The Rook

:

Season 1
Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
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Critic Reviews

  1. Paste Magazine
    Reviewed by: Jacob Oller
    Jun 28, 2019
    81
    The Rook’s memory-loss thriller is ambitious, beautiful, and full of great performances, which makes its problems easy to forget.
  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    Jun 27, 2019
    80
    Polished, well thought out, more adult-inflected and reality-based than other shows that go for similar combinations of genre ingredients. ... Emma Greenwell of “The Path” holds your interest as Myfanwy, making her amnesia credible and mixing timorousness with a growing outrage as she recovers, and expands, her memories.
  3. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: Sophie Gilbert
    Jul 2, 2019
    60
    It’s easier to forgive plot holes and convenient narrative trickery in a series that’s aware of its own absurdities, and is willing to entertain. The Rook has plenty to recommend it, but it often gets caught in the space between a pulpy genre thriller and a stony-faced espionage serial, too dark and constantly fighting its most promising abilities.
  5. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Daniel Fienberg
    Jun 27, 2019
    50
    There's enough intrigue in the stripped-bare skeleton of O'Malley's book to keep The Rook casually watchable, but even those who haven't read the tome will be able to sense that in a show this gloomy and conventional, opportunities for more colorful characterization and plotting must have been neglected.
  6. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Keith Phipps
    Jun 26, 2019
    50
    It's a show filled with intriguing ideas that sort of bounce around without really landing and the slick but frustratingly understated direction does little to liven it up.
  7. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ben Travers
    Jun 27, 2019
    42
    “The Rook” feels bogged down by what it lacks and what it offers. It’s a little clunky in its structure and not great at explaining itself, despite lots of attempts.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 20
  3. Negative: 5 out of 20
  1. sand1958
    Jul 16, 2019
    0
    It took me just 13 minutes to realise how far from the book the showrunners Zweiling and Usher have gone that it's irreparable. ChangingIt took me just 13 minutes to realise how far from the book the showrunners Zweiling and Usher have gone that it's irreparable. Changing characters titles for real reason, creating a character that doesn't exist in the book and replacing a central character in the book with her is confounding! All this does is p___ off viewers like me who came to the show because they loved the book!… Full Review »
  2. bhadfield
    Jul 2, 2019
    7
    Does a reasonably good job despite lacking the exposition provided by internal thoughts in the excellent source material. Doesn't crackle theDoes a reasonably good job despite lacking the exposition provided by internal thoughts in the excellent source material. Doesn't crackle the way the book does and the feeling of anxiety the main character feels in the book is somewhat lost. We have to understand that the main character could evolve from the person they used to be because they no longer have the memories and trauma of growing up under bizarre pressures. Looking forward to seeing more.… Full Review »
  3. Gnilleps
    Jul 1, 2019
    5
    As a stand alone feature this might have been really good, unfortunately there are too many liberties taken with the source material that makeAs a stand alone feature this might have been really good, unfortunately there are too many liberties taken with the source material that make it so the spirit of the book doesn't seem to be there. Unfolding the mystery took a bit longer in the books and the very core of the characters seems to be kinda lost in this 'reimagining' of the book.

    I think if you've never read the book you might enjoy the show more.    … Full Review »
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