Netflix viewers are spending entire days watching the new drama series East of Eden, which has been praised as the "best show of 2026" and "absolute perfection." The seven-part adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel has become a go-to pick for many subscribers looking for something to binge.
Viewer praise for the series
One impressed fan said: "One of the best shows of 2026. Just seven episodes were enough to make me fall in love with this show. The characters are so deep, and each one of them has their own struggles and inner conflicts. This show really got me thinking a lot about people, the choices we make, good and evil, and how much our past can shape who we become. Are we really just a product of our nature and our past, or can we actually choose to become someone different?"
Another added on IMDb: "Absolutely perfection. Best Netflix series in a long time, perfect casting, perfect dialogue. Florence Pugh is amazing in everything she does, but for me her portrayal as Cathy is her shining moment. Christopher Abbott as Adam is the best of this series; seriously, Zoe Kazan, I cannot wait to see more. I made a review on here because I need people to know how much I love this. Thank you to the whole cast; just perfection."
Someone else commented: "Pure cinema, Hoon Lee is the heart. I came to East of Eden without having read the novel, and the series pulled me in completely-binged it. The cinematography is soooo good, and all 7 episodes feel like one massive film. Hoon Lee is extraordinary. I always love the most thoughtful and wise characters; he really ties it all together. The series made me angry, heartbroken, hopeful, and completely absorbed. Haven't felt this immersed in a show in a long time. Highly recommend."
Plot and themes
East of Eden is Zoe Kazan's adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel. Florence Pugh plays antihero Cathy Ames, whose life is intertwined with generations of men from the Trask family, notably Adam (Christopher Abbott) and Charles (Mike Faist). The story spans decades, exploring how a family's history impacts an individual's present, with the choice between good and evil at its heart.
Netflix Tudum said: "It's a portrait of one family, but also of a society that is rapidly changing, in which men and women must navigate difficult decisions, and come face-to-face with the reality that, ultimately, you are what you choose." The official description reads: "In the early 1900s, a fiercely independent woman drives a rift between two brothers, igniting a saga that unfolds across two generations."
How to watch
The series is streaming now on Netflix, having been released on October 1, 2026. A Netflix subscription, starting at £7.99 a month, is required to watch.
