Picnic at Hanging Rock

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Season 1
Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
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Critic Reviews

  1. RogerEbert.com
    Reviewed by: Brian Tallerico
    May 22, 2018
    60
    Picnic at Hanging Rock is a project that works better at the length of a feature film than a six-hour series. In the mid-section of the season, scenes start to feel overheated, as if the producers are worried that you’re starting to get bored (you probably are). Memorable performances and solid production values just don’t matter if a narrative sags.
  2. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ben Travers
    May 25, 2018
    50
    In the end, neither the lush looks nor committed performances are enough to overcome the balance issues and general bloat.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    May 25, 2018
    50
    To someone raised on music videos and the movies of Baz Luhrmann--another proud product of Australia--this might seem a perfectly reasonable way through the material, even a necessary one. But it still looks like a music video a lot of the time, modern in a way that will seem dated sooner than later. For some of us, sooner will already be now.
  5. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    May 10, 2018
    50
    While the secret longings of these missing young women make for a tantalizing puzzle, navigating this tiresome new Rock is no picnic. [14 - 27 May 2018, p.11]
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  6. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    May 24, 2018
    40
    Ms. Christian and Ms. Addison have taken every latent idea, every veiled suggestion, in the material and made it explicit. Every piece of subtext has been dredged up so that it can be turned into banal commentary on the benighted attitudes of the provincial patriarchy toward gender, race, class and sexuality. ... All that’s left is a fairly threadbare, clichéd melodrama.
  7. Collider
    Reviewed by: Allison Keene
    May 24, 2018
    40
    It’s gorgeous and often visually stunning, but emotionally hollow. There’s no feeling of connection to the girls, or a reason to like them.

Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Most Shared TV Season of 2018

User Reviews

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User Score
5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 20
  3. Negative: 4 out of 20
  1. brohug
    Jun 24, 2018
    4
    Nope. If you're going to take on an important novel and arguably the seminal film of the Australian New Wave, you better show up andNope. If you're going to take on an important novel and arguably the seminal film of the Australian New Wave, you better show up and represent. This series is an unwieldy mess. There are so many flashbacks it was literally difficult to figure out which time frame (pre, during, post picnic) you are watching. The actors are fine but also unremarkable. However, the plethora of characters get a fair amount of dialog and screen time, but very little of it helps move the plot along in any sort of compelling direction.

    The reality is that the correct visual medium of this story is as a film. And good luck besting one of the great directors (Australian or otherwise) in Peter Weir. Too much of this series is dull filler. The fascinating and haunting conceit of the story is that these young girls disappear into the mysterious and ancient Australian wilderness in the age of Victorian repression, sexual and otherwise. Their awakening from the picnic nap and disappearance is a metaphor for a seduction and a loss of innocence. Just leave it at that.

    Also, I can't help but notice from some of the language in the crtitics' reviews that there is a lingering perception that the Joan Lindsay novel is a fictional retelling of real events from Valentine's Day 1900 in Victoria. It most surely is not. Didn't happen. The author cleverly submerges fictional newspaper accounts to draw the reader in.    … Full Review »
  2. echorley
    Jul 26, 2018
    2
    Beautiful costumes and settings, talented cast and a great novel - this adaptation should be a must see, but the episodes are like watchingBeautiful costumes and settings, talented cast and a great novel - this adaptation should be a must see, but the episodes are like watching paint dry. I found myself pushing fast forward to see if anything interesting would happen.… Full Review »
  3. jgzeger
    Jul 21, 2018
    7
    It was hard for me to decide on a score for this mini-series. It certainly is beautiful to watch with gorgeous sets and costumes and greatIt was hard for me to decide on a score for this mini-series. It certainly is beautiful to watch with gorgeous sets and costumes and great cinematography. However, the story is too drawn out over six episodes and thus dilutes the dramatic impact that was so well-achieved in the Peter Weir movie. Consequently, I decided on a 7. It is worth seeing if only for the visuals.… Full Review »
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