'The Chicken Sisters' Reviews: Series "is a pleasant, often amusing show that has a good cast and wraps family drama in a refreshing package"

         On September 10, 2024, Hallmark+ premiered 'The Chicken Sisters', which has earned predominantly positive reviews from critics. In the series, "Sisters Amanda and Mae are reunited when reality show "Kitchen Clash" comes to their town, and the competition between their two feuding restaurants heats up." The ensemble cast includes Wendie Malick, Lea Thompson, Genevieve Angelson, and Schuyler Fisk. But what did the critics say?

       Rob Owen of Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes, "When it launches Sept. 10, Hallmark+’s highest-profile original will be the scripted series “The Chicken Sisters,” based on the 2020 KJ Dell’Antonia novel. It’s a family drama set in a small Southern town about a decades-old rift between two families who own rival fried chicken restaurants." Adding, Wendie Malick plays Gus, the matriarch/owner of one restaurant; Lea Thomson plays Nancy, the owner of the other. But the focus is on Amanda (Schuler Fisk), Gus’ daughter, who’s married to Nancy’s son. Those characters are just the tip of the iceberg with a raft of siblings, friends, love interests and even ancestors (introduced in flashbacks). Margo Martindale (“The Americans”) classes up the proceedings as the show’s omniscient narrator. “Chicken Sisters” is lighter than some Hallmark efforts (there’s more emphasis on humor), but the series also takes more risks with the suggestion of possible future infidelity and meta elements as a reality-show cooking competition comes to town, pitting the two restaurants against one another."

Photo Courtesy of Hallmark Media and Kailey Schwerman

        Joel Keller of Decider notes, "And while we’re usually not a fan of intrusive narration on a show, how can anyone dislike the soothing drawl of Margo Martindale leading viewers through all of these rivalries and layered histories? Her honey-dripping narration has a bit of sassiness and passive aggression behind it, which is a perfect encapsulation of the “sweet to your face, gossipy behind your back” way of life in “the South.” We do look forward to seeing Fisk and Angelson square off as very opposite personalities who still have a modicum of love between them. And, despite their silly accents, we are always going to welcome Thompson and Malick on our screens. There is certainly going to be a flirtation between Amanda and Sergio, and there’s even some story that’s going to develop with Ultimate Kitchen Clash host Sabrina Skye (Rukiya Bernard) and her daughter Linzey (Kelcey Mawema), who she has brought to Merinac for the chicken showdown."

        Rachel Wagner of Hallmarkies Podcast was less impressed, stating, "While I appreciate the swing from Hallmark the characters and conflict are too unpleasant to work"