“The Carters: Hurts to Love You,” a two-part docuseries on Paramount+. A must watch! It’s directed by Soleil Moon Frye – yes, that Punky Brewster! – which is kind of wild in itself. But this isn’t lighthearted sitcom stuff, not even close.
This documentary mini series really dives deep into the Carter family like you’ve never seen before. Nick Carter, Aaron Carter, and their lives behind the scenes as they were navigating fame. While it touches on the whole family, it really leans into Aaron Carter’s story. As the story is being told through the eyes of Angel, his twin sister.
You get glimpses of everything, the rise to stardom, the family dynamics, but the focus on Aaron and Angel’s relationship is so central. Hearing Angel’s perspective on what life was like for her, almost feeling abandoned at times, and her bond with Aaron was hard to watch. it’s incredibly raw. She’s really laying it all out there.
Nick is being interviewed as well, and honestly, some of it is just heart-wrenching to watch. You can feel the weight of everything. I will say, the documentary is done very well in terms of its storytelling and emotional impact.
Now, there were some things about the doc that I didn’t totally vibe with. There was some footage they pulled from older interviews that looked a little… off. It was grainy or the sound wasn’t great, and I kind of wondered why they included it if it wasn’t the best quality. It was a bit distracting. But honestly, that’s a small thing in the grand scheme of what the documentary is trying to do.
Angel is very open about what her story was being in the mix of a chaotic family. You feel her perspective on being abandoned and the incredibly close relationship she had with Aaron. She’s telling the real story as she saw it.
This story is very dark at times. It doesn’t shy away from the heavy stuff. It goes deep into mental health and addiction and how that all evolved, not just for Aaron, but you see the ripples throughout the family structure. It’s a stark look at how these issues can impact everyone.
Honestly, if you’re looking for something to watch this weekend that will really grab you, go check out “The Carters: Hurts to Love You.” It feels like a very important story being told. Definitely worth your time, just be prepared for some heavy emotions.
