Freeform’s kicking off the first season of the thriller The Watchful Eye on Monday, January 30, 2023 with back-to-back one-hour episodes. The new series follows Elena Santos (Mariel Molino) as she steps into the job of a nanny for a wealthy widower’s young son. Episode one, “Hen in the Fox House,” premieres at 9pm ET/PT followed by “Hide and Seek” at 10pm ET/PT.
The show will settle into its normal timeslot of Mondays at 10pm ET/PT with episode three.
In addition to Mariel Molino, season one stars Warren Christie as Matthew, Kelly Bishop as Mrs. Ivey, Amy Acker as Tory, and Jon Ecker as Scott. Lex Lumpkin plays Elliott, Henry Joseph Saimiri is Jasper, and Aliyah Royale stars as Ginny.
The series comes from Ryan Seacrest Productions and was created by Julie Durk (Grace and Frankie). Durk serves as a consultant and Emily Fox (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist) serves as showrunner. Fox, Seacrest, Nina Wass, Andrea Shay, and Jeffrey Reiner executive produce.
The “Hen in the Fox House” Plot: A young woman is thrust into the world of old money and deadly secrets after accepting a nanny job from a handsome widower.
Episode 2 “Hide and Seek” Plot: While bonding with the other nannies, Elena learns that the Wards’ previous nanny vanished without warning. Elena continues her search of The Greybourne and discovers a shocking truth.
The Watchful Eye Synopsis, Courtesy of Freeform:
The Watchful Eye follows Elena Santos, a young woman with a complicated past, maneuvering her way into working as a live-in nanny for an affluent family in Manhattan. She quickly learns that everyone in the mysterious building has deadly secrets and ulterior motives. What they don’t know, however, is that Elena has some shocking secrets of her own.
Mariel Molino plays Elena Santos, a bright, savvy young woman hired as the live-in nanny to a wealthy widower and his young son. When Elena moves into The Greybourne, a landmark Manhattan apartment building, she quickly learns about the complex politics among its wealthy inhabitants and a history riddled with mystery and tragedy. Luckily, Elena is more than equipped to handle anything that comes her way on her own terms. Warren Christie plays Matthew, a self-made architect dealing with grief and confusion over his wife’s death and its impact on his young son. Kelly Bishop portrays Mrs. Ivey, a lifelong resident of The Greybourne who rules the roost and is accustomed to getting her way through a potent combination of wealth, power, and sheer force of will.
Amy Acker is Tory, a woman who instantly dislikes the fresh-faced, eager young nanny hired by her handsome brother-in-law, Matthew. Jon Ecker stars as Scott, Elena’s sharp and cunning boyfriend who has helped arrange for Elena to get a live-in job at The Greybourne. Lex Lumpkin portrays Elliott, a precocious teenager who lives in The Greybourne and strikes up an instant friendship with Elena. Henry Joseph Samiri is Jasper, Matthew’s son, an intelligent but withdrawn child still reeling from the recent death of his mother. Aliyah Royale plays Ginny who works alongside Elena as a nanny and is one of the few people who can get past her new friend’s tough outer shell.
