Childhood's End

:

Season 1
  • Network: SyFy
  • Series Premiere Date: Dec 14, 2015
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 73 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 73
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 73
  3. Negative: 20 out of 73
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User Reviews

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  1. quidam
    Jan 11, 2016
    4
    It really pains me to give so a low-ball score to this show. I had such high hopes. I recall reading the book over 30 years ago and really being struck by the various themes all wrapped in to one story... but, that's Asimov for you. Assuming you'd not read the book, the 'Syfy' version doesn't work. Too many plot holes exist and, without going in to all of them, the viewer is left to assumeIt really pains me to give so a low-ball score to this show. I had such high hopes. I recall reading the book over 30 years ago and really being struck by the various themes all wrapped in to one story... but, that's Asimov for you. Assuming you'd not read the book, the 'Syfy' version doesn't work. Too many plot holes exist and, without going in to all of them, the viewer is left to assume that there are rational explanation but the show just doesn't have the time to go in to them. Unfortunately, that's not the case. As an example, much time is wasted on Stormgren and what happens to his character and this adds no value to the story and leaves the viewer baffled. I had such high-hopes for Milo and he ends up being a singleminded mess. I'd like to empathize with him but it was impossible for me to emotionally invest in his character when he never explained what was driving him. The Greggson parents are whiney and I don't know if it was the overall casting (there were some good choices — Charles Dance was great) or the directing but I found most of the characters flat. If you had read the book, you'd be questioning watching this by the end of the 1st part and if you stick around for the 3rd part, you're just abusing yourself. I watched all this on-demand just recently and due to Comcast ('It's Comcastic'...blech) bugs, I finally tried watching the last part via the 'Syfy' website and now I really wished I hadn't. I understand they were trying to compress time but, either they did too much compression, they spent time where they didn't need to (see: Stormgren above) or they should have made the investment in a longer show. 'Syfy' has some really good work going on now ('The Expanse') and to take a classic like Childhood's End and do this to it is just disappointing.… Expand
  2. AthanasiosT
    May 4, 2017
    4
    The first part was a well thought modernization of the SF masterpiece. The second part was closer to Children of the Corn and the Exorcist, while the third part was written by people who would probably have drunk a barrel of vodka each (flying children ??? really ??). So I give a 9 for I, a 4 for II and a 0 for III. Total 4.3333333. Stick to the book !!!
  3. temptershell
    Sep 8, 2017
    6
    The first part of this miniseries was a fine version of SF novel masterpiece but then after second episodes I was very upset. Twisted plot with irrational scenes lots of stupid dialogues and very boring. Nice special effects and that’s all. If you want good SF series with alien invasion please check Falling Skies or V.

Awards & Rankings

73
#73 Most Discussed TV Season of 2015
52
#52 Most Shared TV Season of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ryan Anielski
    Dec 15, 2015
    83
    Ultimately, Childhood's End is a successful adaptation of a much-beloved novel that will satisfy fans and newcomers alike--wrapped nicely at both ends with colorful characters and effects, but faintly lacking a little something in the middle.
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  2. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    Dec 14, 2015
    50
    At times the production can seem underbudgeted, the direction overwrought. Here and there, the dialogue sounds as if it had been written by an alien who picked up English from broadcasts of B-pictures. As the series' resident alien, Charles Dance--both as a disembodied and later an elaborately embodied, commanding voice--gets the best of this business.
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  3. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Tirdad Derakhshani
    Dec 14, 2015
    80
    The disturbing alien plot unfurls through a wondrous, hours-long act of dramatic magic that draws together elements from ancient religions and modern science. This is heady stuff--but it's relayed with such intensity it'll sweep you along. The last act is a gut punch.
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