband, Pat moved to Georgia. They divorced after 4 years and after the divorce, Candy changed her name back to Candace Wheeler. She then went on to become a mental health counselor which to me is ironic. 

Years after the trial, Candy kept everything to herself. She has refused to be interviewed and she has never spoken about what exactly happened in public. However, she interviewed with Dallas Morning News in 2000 where she said that she was trying to put it behind her and that she just wanted to live her life.

Currently, it is not clear where she lives or whether she remarried. However, it is known that she is still working as a mental health counselor. In 2022, Jessica Biel who played Candy in the Candy Hulu series tried to contact her to get her perspective on the events that led to Betty Gore’s death. However, Candy declined to speak to her. 

Her case remains fascinating and controversial since some people believe she was guilty while others believe that she was innocent and acted in self-defense.  Ultimately, it is only she who knows exactly what happened that day in June 1980.

How did they find out Candy killed Betty?

Several things identified Candy as the one who killed Betty. They include;

• Candy was the last person who saw Betty alive. She had visited her to pick up a swimsuit for Betty’s daughter (Alisa) who was staying with Candy and her husband Pat.
• The murder weapon which was an ax belonged to Candy. It was found in the utility room in Betty’s house and Candy’s fingerprints were found on the handle.
• Candy had a cut on her toe and a bruiser on her head. She claimed that these injuries were sustained during the struggle with Betty but the prosecution found out that they were self-inflicted.
• Pat who was Candy’s husband testified that he had seen Candy cleaning a bloody ax in the bathtub the day after the murder.  He had denied this but later he changed the story after he was confronted with evidence. 
• Candy’s fingerprints- This was significant because the only other person who was in Betty’s house was her husband Allan but his fingerprints were not found. 
• Clothing- Candy’s clothing was covered with Betty’s blood. This was confirmed after a DNA test.
• Candy was hypnotized by a psychiatrist, Dr Fred Fason in an attempt to recover her memories of the murder. During the hypnosis session, she confirmed that she killed Betty in a fit of rage after Betty shushed her. 

Based on all this evidence, the police arrested Candy Montgomery and she was charged with murder.  The evidence against her was strong but she was acquitted at trial. The Jury found that she had acted in self-defense even though Betty was unarmed at the time of the murder. This case is a complex one and even as I write this in June 2023, there is still no clear answer to the question of why Candy killed Betty.  However, the evidence suggests that she was motivated by several things such as jealousy, anger and fear. 

Why did Candy kill Betty Gore?

Even though the exact reason why Candy Montgomery killed Betty Gore is still unknown, there are several possible explanations which include;

• Guilt – Candy had an affair with Betty’s husband, Allan Gore for several months between 1978 to 1979. This affair ended when Allan decided to stay with Betty. It’s thus possible that Candy felt guilty about what she had done. This guilt could have led to rage that resulted in her killing her friend Betty.
• Trauma – Candy has a difficult childhood and she might have been triggered by something Betty said or did on the day of the murder. For instance, Betty may be reminded of her mother’s shushing which was a trigger of her childhood trauma. 
• Jealousy- Candy and Betty were friends but they were also rivals. Betty was a stay-at-home mom with 2 young daughters while Candy was a working mom who had a more glamorous lifestyle. It’s possible that Candy was jealous of Betty’s life and this might have played a role in the murder.

Did Candy ever go to jail or did Candy ever confess?

After thorough police investigations, Candy Montgomery was associated with the murder of her friend and fellow church member Betty Gore. During the trial, it was discovered that Candy and Allan Gore had been in an extramarital affair.  This relationship is thought to be one of the factors that led to the murder. However, Candy testified that she killed Betty Gore claiming self-defense. She said that it was a moment of panic after being attacked by Betty. After the trial, the jury found Candy not guilty. They accepted her claims of self-defense and believed that she was protecting herself. 

Who found Betty Gore’s Body?

Betty Gore’s body was discovered by her friend Candy Montgomery on June 13, 1980, although she was identified as the person responsible for the murder. According to Candy, she said that she had gone to Betty’s house to collect a sewing pattern and after she entered the house, she found Betty’s lifeless body in the utility room.  This discovery led to the high-profile murder case popularly known as the “AXE Murder in Wylie” or the Wylie Axe murder.

What happened to Betty Gore’s children and did Candy Montgomery leave the baby?

Betty Gore was the mother of 2 daughters, Alisa and Bethany. Alisa was 11 years old at the time of her mother’s murder while Bethany was only 1 year old. After Betty’s death, her daughters were raised by their father Allan Gore. Bethany Gore is now an adult who chose to live a private life. However, she has spoken about her mother’s death on several occasions.  In 2015, she gave an interview to Texas Monthly where she said that she struggles to come to terms with what happened to her mother.  She went on to say that she forgave Candy Montgomery. 

In 2022, Bethany Gore’s name was brought back into the public eye when Candy Hulu miniseries was released.  She has not yet commented about the miniseries. Alias is also a grown-up lady and it is not known about her whereabouts.

Is Candy Montgomery still married to her husband or did they divorce?

Candy Montgomery was married to Pat but they later divorced. They met in the early 1970s while working at Texas Instruments.  They married the same year and got two children. The couple moved to Collin County, Texas in 1977. 

In 1980, Candy was accused of killing her friend Betty Gore and she was acquitted of the charges.  The couple moved to Georgia in 1986 and they later divorced in 1986.

Where is Candy Montgomery today?

Candy Montgomery is alive and well as I write this article in July 2023. Currently she lives in Georgia where she works as a mental health counselor. She goes by her maiden name Wheeler and she has remarried. Her current husband is James.  Her current work focuses on helping people who have experienced trauma. She has a private practice in Georgia and she also trains courses on trauma and recovery.  

She is a licensed therapist and he has a Masters degree in Social Work. Candy has never spoken publicly about the murder since she prefers to live a quiet life. She doesn’t want to be remembered for the murder. 

This shows that she is a survivor who has found a way to move on from her past.

However, her story has become a popular subject of discussion up to date. In 2022, HBQ released a miniseries called “Love and Death” that is based on Candy’s case.

Where is Candy’s husband now?

Pat Montgomery is currently living a quiet life in Georgia. He goes by the name James and has not appeared in public since 1980s. At the time of the murder, he was an electrical engineer and the couple had two kids together. They had met in El Paso, Texas in 1980.  He is in his 70s and there is no information as to whether he has been in touch with Candy since their separation.  

He is also not on social media and there are no recent news articles about him.  However, some reports says that he changed his name to James although no one knows where he lives or does currently. He and Candy divorced in 1986 and he supported Candy throughout the trial.

What is Allan Gore doing now?

Allan Gore who was Betty Gore’s husband is currently retired and he lives in Sarasota, Florida.  After the trial, he remarried a woman called Elaine Clift and they relocated from Wylie with his daughters Alisa and Bethany.  He later divorced Elaine and entered into a domestic partnership in 2016. According to his Facebook page, he is not working although he has a background in business and marketing.

Allan’s current work is likely to be different with what he was doing before the murder. At that time, he was working for a pharmaceutical company as a salesman. However, he changed his career after the murder to a financial advisor. Currently, nobody knows what he does or anything about his current career.  It is likely that he has a stable income that enables him to support his family financially.

Was Betty pregnant candy?

No, Betty Gore was not pregnant at the time of the murder in 1980. However, she had 2 daughters who are Bethany and Alisa, Bethany was only 1 year old while Alisa was 11 years.  After the death of their mother, they were left with Allan Gore the father who placed them in the custody of their maternal grandparents. Alisa is a business controller while Bethany is a stay-at-home mum in Texas. 

Who was Candy sleeping with?

Candy Montgomery was a neighbor of the Gores and she was a good friend to Betty Gore.  The two women would babysit each other’s children and go to church together. In 1978, Candy began an affair with Allan Gore which lasted for about 2 years. This relationship ended in the summer of 1980. In short, Candy was sleeping with Allan Gore who was Betty’s husband. It was a secret affair between the two meaning that Betty was not aware of it. Candy was also sleeping with Pat Montgomery who was her husband. 

Is Love and Death still the same story as Candy?

Yes, Love & Death and Candy are both based on the same story of how Candy Montgomery murdered Betty Gore in Texas. However, there are some key differences between the two shows which include;

• The number of episodes- One of the major differences between these two shows is the fact that Candy has 5 episodes while Love and Death have 7 episodes.  If you would like to know more details bout the show, Love and Death is the best since Candy is more concise. 
• Tone- Love and Death is told from Candy’s perspective while Candy is told from Betty’s perspective. As a result, these two shows have different tones. Love and Death is more sympathetic to Candy while Candy is more critical of her.
• Another difference is that Love and Death mainly focus on the psychological aspects of the case while Candy is more focused on the crime itself. As a result, Love and Death is a more character-driven show while Candy is more plot-driven. 

Who is the Target Audience for Candy Hulu?

This miniseries is best suited for people who love true crime stories especially those that involve housewives.  The series is also likely to appeal to people who are fans of Jessica Biel and Melanie Lynskey who play the lead roles.   However, the show contains some graphic violence meaning that it may not be suitable for everyone.  Below are some specific groups of people who are likely to be interested in the miniseries;

• Women aged 25 to 54 years
• Those who are interested in true crime stories
• People who live in suburbs
• Those who are interested in the psychology of crime

Hulu Review

Hulu is an American subscription streaming service. The Walt Disney Company is the main stakeholder while NBCUniversal holds the minority stakes.  It was launched on 29th October 2007. It offers a library of films and television series from studios such as 20th Century Studio, Disney Television Studios, Searchlight Pictures, Freeform, ABC and FX Networks. It offers 2 plans one with ads and the other one without ads.

Hulu also offers many add-ons which include;

• Hulu + Live TV- This plan ads live TV channels to Hulu such as ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN and many others. All this goes for $69.99 per month.
• Hulu (No ads) + Live TV- This plan combines Hulu with live TV channels. It will cost you $19.99 per month.
• Hulu + Live TV + Disney + ESPN- This plan goes for only $12.99 per month.

Pros

• Live TV option
• Affordable prices
• Large library of movies and TV shows
• 2 plans ( with ads and without)

Cons

• Some content is not available in all regions 

How can I watch Candy on Hulu?

There are several ways to watch Candy on Hulu which include;

• Subscribe to Hulu- You can subscribe to Hulu for $6.99 per month for the ad-supported plan or $12.99 per month for the ad-free plan. Once you are subscribed, you can watch Candy on your computer, tablet, smartphone or streaming device.
• Sign up for a free trial of Hulu- Hulu offers a free trial for 30 days. This means that you can watch Candy for free if you are a new subscriber.
• Subscribe to the Disney bundle- The Disney bundle includes Hulu, Dinsey+ and ESPN+ and it goes for $13.99 per month with ads or $19.99 per month without ads.

Once you have subscribed to Hulu, you can watch Candy by searching for it in the Hulu app or website.  The series is available in both ad-supported and ad-free plans. Follow these steps if you want to watch Candy on Hulu.

• Go to the Hulu website or open the Hulu app.
• Sign in to your account or create a new account.
• Search for “Candy” in the search bar.
• Click on the “Candy” show poster.
• Click the play button to start watching.

Conclusion: Is Candy based on a true story?

Candy is a Hulu miniseries that tells the true story of Candy Montgomery, a Texas housewife who murdered her friend Betty Gore in 1980. The series stars Jessica Biel acts as Candy while Melanie Lynskey acts as Betty.  The miniseries has been praised for its excellent performances, writing and direction.  Biel gives a fantastic performance as Candy where she captures Candy’s character perfectly. Lynskey is also excellent as Betty and she brings a sympathetic portrayal to a character that is often seen as a victim.

The writing on Candy Hulu is also top-notch. The series does an incredible job of exploring the psychology of Betty and Candy as well as the social and cultural factors that may have contributed to the murder.  The direction is also well-done since the series creates a sense of tension and suspense which helps to keep the viewers hooked.