Netflix viewers are reportedly staying up all night to binge the new seven-part limited series East of Eden, a fresh adaptation of John Steinbeck's classic novel, which has climbed to the number one spot on the platform since its release in October 2026.
TV reviewer Luke Eccleston, speaking to his 497,000 TikTok followers, recommended the show and warned that once viewers start it, they will want to watch every episode. "The performances in this show are incredible," he said.
A fresh take on a classic novel
The miniseries, created by Zoe Kazan, explores the generational drama of the Trask family in California's Salinas Valley. Florence Pugh stars as the manipulative antiheroine Cathy Ames, giving the story a more female-focused spin than earlier adaptations. Christopher Abbott and Mike Faist play the feuding Trask brothers, Adam and Charles.
Eccleston described the opening: "It follows these two brothers, who are one day in their house. They hear something outside their door and when they open it, they find a girl covered in blood, battered and bruised."
Viewers hooked by the plot
As the story spans decades, the past catches up with the characters, creating what Eccleston called "an intense, fantastically shot show that you absolutely have to go and see."
His video has garnered more than 900 likes, with commenters sharing their binge-watching experiences. One fan wrote: "I started this afternoon and had to force myself to stop after 3 episodes." Another admitted: "Watched it all in one go." A third added: "Watched in a marathon night. Loved it."
Critical acclaim
On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of around 87% to 89%, with reviewers praising Florence Pugh's acting and the cinematography.
