Raised by Wolves

:

Season 1
  • Network: HBO Max
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 3, 2020
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 99 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 76 out of 99
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 99
  3. Negative: 11 out of 99
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User Reviews

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  1. VexxAngel
    Sep 10, 2020
    10
    Ignore the professional critic reviews - they thought The Last Jedi was genius. Whilst this is a slow burn, it just gets better and better. This is the sci-fi thriller for adults that we've desperately needed for decades. Great acting. Great special fx. Great storyline. I hope they make more seasons.
  2. Skeletor71
    Sep 13, 2020
    9
    When watching this I just kept wanting to know more. I thought I'd better order the book. Surely this show is based on some famous sci-fi novel right?! Wrong. creator Aaron Guzikowski apparently got the idea ages ago: when he was a kid dreaming up darkly engrossing worlds with his little brother.
    Well ... they did a pretty good job of making it dark and engrossing. And it's just the type    When watching this I just kept wanting to know more. I thought I'd better order the book. Surely this show is based on some famous sci-fi novel right?! Wrong. creator Aaron Guzikowski apparently got the idea ages ago: when he was a kid dreaming up darkly engrossing worlds with his little brother.
    Well ... they did a pretty good job of making it dark and engrossing. And it's just the type of sci-fi I like. Starting over on a distant planet? Count me in!    … Expand
  3. KickedByNoobs
    Sep 4, 2020
    10
    Amazing, Ridley Scott is mad genius. The androids in this are brilliant. So far this show is terrifying.
  4. Turbo123
    Sep 12, 2020
    10
    A new fresh show that will keep you in your seat watching amazed by the story love it
  5. Nephroid
    Sep 18, 2020
    8
    Weird. Different. Complex story that I'm enjoying see unfold as each episode unfolds. I really like it.
  6. viroodiem
    Sep 5, 2020
    8
    While it definitely has some issues, This is the sort of weird, abstract, yet utterly enthralling in its bizarreness that we get far too little of and in modern times (2000-present) is virtually extinct.

    It is ripe with symbolism, metaphors, and analogies that examine things like desolation, motherhood, mental health, crumbling identity, science vs theology, and fears of the unknown. At    While it definitely has some issues, This is the sort of weird, abstract, yet utterly enthralling in its bizarreness that we get far too little of and in modern times (2000-present) is virtually extinct.

    It is ripe with symbolism, metaphors, and analogies that examine things like desolation, motherhood, mental health, crumbling identity, science vs theology, and fears of the unknown. At times it has a very grim fairy tale feel to it that hopefully it can infuse much more of as the season progresses.

    The visuals are mostly top notch with a few odd weak points, like using Aloe plants in place of alien flora.

    The acting has been solid all around. That is impressive considering how many children in the cast and children actors typically being terrible. The secondary children mostly follow that same pattern while Winta McGrath turning in decent performances in the first three released episodes. As for the adults the cast is doing good work to support the narrative. Amanda Collin does a superb job creating Uncanny Valley primarily with unnatural body movement to really differentiate her Android role from anything human. Fimmel is the one most audiences would expect to turn in the best performance but as of the first three episodes he has been mostly adequate. This is likely to change as the season starts to crescendo.

    Sound is one area of issue. The soundtrack is very muted and mostly unmemorable. They could have really played up the alienness by putting forth counter intuitive beats and discordant, yet ethereal melodies. There is some of it there like that was what they were going for but you are at a 3 and we need you at 11. OK maybe 8.

    All in all the 3 episodes served to take a show that flew completely under my radar (despite being prime target demographic for it) and made it my primary new sci fi show of the year. When I think of Science Fiction, THIS is the kind of unearthly thing that I think of rather than just workplace dramas set in space like recent popular sci fi shows such as The Expanse that make space just another place where humans are.

    Now one thing I did find a bit distasteful was the release (though it has little impact on the show itself) . I am not fond of the hybrid style "release 3 episode premier then revert to weekly" model. I get that 2020 slowed production of shows and I hope that this is not signaling a new trend trying to straddle the consumers desire to binge watch shows and the creators desire to stretch out interest to keep viewers engaged. Recent examples such as Altered Carbon show what happens when you take abstract sci fi and leave the audience disengaged for too long as they forget, lose interest and move on. Then the follow up season fails to connect and in turn dooms the series. So it feels like this is an intentional design to try to balance both types. Especially seeings how its the same model that was employed by Amazon the same week with their second season of The Boys.

    Truly enjoying the potential the series has at this moment, while still remaining cautiously optimistic because there is a reason WHY this sort of abstract show is not common. All too often they quickly run off the rails into absurdness and audiences quickly lose interest. This production so far looks like it CAN avoid that pit fall, the question is will consequent episodes manage to pull it off, or will it just wander into a nearby lava tube and never be seen again.

    EDIT: While fully supporting the series 3 eps in, I would say that for most viewers who are not into abstract sci fi it might be better to wait for the entire season to be complete in order to binge it all. That would make keeping track of the plot substantially easier than digesting meaning and relevance week to week between episodes. While this is the type of show that definitely will benefit from that longer digestion period, its definitely abstract enough that audiences who tune in so that they can mentally tune out might not be willing to pay that much attention and thus not be willing to invest that much time waiting week to week.    … Expand
  7. Hoplite
    Sep 5, 2020
    10
    Refreshingly creative and original, epic story. Few directors can capture what the future looks like as Scott does, creating worlds we are eager to explore. Terrifying, beautiful, mesmerizing. A story that forces us to experience things we have not yet felt, putting humans in situations that will get us to think twice about our existence. I hope Ridley Scott is around to make many manyRefreshingly creative and original, epic story. Few directors can capture what the future looks like as Scott does, creating worlds we are eager to explore. Terrifying, beautiful, mesmerizing. A story that forces us to experience things we have not yet felt, putting humans in situations that will get us to think twice about our existence. I hope Ridley Scott is around to make many many more things for us to watch.… Expand
  8. bth31383
    Sep 3, 2020
    7
    Alright, there are (at the time of writing this) only four reviews and this show deserves better than 4.8

    I've only seen the first three episodes and if you are familiar with Scott's recent sci-fi work you will recognize a lot of similar themes. The visuals are spectacular and worth it by themselves. I am undecided on the story but i will say i am somewhat intrigued. They have me for    Alright, there are (at the time of writing this) only four reviews and this show deserves better than 4.8

    I've only seen the first three episodes and if you are familiar with Scott's recent sci-fi work you will recognize a lot of similar themes. The visuals are spectacular and worth it by themselves. I am undecided on the story but i will say i am somewhat intrigued. They have me for another episode.    … Expand
  9. Ahlgren
    Sep 12, 2020
    3
    Looking at the first 5 episodes i fell like the trailer may have showed it to be a little more exciting.
    The trailer showed it as a sc-fi action but it is more like a drama.
    Its a story about these kids and there caretakers, that´s 80% off the show. I got bored at the end of the second episode, and it just got worse as it continued. I bet people are going to like this, but i have to    Looking at the first 5 episodes i fell like the trailer may have showed it to be a little more exciting.
    The trailer showed it as a sc-fi action but it is more like a drama.
    Its a story about these kids and there caretakers, that´s 80% off the show.
    I got bored at the end of the second episode, and it just got worse as it continued.
    I bet people are going to like this, but i have to say this is a strong 3 at best for me..    … Expand
  10. UncleWillard
    Sep 4, 2020
    10
    This is a homer. Ridley Scott has knocked it out of the park. I love everything about it this far.
  11. JoeyRamon
    Sep 4, 2020
    10
    First three episodes were phenomenal -- Ridley Scott's fingerprints were all over the first two, and the visuals are gorgeous. Can't wait to see where this goes. Love the companion podcast, too, which is different from your typical "recap" show.
  12. OlivierPiel
    Oct 3, 2020
    2
    This is what TV has become: - Pour money in pilot and first two, three episodes. Try to hook the audience
    - Then, titillate, throw red herrings left and right, keep them on their toes
    - Add filler with emotional/relational /psychological mumbojumbo and pseudo philosophical clichés/platitutes - Just pull the rug under the fee of the viewers and completely go free-wheeling for the last    This is what TV has become: - Pour money in pilot and first two, three episodes. Try to hook the audience
    - Then, titillate, throw red herrings left and right, keep them on their toes
    - Add filler with emotional/relational /psychological mumbojumbo and pseudo philosophical clichés/platitutes
    - Just pull the rug under the fee of the viewers and completely go free-wheeling for the last episodes, where you don't spend any money on writing and production, i.e. Money time.
    -Et Voilà! You have learned the lessons from Lost, Game of Thrones and the rest!    … Expand
  13. Miuk
    Sep 7, 2020
    0
    Feel more fantasy than science, takes you back to star trek hippie idiotic like nonsense from the 50’s and 60’s, didn’t expect to see such a trash production on hbo, what a shame, it’s like going back to cable and browse on cheap network sci-fi.
  14. imanalias
    Sep 7, 2020
    9
    Based on the first three episodes, this show has a great story-line and a lot of potential. Amanda Collin and Abubakar Salim are excellent actors, and they portray interesting characters. Looking forward to the rest of the season.
  15. Erezbaron2002
    Sep 19, 2020
    10
    Best sci fi in a long time highly recommended
    Very good story telling very original
  16. portmanteau
    Sep 15, 2020
    5
    it initially felt very flat, but 5 episodes in and the characters are starting to become more interesting.
  17. guilhermefdias
    Sep 6, 2020
    10
    Absolutely loving the serie. Everything a sci fi should have, it there plus much more.
  18. LunaticInk
    Feb 5, 2022
    4
    This show is pretty terrible. But since I rated season 2 I felt the need to rate season 1. This story is all over the place but Marcus was at least somewhat interesting. The flying nanny (Space Mary Poppins) should have been cut and it should have just been Father caring for the kids. The actress that plays Mother is terrible, as are all the child actors.
  19. geewah
    Dec 24, 2020
    8
    While far from perfect, this was an entertaining season 1.
    Ridley Scott's fingerprints are blatantly obvious on this production from it's stylistic look and in it's writing.
  20. Estoniantoad
    Oct 8, 2020
    4
    This is pretty sick, I mean whoever created this must be a total freak,,,..
  21. greenisgood
    Oct 19, 2020
    8
    TL;DR- If this is what Ridley wanted to focus on since Promethus how did these concepts get shoved into the his 'Alien/Xenomorph' universe ?? This whole season had far more interesting and amazing concepts, acting performances and atmosphere than both of his recent Movies, even if the concepts are not novel the amalgamation of the sci-fi concepts and the bigger picture is quite theTL;DR- If this is what Ridley wanted to focus on since Promethus how did these concepts get shoved into the his 'Alien/Xenomorph' universe ?? This whole season had far more interesting and amazing concepts, acting performances and atmosphere than both of his recent Movies, even if the concepts are not novel the amalgamation of the sci-fi concepts and the bigger picture is quite the experience.

    The Good
    Donno if it was Ridley's insistence or the Producers who forced Scott to retroactively try and force the Xenomorph lore into his Android/Existentialism aspect which was clearly what he wanted to deal with. His movies were always an example of stellar cinematography which is one of the best parts of the show. The character performances were absolutely enthralling and engaging from start to finish, this is supported with really well written character interactions and character dialogue.
    The World building is the standout for the whole show, both on Earth as well as Kepler B22. The hostile atmosphere of a self imploding Earth and the similar in hostility but relatively virgin planet in which the show primarily takes place on feels real and plausible.

    Being one of the main driving forces of this universe the show does really well to delve into both sides of Religion and Atheism, by both I mean the Positive and Negative successfully making sure this does not get too preachy on either side.
    The twist of Androids encapsulating Adam and Eve, Mother Father, Married Couple was fascinatingly portrayed by both Salim and Amanda with the best performances in the show by the duo. Almost all of the children in their performances were well done and barring a few minor details here and there were believable and understandable. Travis and Algar portray a different side of Parenthood and Humanity with their characters being good contrasts in action and emotion to the Android pair, even the religious nutjobs were well done with good support casting.

    The Bad
    I know that it is a TV production and hence calling out shoddy VFX is not really fair, but yeah there were some crappy stuff but there was a lot done well.
    Another thing that kept bugging me was the Androids themselves, they seemed highly intelligent with comprehensive data that they can access but then there will be certain contrivances in the story to get things to happen, one of the main by products of this was the androids sometimes seems very illogical in decision making.

    Ok so this last one is a pet peeve, a few times I felt a pang of irritation rising up in me, everytime this happened it was because of some link to the Xenomorph universe like the helmet being similar in design to the engineer helmet.
    The cinematography of the opening episode having similarities to Promethus which has been pointed out by many. And I almost lost it when I thought there was going to be a chest burster scene but thankfully it did not happen. I am a part of hate train as the mishmash of Promethus and Alien Covenant felt like everything good was overshadowed by bad and oddly disconnected story beats which makes sense now that I watched this.

    But everything aside, I am glad Scott finally has an outlet for his passions again since this was quite a breath of fresh air from a Science Fiction standpoint, even if Ridley was not the whole and sole creator of this show it is clear that Aron and Ridley vibe on a similar level in regards to the approach.

    Raised by Wolves is quite a refreshing watch on a whole. Even if parts of the whole are not anything new, the way the narrative is constructed has Ridley Scott's influence at his best; hopefully grooming showrunner Aron with the right mindset to be a good director in the future as it is clear he has talent.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

27
#27 Most Discussed TV Season of 2020
31
#31 Most Shared TV Season of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. The Guardian
    Reviewed by: Lucy Mangan
    Dec 7, 2020
    60
    It is not the fact that there is nothing new on show. Delivered with enough panache, there will always be an appetite for traditional sci-fi tropes reassembled to bang home the usual messages. But Raised By Wolves does not have panache – and the thin, unsophisticated story it comprises stands naked, particularly cruelly so in a post-Westworld landscape.
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  2. The Playlist
    Reviewed by: Brian Tallerico
    Oct 5, 2020
    58
    “Raised by Wolves” is at its best when it allows Scott and the directors that follow him to dig into the issues, but it lacks in departments like storytelling, mythology, and world-building. It feels like a sketch for a show, waiting to come together into something denser and more engaging.
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  3. Salon
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    Sep 4, 2020
    50
    The sheer ambition of "Raised By Wolves" and the brand-name visionary behind it may be enough to claim a portion of the audience's fascination for these 10 episodes. Certainly it was enough to draw my interest, and certainly it was a disappointment to struggle to connect with this series over the course of its first six episodes.
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