--- title: "East of Eden: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/east-of-eden/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/east-of-eden" critics_score: 81 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # East of Eden (2026): what the critics said Critics' score 81 from 11 reviews: 11 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews are uniformly positive about East of Eden, with praise clustering around Florence Pugh’s performance as Cathy Ames. Most critics find her portrayal layered and unsettling, while Hoon Lee draws repeated praise for the tenderness and emotional weight he brings to Lee. The adaptation’s literary ambition also wins support: several reviews admire its faithfulness, and others welcome the fresh attention given to its characters. The differences concern how fully that ambition is realised, with enthusiasm ranging from qualified approval to strong endorsement. IndieWire praises the nuance of Cathy’s portrayal, but The Guardian finds her less developed than the men and sees a compelling family saga without enough depth in its examination of human nature. Elsewhere, reservations centre on uneven character development, faltering early episodes and weaker performances among the less experienced cast, rather than a rejection of the series as a whole. ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Rating A-. 1 October 2026. Travers calls the adaptation magnificent, smart, and richly provocative. He especially praises Florence Pugh’s commanding performance and the nuanced portrayal of Cathy Ames. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/east-of-eden-review-florence-pugh-netflix-series-1235218904/) ## The AV Club — Hunter Ingram Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2026. The critic calls the series an astounding adaptation and says it sets a towering new standard for literary TV adaptations. They single out Florence Pugh’s career-best performance as Cathy and praise Hoon Lee as the family’s anchor. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/east-of-eden-review-florence-pugh-netflix) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 2 October 2026. Nugent finds the adaptation excellent and elegant, though some early episodes and less experienced actors falter. He especially praises Florence Pugh’s layered performance as Cathy and Hoon Lee’s soulful turn as Lee. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/east-of-eden/) ## Vulture — Kathryn VanArendonk Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2026. VanArendonk finds that the miniseries’ considerable ambition ultimately outweighs its uneven treatment of Cathy and Adam. She especially praises Hoon Lee’s tender performance and the series’ attention to his character’s life and purpose. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/east-of-eden-netflix-review.html) ## Radio Times — Lewis Knight Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2026. The review presents the adaptation as a gorgeously faithful, glossy retelling of the classic novel. It singles out Florence Pugh’s lead performance and the adaptation’s faithfulness for praise. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/florence-pugh-netflix-east-of-eden-review/) ## The Guardian — Lucy Mangan Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2026. Mangan calls the series brilliant, compelling entertainment as a family saga, but says it lacks the heft for a deeper examination of human nature. She praises its lavish visuals and strong performances, while finding Cathy less fully developed than the men around her. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/oct/01/east-of-eden-review-florence-pugh-john-steinbeck) ## Variety — Alison Herman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2026. Herman finds the adaptation worth watching despite uneven character development and doubts about its fit for the screen. She particularly praises Florence Pugh and Hoon Lee, whose performances give the series emotional force. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2026/tv/reviews/east-of-eden-review-netflix-florence-pugh-1236893918/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2026. Fienberg finds the adaptation imperfect but morally complex and rich in memorable performances. He especially praises Florence Pugh’s unsettling portrayal of Cathy and Hoon Lee’s breakout performance. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/east-of-eden-review-florence-pugh-netflix-mike-faist-1236717464/) ## Collider — Therese Lacson Rating 9/10. 1 October 2026. The critic praises the adaptation for staying faithful to Steinbeck while giving the story a fresh perspective. She singles out Florence Pugh’s nuanced portrayal of Cathy as a standout. [Read the review](https://collider.com/east-of-eden-netflix-review-florence-pugh-john-steinbeck/) ## Digital Spy — Laura Jane Turner Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2026. The critic calls the series well worth watching and praises its nuanced, compelling character study. Florence Pugh’s layered portrayal of Cathy Ames is singled out as phenomenal. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a73924186/florence-pugh-east-of-eden-review/) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). The review finds the series a worthy, literary successor to the classic. It especially praises Florence Pugh’s performance and Zoe Kazan’s nuanced treatment of Cathy. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/tv-reviews/east-of-eden-review-florence-pugh-zoe-kazan-netflix-3971392) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/east-of-eden.md