Castle Rock: Season 1

"The actors will offer the best incentive for the King-ambivalent to tune into Castle Rock."

"Castle Rock will surely attract some die-hards..."

"The biggest question mark left hanging after four episodes is what makes Castle Rock different than any other small-town puzzle-box drama?"

"Smart, fun scares; deeply felt, well-founded characters; layers of story to decipher..."

"Castle Rock is a generically gloomy small-town mystery."

"All the usual components of a King story are here: religious dogma, abuses of power, creepy kids, psychic abilities."

"Boasts a gaudy cast, but proves enamored with atmosphere while failing to scare up a compelling story."

"It races past the line of referential, rounds through fan service, and steps into cliché, sometimes even inching toward self-parody."

"The King allusions turn into treats for those who recognize them rather than distracting reminders of classics this newcomer can't hope to live up to."

"You've heard the phrase, "The location is a character"? Here, the town of Castle Rock is an ungenerous co-star, elbowing out its colleagues."

"Not enough of King's trademark storytelling to grip you the way his novels do."

"There is perhaps an advantage in starting fresh."

"A fresh take on an ages old trepidation, sharing the perpetual state of low-grade fright experienced by a number of people."

"The plenitude of incident creates an effect more like dilution than density."

"An extended homage to and an imitation of the Stephen King universe."

"The series is first-rate entertainment while never trying to reach for great seriousness."

"The lead performances are so consistently thoughtful - Holland's and Lynskey's especially..."