A new limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck's 1952 novel East of Eden, starring Florence Pugh, is now streaming on Netflix, with early viewers praising how closely it follows the source material.
The period drama, created by Zoe Kazan, premiered on 1 October and is available in full. The story begins in the 19th century and runs through to the First World War, chronicling the intertwined lives of two American families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, set against the Salinas Valley in Central California.
Viewer reactions to the adaptation
Many regard the novel as Steinbeck's finest work, so the adaptation carried high expectations. One reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes wrote: "East of Eden is my all-time favourite book, and I've read it multiple times at various times in my life. I had many reservations about an adaptation, but I was pleasantly surprised and truly enjoyed this mini-series. Contrary to the opinion of other reviewers, I believe it stayed very true to the book."
Newcomers to the story were equally impressed. One fan said: "I haven't read the book, but I found this series incredibly entertaining and well crafted. In a time when it's tough to find a show that truly hooked me and kept my full attention, this one delivers 100%! Highly recommended." Another viewer added: "I never read this book, my loss. What a work of art, and this series was beautiful with masterful performances."
Cast and performances
The cast includes Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames, Christopher Abbott as Adam Trask, Mike Faist as Charles Trask, Hoon Lee as Lee, and Ciarán Hinds as Samuel Hamilton. Audiences have singled out Pugh's "stellar" performance and Hoon Lee's supporting role for particular praise.
One in-depth review stated: "This series is fantastic. Everything works: the story, the characters, the set and setting, and Florence Pugh, who conveys so much with so few facial muscles that I felt it in my bones. Christopher Abbott is fantastic and Martha Plimpton is excellent in a small but pivotal role. But it was Hoon Lee who blew me away, supplying the heart and soul that lets this family with intergenerational trauma survive."
All episodes of East of Eden are available to stream now on Netflix.
