Season #: 2, 1
Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 12
  2. Negative: 0 out of 12
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Critic Reviews

  1. Reviewed by: Whitney Friedlander
    Apr 3, 2020
    85
    I appreciate that there is an effort, both by Prince and the writers, to make sure that Hilde is more than just some one-dimensional cute or precocious brat, and that there seems to be some serious fire in her veins when police officers initially dismiss her with a pat on the head. And do I indeed want to see—and do I want mine and other kids to see—an intrepid female reporter on the case? Yep. Do I wish that there were more adult versions of her on screen? Of course. But do I also wish the particulars of the job were handled more responsibly, especially in the era of fake news, and certainly if kids were going to watch? Uh huh.
  2. Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    Apr 6, 2020
    80
    Thanks to the steady, solid work of nine-year-old star Brooklynn Prince ("The Florida Project"), the 10-episode "Home Before Dark" has the ability to engage viewers of every age. Even the detail that Hilde has seen "All the President's Men" 36 times doesn't feel forced or phony. ... Indeed, this is a viewing pleasure that acknowledges the viewer's intelligence, although aspects may be a bit to dark to fit the classic definition of a family friendly series.
  3. Reviewed by: Daniel Fienberg
    Apr 2, 2020
    80
    Home Before Dark is a good 10-episode watch — at times very good. ... Prince is remarkable, and for every fleeting moment that you sense the "actor" in her coming to the surface, she follows it with a beat that's utterly spontaneous and affecting. ... I was consistently impressed by how many of the bigger things Home Before Dark does right. It all begins and ends with Prince.
  4. Reviewed by: Nick Allen
    Apr 1, 2020
    80
    "Home Before Dark" strikes an impressive balance, because its storytellers are willing to take all of its characters seriously, while carefully unfolding a good mystery that affects everyone. "Home Before Dark" has all the hallmarks of excellent family entertainment.
  5. Reviewed by: Joel Keller
    Apr 3, 2020
    70
    Home Before Dark is a solid show that features a character inspired by a real-life kid investigative reporter.
  6. Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    Apr 2, 2020
    70
    The mystery story and the family drama of “Home Before Dark,” both wildly inflated from the facts of Hilde Lysiak’s life, push the limits of implausibility and sentimentality even by the standards of a soapy, sins-of-the-parents family melodrama. ... That the show speeds by not just painlessly but engagingly owes in part to a darkly handsome production and to some appealing adult performances. ... But the main attraction, from start to finish, is the insouciance and conviction that Prince brings to her portrayal.
  7. Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    Mar 31, 2020
    70
    [Brooklynn Prince is] a compulsively watchable actor. She plays the fanciful premise (“What if Veronica Mars, but tinier?”) with such utter conviction that Home Before Dark is appealing in spite of its flaws.
  8. Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Mar 31, 2020
    64
    [Brooklynn] Prince is a real find and Hilde’s relationship with her father forms a heartwarming backbone for the series. But the tone is confusing: Too dark to be a family show, even though it has a family at the core, “Home Before Dark” offers a dark mystery plot instead.
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 19
  2. Negative: 3 out of 19
  1. Apr 4, 2020
    10
    Excellent story line all around. Definitely would recommend to watch. The lead, Hilde, is a wonderful young actress with talent we all dreamExcellent story line all around. Definitely would recommend to watch. The lead, Hilde, is a wonderful young actress with talent we all dream we could have. Full Review »
  2. May 3, 2021
    7
    A rather decent family murder mystery that is held back at times by being overly schmaltzy. The lead character of Hilde on the whole is aA rather decent family murder mystery that is held back at times by being overly schmaltzy. The lead character of Hilde on the whole is a determined, intelligent child who at times does come across as an annoying know-it-all. Full Review »
  3. Jun 10, 2020
    8
    This show was surprisingly really good. The show kept you engaged and wanting to know more. Good watch.