‘East of Eden’ Gets Rotten Tomatoes Score as Critics Praise Florence Pugh
Few literary adaptations arrive carrying as much history as ‘East of Eden’. John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel has been adapted before, most famously by Elia Kazan in 1955 with James Dean, and that film earned 4 Oscar nominations. Now Netflix’s new limited series, written by Elia Kazan’s granddaughter, has landed with the added pressure of living up to that legacy.
The series premiered on Oct. 1 with all 7 episodes available at once. Zoe Kazan wrote it and serves as co-showrunner with Jeb Stuart, while Florence Pugh stars as Cathy Ames and also executive produces. Garth Davis directed Episodes 1 through 4, and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre directed Episodes 5 through 7.
The first reviews are now in, and the numbers are encouraging. The Rotten Tomatoes page for the series shows a strong average Tomatometer, with the Popcornmeter audience score not yet posted. That early result reflects a largely enthusiastic critical response, though scores can shift as more reviews arrive.
The story spans the American Civil War through World War I in California’s Salinas Valley, and follows the Trask and Hamilton families as they reenact the story of Cain and Abel. Netflix has called the series a modern interpretation that focuses new attention on Cathy, the novel’s indelible antihero. The cast includes Christopher Abbott as Adam Trask, Mike Faist as Charles Trask, Hoon Lee, Tracy Letts, Martha Plimpton and Ciarán Hinds.
Pugh’s performance is the consistent highlight. NME called the series a brutal American epic powered by Pugh, praising her as consistently stupendous. Variety wrote that Pugh and Hoon Lee form the beating heart of the adaptation, describing Cathy as a calculating figure who is a psychopath in the clinical sense.
Other outlets were just as warm. Radio Times gave it 5 out of 5, calling it a compelling and thoughtful adaptation that expands on Steinbeck’s themes with a modern sensibility. IndieWire called Kazan’s adaptation magnificent, describing a series with a potent blend of dread and beauty.
Collider framed the show as a faithful but bold take, and said it presents Cathy as a woman forced to become dangerous to survive in a world controlled by men. Alta described it as delightfully monstrous, noting that Kazan frames Cathy’s story in poorly lit, claustrophobic interiors. But Why Tho said it understands why Steinbeck’s work endures and expands on the tragedy rather than turning its back on the past.
Florence Pugh is Cathy Ames.
— Netflix (@netflix) October 1, 2026
EAST OF EDEN is now playing. pic.twitter.com/7Hn40S92uU
Not every critic was fully convinced. Screen Rant gave the series 6 out of 10, calling it a stiff and subdued adaptation despite Pugh’s strong work. The review argued that the show is so focused on Cathy that it loses sight of its other characters, and that parts of it feel paint-by-numbers.
Even the more critical notes tend to agree on Pugh. That leaves the series with a clear consensus on its lead and a more varied reaction to the overall structure. Several reviewers noted that its modern approach to Cathy is likely to divide audiences.
Critics also warn that the series is not an easy watch. NME noted that, alongside moments of lyricism, ‘East of Eden’ can be harrowing. The story begins with Cathy arriving at the Trask brothers’ door in bad shape, and the tone remains serious through the generations that follow.
That fits the source material, which examines guilt, envy, free will and self-destruction. Kazan has also said she was grabbed by Steinbeck’s introduction of Cathy when she first read the book as a teenager. The adaptation’s focus on that character is a major departure from earlier versions.
With the entire season available, viewers can decide for themselves whether the series lives up to its early praise. Netflix’s fall slate is crowded, but a strong critical start and a star lead give ‘East of Eden’ a promising launch. How it performs on the streamer’s weekly charts will be the next story to watch.
What has you most excited about the series?
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