Harper's Island

:

Season 1
  • Network: CBS
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 9, 2009
Season #: 3, 1
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 22
  3. Negative: 2 out of 22
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Critic Reviews

  1. Kansas City Star
    Reviewed by: Aaron Barnhart
    60
    It is a stew made from a teen-slasher base with chunks of prime-time CBS crime shows and some daytime spice stirred in. If the first six minutes work for you, you’ll probably want more.
  2. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Storm
    60
    Part soap opera, part horror movie, all whodunit, Harper's is diverting, and only infrequently frightening, fantasy soap opera.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Ginia Bellafante
    60
    After the first few episodes it remains unclear who, or what, is behind the mayhem, so points, as cringe making as it is to acknowledge, for suspense. The show has missing cash, stolen cash, a freaky black sheep and a menacing brother-in-law.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    58
    R-rated horror flicks have rendered the scariness of Harper's abrupt murders mild stuff; the series could have used more of Christie's tight plotting.
  6. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    50
    Harper's Island too often indulges in slasher-movie absurdities, with a murderer who seems to be everywhere at once and genuine clues in too-short supply.
  7. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Misha Davenport
    50
    Harper's Island is at times suspenseful and intriguing, but it's also a tad confusing.
  8. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Brian Holcomb
    50
    When a TV show is going to run the length of Fassbinder's Berlin Alexanderplatz, these people have to be more than expendable, and this "All-Non-Star Cast" doesn't have the instant audience identification required to fill in the blanks.
  9. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Marisa LaScala
    40
    Unfortunately, clumsy writing gets in the way of potential insight.

Awards & Rankings

57
#57 Best TV Season of 2009
67
#67 Most Discussed TV Season of 2009
36
#36 Most Shared TV Season of 2009

User Reviews

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User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 55 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 55
  3. Negative: 6 out of 55
  1. LeonardoAmato
    Jan 7, 2018
    7
    Despite the predictable ending, "Harper Island" is a linear story with good performances overall and good story twists. The absence of plotDespite the predictable ending, "Harper Island" is a linear story with good performances overall and good story twists. The absence of plot holes and the fact that it actually gives you all the answers that you need, makes it the best slasher show around.… Full Review »
  2. bearcats13
    Nov 30, 2017
    9
    Just finished re-watching Harper's Island. Quite frankly, I love this show. If I can get the full series on DVD, I will be. I don't know whyJust finished re-watching Harper's Island. Quite frankly, I love this show. If I can get the full series on DVD, I will be. I don't know why people make disparaging comments about the acting, I've seen far worse. And while the murders are horrific, they are not too 'in your face'. It does have a 'And Then There Were None Feel', and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It is good story telling with lots of twists and turns, red herrings, and suprisingly good character development.. This show is well worth anyone's time. I just wish they made more series, though lets be honest, after watching it, would YOU want to stay on Harper's Island?… Full Review »
  3. Tss5078
    Feb 22, 2013
    7
    Harper's Island was a Mini-Series on CBS in the summer of 2009. Had it been in a decent time slot or debuted in the fall, this would have beenHarper's Island was a Mini-Series on CBS in the summer of 2009. Had it been in a decent time slot or debuted in the fall, this would have been a huge franchise. Instead this unique and exciting show was buried due to bad ratings. Harper's Island is a small island off the coast of Washington state, where rich people come to vacation, a small fishing village exists, and it was the home to a serial killer. 7 years earlier, John Wakefield killed 6 people on Harper's Island including Abby's mother. Now she is returning home for the first in 7 years for the wedding of her best friend. Harper's Island is back to normal, Wakefield is long dead, and all that remains are memories...Until people start dying again. The show is terrific, full of twists and turns and all kinds of things you won't see coming. I love shows that keep you guessing and make you think, however the one drawback of this show is that it was in fact designed as a mini-series. There is so much good stuff here, but they only have 13 hours to tell the story, so a lot of it is rushed and at points it feels like you're watching a soap opera. I wish the network saw the potential and took this gem and made it into a series, but they didn't. Harper's Island is hardly remembered now, 4 years later, but it was a show that was clever, fast-paced, and adored by its fans. The true killer of Harper's Island is Nielsen, as once again the ratings killed a gem in the making.… Full Review »
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