--- title: "The Outsider: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-outsider/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-outsider" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 15 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." --- # The Outsider (2020): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 15 reviews: 10 positive, 3 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics come down in favour, ten of fifteen, and the praise gathers in the same two places. The first is the cast: Ben Mendelsohn and Cynthia Erivo are named again and again, with several reviews saying the ensemble is what holds the series together. The second is Richard Price’s scripts, which more than one critic reckons improve on Stephen King’s novel. The atmosphere gets steady credit too: the unsettling opening episode, the score, the sense of grounded dread, and comparisons to Fincher and to True Detective turn up more than once. The reservations cluster around the join between police procedural and supernatural horror. Several critics find the series more convincing as a grim murder mystery than as a ghost story, and say it loses grip and sprawls once the strange elements take over. The spread is wide. The Guardian and Variety are the firmest dissenters, both finding it slow and thin on character, though even the Guardian singles out Erivo as the performance that lifts it. ## The i Paper — Rupert Hawksley Rating ★★★★. 13 January 2020. The critic highlights the unsettling opening sequence and strong performances from Ben Mendelsohn and others, along with a bone-chilling score, as setting up an evocative and haunting series. Some elements of the mystery setup are noted as slightly overplayed. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/the-outsider-review-sky-atlantic-stephen-king-novel-385096) ## The Telegraph Rating 4/5. 13 January 2020. The review praises the spooky atmosphere and strong pedigree of the HBO adaptation, noting it delivers on its promise beyond typical murder mystery tropes. The cast, including Ben Mendelsohn, is highlighted for effective performances. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/0/outsider-episodes-one-two-review-spooky-stephen-king-adaptation/) ## The AV Club — Randall Colburn Rating B. 10 January 2020. The series is one of the better Stephen King adaptations, with gripping mystery and strong performances, though it loses some grit when shifting to supernatural elements. Price's script and the cast, especially Mendelsohn, anchor the grim procedural well. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/gripping-and-gruesome-the-outsider-is-one-of-the-best-1840810979) ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 9 January 2020. The series improves on its source material through strong writing by Richard Price and an excellent cast. It effectively balances the crime procedural with supernatural elements. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/the-outsider-hbo-review-stephen-king-1202201447/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Daniel Fienberg Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 8 January 2020. Solid lead performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ben Mendelsohn anchor the series, but it remains an uneven experiment blending police procedural with supernatural elements that lacks full satisfaction or scares. The mystery feels thin despite promising genre collision. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/outsider-review-1265221/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 10 January 2020. The show starts as a strong crime drama but struggles to blend in its supernatural elements, leading to confusion amid strong acting and atmosphere. It keeps viewers guessing but lacks full control over its sprawling plot. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2020/01/the-outsider-on-hbo-review.html) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 13 January 2020. The critic finds the Stephen King adaptation glacially slow and lacking depth, resembling a drawn-out CSI episode. Cynthia Erivo's performance as Holly Gibney is singled out as a standout that briefly enlivens the proceedings. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jan/13/the-outsider-review-stephen-king-slashfest-is-like-csi-on-sleeping-pills) ## Variety — Daniel D'Addario Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 10 January 2020. The series is seen as overly serious and slow-paced, with too little character depth or tonal freshness to sustain interest despite its high-profile cast and influences. It exhausts viewers rather than delivering engaging crime drama or supernatural elements. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2020/tv/reviews/outsider-hbo-review-cynthia-erivo-jason-bateman-1203444808/) ## Collider — Tom Reimann Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 12 January 2020. The critic calls the series a creepy, gripping blend of police procedural and supernatural horror with strong performances. The atmospheric direction, score, and sense of unease are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-outsider-review-hbo/) ## Digital Spy — David Opie Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 9 January 2020. HBO's adaptation stands out as one of the best Stephen King TV versions thanks to its prestige cast, grounded dread, and effective mix of procedural and horror. Strong direction and performances make it a must-see despite occasional pacing issues. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a30441818/the-outsider-stephen-king-hbo-review/) ## Consequence Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 January 2020. The critic views the series as a fresh, unique Stephen King adaptation that feels like the True Detective season viewers have wanted, with excellent performances throughout. The strong ensemble and Price's scripts are highlighted. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2020/01/tv-review-the-outsider/) ## Den of Geek — Ron Hogan Rating 4/5. 13 January 2020. The premiere is a tense, shocking police procedural that hooks viewers with its twisty mystery and strong script by Richard Price. Excellent performances and direction establish it as a superb Stephen King adaptation. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-outsider-episode-1-review-a-tense-shocking-police-procedural/) ## /Film — Joshua Meyer Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 9 March 2020. The critic praises the series as a winning King adaptation that balances mystery, horror, and drama while improving on the book in places. The strong ensemble cast led by Mendelsohn and Erivo is highlighted. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/572770/the-outsider-spoiler-review/) ## NME — Dan Seddon Rating 4/5. 12 January 2020. The critic finds the HBO adaptation a strong, Fincher-influenced detective thriller that succeeds with its tense atmosphere and performances. Strong turns from Mendelsohn and Erivo are singled out as highlights. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/the-outsider-stephen-king-hbo-2595699) ## Paste — Jacob Oller Rating 6.3/10. 9 January 2020. The critic finds the series a middling take on the supernatural crime genre that squanders its strong cast and intriguing premise. The shift into sillier horror elements and opaque storytelling are noted as weaknesses. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/the-outsider/the-outsider-review-hbo) --- © 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/the-outsider.md