Locke & Key
Netflix | Release Date: February 7, 2020
6.8
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 97 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
61
Mixed:
24
Negative:
12
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
3
ValhallaCatFeb 10, 2020
At first glance, the main idea of the serie is intriguing. And I think it still is. However, the treatment of it makes the series mediocre at best ... The acting of some characters is not really good, but it's not even the real concern of theAt first glance, the main idea of the serie is intriguing. And I think it still is. However, the treatment of it makes the series mediocre at best ... The acting of some characters is not really good, but it's not even the real concern of the show. Where the series loses a lot of point, is in the dialogues and the construction of the characters. The latter are full of rotten clichés that we find in almost all mediocre TV shows. The dialogues are slow, impactless, unexciting and unemotional. They turn some interesting scenes into something flat, meaningless. In short, the theme of the series is intriguing, and will certainly be enough to end this first season, but the rest leaves a lot to be desired and will eventually discourage the most cinephiles.… Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
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10
Jon4hOct 22, 2021
The characters are awesome, the plot is really fun and keeps you watching. I totally recommend this so. It is not as dark as the source material but it is still worth the time.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
BraisCFeb 26, 2020
Just be ready to watch the characters always taking the worst decision possible.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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3
MercinarieFeb 17, 2020
Such a great premise, and amazing source material, but so wasted. The characters are so infuriating making the most ridiculous decisions, unable to relate because of how dumb they are and that's what carries the plot.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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8
gmonster320Feb 17, 2020
"Locke & Key" is a fun magical ride. Fans of the comics may be disappointed in the tonal shift. Instead of horror, NetFlix went with fantasy and YA drama. Think "Sabrina" or "Stranger Things" but a bit lighter. The series also suffers from"Locke & Key" is a fun magical ride. Fans of the comics may be disappointed in the tonal shift. Instead of horror, NetFlix went with fantasy and YA drama. Think "Sabrina" or "Stranger Things" but a bit lighter. The series also suffers from too many episodes. The 10 total could have been shaved down by a few. Overall though I still very much enjoyed "Locke & Key". The set design and special effects are beautiful. The story is novel. I liked the interactions between the siblings and their various friends. I also liked the flashbacks to teenage Rendell and his cohort. Sherri Saum (from "The Fosters") hit it out of the park as Ellie. Laysla De Oliveira is also delightfully evil as the Woman In The Well/Dodge. Will there be a season 2? If so, count me in.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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8
Davrosdaleks1Feb 24, 2020
Based on the comic by Joe Hill, Locke & Key is about the Locke family who move into their father's old family home after his murder. The three kids begin to discover magical keys hidden within the house. I rather liked this one.

This show isBased on the comic by Joe Hill, Locke & Key is about the Locke family who move into their father's old family home after his murder. The three kids begin to discover magical keys hidden within the house. I rather liked this one.

This show is sorta a teenage-oriented dark fantasy. Light and dark are interestingly combined. The Locke siblings have a good time with the keys, which present a series of fun, fantastic moments. However, the threat in this is serious and there are some striking moments of darkness. I think this works pretty well, but there are a couple moments where the lighter parts feel too light. Specifically, the youngest son Bode (Jackson Robert Scott) feels like the writers were trying too hard to make him sound precocious.

The characters' personal conflicts and relationships are well handled. I'm pleased that the non-fantasy elements of this show didn't lose my interest. There are a lot of supporting characters in this and they all gel. I thought the acting was decent with the exception of Darby Stanchfield as the mom. Her facial expressions and vocal tones often don't match the situation.

As for the visuals, the house looks good. The magical moments really pop. However, I wasn't a fan of the grayish lighting for this. The opening credits also look pretty nice and I was disappointed they got shortened within a few episodes.

Overall, this was a nice surprise. Although, I'd say this was a give-it-a-shot-if-you-have-the-time-show, not a see-immediately show.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
GreykingFeb 24, 2020
The series is mediocre at best. It takes Joe Hill's and Gabriel Rodriguez's extraordinary, adult, horror story and waters it down into a mediocre ya magical soap opera. I am thankful for the series for turning me on to the Locke and KeyThe series is mediocre at best. It takes Joe Hill's and Gabriel Rodriguez's extraordinary, adult, horror story and waters it down into a mediocre ya magical soap opera. I am thankful for the series for turning me on to the Locke and Key graphic novels. But other than that I won't be unlocking the door on season 2.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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3
TurbodowgFeb 10, 2020
Netflix have managed to remove everything that made the Locke and Key comics so brilliant and replace them with mediocrity. The original source material contained an intriguing, mysterious, ultra-violent story, complimented by interesting andNetflix have managed to remove everything that made the Locke and Key comics so brilliant and replace them with mediocrity. The original source material contained an intriguing, mysterious, ultra-violent story, complimented by interesting and unique characters and a wonderful bold and surreal art style. It is sad that Netflix have turned it into a slow paced teen drama with tired characters and a dull visual style. Most of the horror elements have been removed leaving the show feeling safe, like the type of show you could watch with your kids. The visual style is very basic, which is a shame because with a more imaginative and creative director it could have looked amazing. With so much wonderful art in the comic to use as inspiration it could have been one of the most visually pleasing series we’ve ever seen. The story loosely follows the comic; the narrative has been changed dramatically which impacts the overall story. Again, they had great source material to work with but ignored it. The majority of the show focuses on the Locke teens struggling to fit in at school. In the comics their school life played for an interesting sub plot with interesting characters, which have been swapped out to fill the Netflix diversity quota. Locke and key should have been a story that draws in the viewer and keeps them on edge until the end. It shouldn’t be so dull that after episode two I wanted to turn it off. A very disappointing show if you’re a fan of the original comics.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
doncsooNov 23, 2020
Love the storyline. I really liked the first season, and I eagerly await more key discoveries.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
zerobaneOct 25, 2021
Somewhat slow start but then builds; has some great new ideas and suspsene that keeps you coming back. The main cast is fairly tangible with decent character building. Some lack luster episodes that fill like filler at times and the teenSomewhat slow start but then builds; has some great new ideas and suspsene that keeps you coming back. The main cast is fairly tangible with decent character building. Some lack luster episodes that fill like filler at times and the teen characters feel a bit over-done and stale with arch types and boring drama. Overall worth a watch.

Season 2 and into season 3; netflix starts to ruin the show with typical agenda. The glee cast takes over and it becomes a High School drama half the time that you have to fast forward through. By end of season 2 they start hopping all over the place and dismantling any characters that are white/male in typical fashion. Season 3 it truly goes off rails; back into messaging and storylines that make no sense. Turns into a snooze fest by EP3.... Too bad; really wanted to like the show, had a great core concept.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
gxexeoFeb 12, 2020
I didn´t read the comics. Tries to be a kind of new "Strange Things", but fails.
It follows the "children/adolescents moving to a new town where they discover monsters/magic" trope. Some good ideas, probably from the comics, but suspenseI didn´t read the comics. Tries to be a kind of new "Strange Things", but fails.
It follows the "children/adolescents moving to a new town where they discover monsters/magic" trope. Some good ideas, probably from the comics, but suspense scenes are not so good and the story resolution is actually bad. Clearly, the script needed more work.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
whostosayApr 8, 2020
Smart, stylish and above all fun to watch. And the non-stop drama of a good many dire (and comical) situations was thoroughly engaging. The special effects worked beautifully and if you're looking for one good romp of a story, this is it.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
macgmattNov 25, 2021
This show went from not terrible in season one to hot garbage in season two. I have nothing good to say about it.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
JLuis_001Mar 17, 2020
Entertaining but quite unbalanced. The show works better when the magic is in the narrative because the high school drama was pretty boring.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
SmoothhandsAug 6, 2022
This show should be called dumb peoplem make stupid mistakes.

I love the setting and keys but it's amazing how dumb these people can be. I understand making the protagonists flawed... But it's not fun to watch them trip themself andThis show should be called dumb peoplem make stupid mistakes.

I love the setting and keys but it's amazing how dumb these people can be.
I understand making the protagonists flawed... But it's not fun to watch them trip themself and eachother up with every single move and then just stumble into the right situations that fix everything.
It makes the characters unrelatable and increadably annoying.

If you like Rivendale you might like it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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2
ahtFeb 10, 2020
The editing between all the various scènes is kind of sloppy, unfortunately as is the cinematography. Looked up the team, seems to be folks from broadcast television shows. For some reason it just doesn't work. The attempt made of the carThe editing between all the various scènes is kind of sloppy, unfortunately as is the cinematography. Looked up the team, seems to be folks from broadcast television shows. For some reason it just doesn't work. The attempt made of the car pulling up to the estate seemed like someone trying to make car scene from The Shining come true. Just didn't, Angles were off, and acting kind of poor. The mom, sulking in the kitchen by herself was too long and poorly coached. Real shame, the budget was there but not the production team to make it work.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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3
TorrempestaMar 17, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The show is mostly nonsense. The whole plot keeps going thanks to silly, outdated cliché, plotholes and behaviors that simply don't match the situation. Moreover the last episode is completely absurd. We know that the villain main goal is to reach the Omega Door and open it with the Omega Key. We also know early on that she can't take the key by force from the Locke family members. Fine.
We also know that she can shapeshift with the power of a key, and that she has altered her appearance mixing with the protagonists and friends. At the end of the final episode we can observe how she has:
- the trust of the protagonists.
- reached the Omega Door.
- has a bunch of people to be possessed by her demon friends.

Then why the hell did she shapshift Ellie's face into her own? Why did she let her be thrown into the Door?
Why didn't she just ask for the Omega Key since she had the appearance of Gabe? "Excuse me, can I see the Omega Key?" "Yeah sure, here it is!" "Ooooh, can I open the door?" "Well why not, go on!" "BOOM SILLY HUMANS NOW LET MY DEMON BROTHERS POSSESS YOU!". End of the story. The villain wins.

But no. They had to create an absurd situation in order to produce a second season.
"Well, but in your version the serie should have ended..:"
Not necessarely. The protagonists could have been able to escape non the less. This is simply silly, lazy writing.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
iamthaissaFeb 21, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This show was interesting at first but halfway through the episodes, it became more and more annoying as the evil protagonist became unstoppable. Major eyeroll if the "heroes" win not through effort or intelligence but because they are plucky.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
Hchatwin321Feb 25, 2020
As a big fan of the Locke and key comic book series I went into thus expecting a deep horror and gory show. However I was disappointed to see a series that seemed to be based for people around (12+). This took away the immense andAs a big fan of the Locke and key comic book series I went into thus expecting a deep horror and gory show. However I was disappointed to see a series that seemed to be based for people around (12+). This took away the immense and spine-chilling feel that joe hill’s comics can display. Despite all this I did not walk away fro the series completely deflated after seeing the series was adapted for a younger audience I was expecting a corny showing that I would walk away from after a couple episodes. This was not what happened I was pretty impressed with the performance of some of the cast and after a couple episodes I felt slightly gripped to the series. If I hadn’t read any of the comics then I would have left very impressed. With that said I do feel the series is trying to tick off too many genres , it tries to tackle a bit of horror, thriller and a teen romance. This isn’t all blended terribly but is a little much. I don’t really know how to feel after watching it, on one hand I am not happy about how toned down it was as that is what I loved about the comics but on the other hand what I got wasn’t bad for what it is...… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
Fabio1827Feb 25, 2020
Essa série é extremamente perfeita em tudo o que se propõe, a historia é boa, o roteiro é bom, tudo é bom
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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10
me3_14Mar 1, 2020
I absolutely love the series! It hooks you up right from the first episode. Can't wait for season 2 to come out!
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
AyrinJun 7, 2020
I was really not expecting this kind of show. It's fantasy, but it's taken to a whole other level. There's magic, but its no the typical wand/powers show. This first season has been interesting as well, as the main characters are threeI was really not expecting this kind of show. It's fantasy, but it's taken to a whole other level. There's magic, but its no the typical wand/powers show. This first season has been interesting as well, as the main characters are three siblings of quite different ages who have to learn to work together and count on each other (which can be hard).… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
ismentisNov 15, 2021
Characters are good, plot is interesting enough. One thing that's disappointing is that the villains became so dumb in the season 2.
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3
Sn0manJul 5, 2020
The first few episodes are OK but the show quickly becomes ridiculous, nonsensical and juvenile. 3/10 is being generous.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
Fatbob15Oct 21, 2022
This show overall is a pretty good show, especially for netflix, definite recommend
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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0
Mindkiller7522Nov 20, 2021
This might be one of the most painful tv shows for me to watch. The comic book series was absolutely amazing and when they announced the show I was thrilled. But the writing in this show is so bad. All of the heroes that loved in the booksThis might be one of the most painful tv shows for me to watch. The comic book series was absolutely amazing and when they announced the show I was thrilled. But the writing in this show is so bad. All of the heroes that loved in the books are bumbling fools who make so many stupid mistakes and the villains are not only five steps ahead, but some of the luckiest characters I've ever seen in media! There are so many times when the heroes will basically hand over these incredibly powerful magic keys to the villain, who just happens to be standing in the right place to catch them. It's easy to tell that the writers needed to fill a certain amount of time in these episodes and following the story in the books wasn't going to be enough (it would have been.) There are also numerous sub plots with the mother of the kids, who is so unrelated to the plots that she can't even physically hear anyone talk about magic (or-the plot). I know this is a feature from the comics, but they also didn't give her a bunch of useless sub plots about her love life. The acting is hit and miss. Most of it is serviceable given the awful writing, but Dodge in particular could not be more bland. For a villain described as charismatic it's tough to watch.

Skip it, you're welcome.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
Semyon_McDaleNov 7, 2021
1 сезон сериала неплохой,но есть много предсказуемых моментов. Так же есть тупые действия персонажей. В целом-неплохо
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7
UltanComboNov 12, 2021
Overall the show is great. The main characters are the kids and I find them unbearable at times but believable. They let their emotions get the better of them and they act out irrationally. But thats teenagers for you. Believable. The wholeOverall the show is great. The main characters are the kids and I find them unbearable at times but believable. They let their emotions get the better of them and they act out irrationally. But thats teenagers for you. Believable. The whole concept of these magic keys and what each one can do is fantastic. So creative and unique. The problem I had early on with this series is that the first season was tonally all over the place. I felt like I was watching a teen rom-com then all of a sudden I'm watching Narnia the TV series to Sabrina the Teenage Witch then not a minuet later Im in the middle of a murder mystery series with a horror element. It didnt really know what it wanted to be. The second season had a better idea what it wanted to do. It found that the fantasy mystery was a good way to go.

If this was just the first season I would give this a 6 cause it was a bit of a drag at times. Some story elements kept me hooked and some of the side characters made it interesting. The second season had a good story arc. Every episode progressed well and kept building to the finale. Would recommend to people but with a warning of push through the first 5 episodes. They're not terrible but they are the weakest of the series.… Expand
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7
DontBeAJinxFeb 4, 2023
The story is great and started very strong but the characters is sooo damm dumb.. its annoying when so much could have been avoided but you have the characters don't learn or do stupid stuff. almost stop watching the show completely.
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