User reviews

I absolutely love this show. It took a while for me to start watching, but when I did I was hooked. It kept me on the edge of my seat and after every episode I was left wanting more. It just kept getting better and better.

Now, you are going to cancel it! You are literally going to leave it where people are always going to wonder what could have happened. You cannot not show what happens next! There needs to be at least one more season to create some kind of a descent ending to where it makes since. You left it where it's like MIDSTREAM, what the hell! If you're going to pull that with your shows, I don't want to watch any of them! I mean what's the point, get me interested, get me excited to see what is going to happen next season from what happened with the last episode and then you cancel midstream...That is not the way to win or keep an audience, bit its definitely the way to losean audience!

I really wanted to dislike this series. In fact, I just KNEW I would dislike it because I loved the 2008 original and in my mind, there was a measure of: 'Why mess with a good thing? Contrary to popular opinion, I also liked the 2010 remake. It was in no way comparable to the original, but for the most part, IMO, it stood on its own, and more so, brought this highly original tale to the mainstream viewing public.

"Knowing" that I would dislike it 😉, however, is quite different from not watching it. And so I did.

The first few minutes proved me right. I hated it... right before I really, really began to like it.

To begin, both Demián Bichir (the main character's dad) and Ian Foreman (the "boy" main character) deliver stellar performances. Ian, as Isaiah, a bullied, demoralized, misunderstood outcast, brings just the right amount of feeling to every scene he is in. I think very few will not feel for him. In the same manner, Demián Bichir steals the spotlight with his portrayal of a father tormented by what lengths he is willing to go and what paths he is willing to traverse for his daughter. **Below, I have included his Episode 2 "prayer" for those who did not have an on-screen translation.**

Ato Essandoh, as Isaiah's dad, is also pretty noteworthy.

Other characters are bit less noteworthy. The acting from Madison Taylor Baez who plays the girl main character, Eleanor, is especially... wanting. Some of her lines are delivered too crisply, too "acted". This is forgivable. She is young and there are times when she too does really well.

The other thing that bothers me a bit is how seamlessly or coincidentally all these characters just HAPPEN to tie in to each other. One HAS to set aside a measure of incredulousness and reach way down for some extra believability in order to buy into it.

Still, if one can manage to do that, the series, so far, works. I would like to know how it turns out for everyone.

7.5/10

******************************** Episode 2 - Spanish Prayer.

"Hear my words lord. We have wandered in darkness for ten long years. Enlighten us and show us the way. My God and Lord, I beg you to remove this chalice of death from Ellen's (Eleanor's) lips. Enlighten us and show us the way. Answer me when I talk to you! Merciful God, ease my sorrows. Have mercy on me. Listen to my prayers, damnit!"

After 'The Passage', a too brilliant series, another super bright and full of potential show bites the dust due to the incommensurable dinosaur-brain quality of the related Network's executives who just lick at the Viewers-Cash_Performance chart.

'Let the Right One In' is so superb, so enthralling, so well-acted that most viewers are aghast and in shock at the cancellation.

I enjoyed it tremendously, loved the screenplay and plots, the cute, emotional and tender friendship between the two teenagers, the atmosphere and pace of the show and above all, the more than marvelous acting of Madison Taylor Baez who at such tender age, is already a force to reckon with. Loved her serious, powerful and very charismatic play.

One of the better ending to date, opening new horizons, just wasted.

• Screenplay/storyline/plots: 7.5
• Development: 8
• Realism: 7
• Entertainment: 8.5
• Acting: 8
• Filming/photography/cinematography: 8
• VFX: 8.5
• Music/score/sound: 7
• Depth: 7.5
• Logic: 6.5
• Flow: 8.5
• Drama/horror: 7.5
• Ending: 8.5.

Well I just now read it's been canceled!

I'm not happy. I looked forward every Friday to watching it! It was such a great series. I liked it so much more than the movie. Very disappointed!!!

I wish another streaming channel would pick it up. Too many of the shows today are canceled after just one season. I read also that American Giglio was cancelled. Now Showtime and Paramount plus are combining. Everything is combining and then they cancel so many of our shows. Many shows in the CW were cancelled also. Very very disappointed in their decision to do away with this series. It was such a good show.

I'm upset to learn that this show has been cancelled. I looked forward to watching it each week and was looking forward to a second season. Now, I'll have to add it to the list of GOOD shows that are canceled without being given a real chance. Shows like Downward Dog, Harlots, Imposters, I Am Not Okay With This, and Good Girls, while much less quality tv gets season after season.

This show had a slow build, but it draws you in. Each character had dimension. Even the peripheral characters, like Isaiah's dad or Naomi's partner or Peter's caregiver, make you care about what happens to them. And for the most part, it's well acted. Eleanor needs a bit more practice, but the Isaiah kid is going places!

Some people complain about how the characters changed from the original source material. Well, it's a reboot, not a remake. I, for one, am happy that they didn't try to remake something so great. Instead, they added a different dimension to the story - one of a parent's love and sacrifice. I found this dimension intriguing.

This story has some scarier parts, but overall, it's not scary. It's the character development that gets you, and the grittiness of the real world and the decisions one has to face and make to survive in it.

The cliffhanger! For that reason alone, we deserve a second season. 😝 But truly, it's a good show, with great characters and good actors.

Both the original Swedish and its American counterpart borrow the Stephen King theme of making the horrors of adolescence into real monsters. The lead characters, Oskar and Ellie, are latchkey kids in a dismal blue collar town. Oskar lives and unhappy life of being bullied at school and making his own dinner alone at night. Ellie spends all her life looking out a window and hoping for a friend. They cure their loneliness by befriending each other.

The book on which the movies is based is much more horrifying that either movie suggests. The relationship between Ellie (or Abby) and her father is not wholesome. Ellie's history is truly brutal. The ending is more graphic and gothic than hopeful.

Each movie gets further from the original novel.

So far, the series follows the path taken by the movies. It doesn't ask why. It doesn't care why. Instead, it wants to cure Ellie, when those of us who saw the movie know that Ellie doesn't want a cure.

Whether or not the search of the "original" monster can sustain the series yet, I can't tell. It seems to meander, has way too many characters, and so far does little to develop the two principal characters. Since they are the heart of both the book and the films, that may be a problem as time goes on.

Still, given the current state of drek when it comes to originality in Hollywood, I would rather watch the remake of remake of the film version of a novel than about 90% of programming.

The actors are good. The story is interesting. And i hope the show continues to expand the story.

Let's give it a chance.

What idiot cancelled this show? It is clearly a good show regardless of whether it lives up to the movie it was based on. The acting is good and the characters pull you right into the narrative.

I binged watched this show, finishing the entire first season in a couple of days. I enjoyed the build up. I just don't understand how the executives that cancelled this show couldn't see the value in it. How could a show liek Webdreams last three years and they cancel this show in its first season? Who hires these executives that makes clearly bad decisions?

Please stop promoting reality shows while you cancel clearly good dramas.

As Episode 1 of "Let the Right One In" (2022 release; 10 episodes of about an hour each) opens, we are introduced to Mark as he is on a train, with a large box next to him, later revealed as containing his young-looking vampire daughter Ellie. Mark and Ellie are returning to New York for reasons unknown. Neighboring their apartment is a single mom and her 11 or 12 yo son. AS it happens, the mom is a police detective and at the start of a grizzly investigation into a suspicious death,,, At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: you may recall that on 2008 a brilliant Swedish film "Let the Right One In" (based on the Swedish novel of the same name) was released, which in turn led to the 2010 Hollywood remake "Let Me In", quite good but not the sensation that was the Swedish original (and it bombed at the US box office). Now a decade+ Andrew Hinderaker ( "Away" ) brings us this TV series, "inspired" by the Swedish novel. Based solely on the opening episode (the only one available at this time), I can't help but wonder what the point of it is. The premise is of course the same as before: a man and his vampire daughter who looks like a 12 yo girl but in reality we don't know how old she really is, try to survive the best they can (the opening episode is tellingly titled "Anything For Blood" ), while in a parallel story the vampire girl befriends the neighboring boy. If you've seen the original Swedish movie or even the Hollywood remake, chances are that you will ponder one thought: "why this TV series?". That certainly is my sense at this point. It's not that Episode 1 was "bad" but it feels unnecessary. I'll certainly give it a couple of additional episodes before making up my mind whether to stick with it or whether to bail.

I'm not sure why IMDb has this listed as Episode 1 premiering on October 9. I saw Episode 1 three days ago (October 6) when it started streaming on Showtime. Future episodes will be released on a weekly basis. If you are curious about the latest re-imagining of one of the best and most original vampire stories in the last 20 years, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

*UPDATE* I've now seen the next 2 episodes. And I've upgraded my rating to 7 stars, even to my own surprise. Really liking the flow of this mini-series.

*UPDATE* 11/21/22 We are now 7 episodes into this, and after a so-so start, this mini-series has really found its own groove. Episode 7 in particular in very strong, as it finally reveals the origin story of whatever happened to Ellie some 10 years ago, and also what happened to her mom.

Unbelievable. This series could had easily gone 3 or more seasons. I am sad. What a lost. The cast was great. The set up was there and it was ready to go. Not an expensive show to make. But streaming doesn't want to nurture shows anymore. They want ratings his out the gate. As someone said if Star trek The next generation was on streaming, it would most likely had gotten cancelled. We know Voyager and Babylon 5 too.

Its hard to tell people to watch this show now after that cliffhanger but its a good series. I'm glad I had a chance to watch it and so did others. Showtimes just is lost at this point. And they lost a subscriber. I immediately unsub when I heard this news. Let The Right One In, ya'll!

I've seen both the original movie and the US adaptation. And always felt like it deserved a part two. This tv-series puts a nice twist on the original story by expanding the setting, introducing new characters and more. I really like what they did with it, honestly. I enjoy the fact that they are trying to give more details about the vampire virus while also focusing on what it's like for those suffering from it and their daily struggle to keep up appearances. I am glad that they changed some things and not just remake the movie into a tv-series. The casting is pretty good and after finishing the second episode, I am really hooked. I am curious to see where they will take the show. The reason why it's not so popular is because it's not on a major streaming service like "Netflix". But give it a try and you'll be surprised.

I'm one of those people who googles the entire cast after watching a series or movie I love. So I can't explain it but I love Grace Gummer ever since I saw her in Mr Robot so this is how I came across this show. The acting is pretty decent. So far I think it's a pretty interesting story as it feels like an original concept, more or less, but it's just about interesting enough to keep watching. There's nothing to blow your mind away right from the start; still room for improvement as it could be a promising premise so I hope it only gets better from here.

I don't have any obvious criticisms, my only complaint is the groans and stomach growls sound a little over the top, you could still make them sound loud and sorta disturbing, but it sounds like you're hearing a recording of a speaker and a little unbelievable. That only happened in e01 so I guess it's fine.

I love fantasy shows so I was really looking forward to this and I think it still has a lot to offer, just not showing it yet. Nothing bad and nothing to make it feel special yet but that's a lot to ask so early in the season. It's hard to form a concrete opinion after only one episode unless something's absolutely stellar or absolutely horrid so I'll be updating this later on because it could turn out great or just mediocre.

A couple more episodes in and I'd say it keeps it's promise. It's not trying to be anything over the top, more often than not vampire shows will exhibit them as rich or cultured almost in a patrician way, but this is sorta like an everyday average middle class family which feels like a more niche take. If vampires weren't fantasy, I'd say it's a pretty realistic show with realistic stakes. Might be worth a watch if you're looking for something new in the genre.

As a person who had seen the original Swedish movie, read the novel and tolerated the American offering of Let Me in, I am sorry to express my disappointment in Showtime's recent adaptation.

It does not follow the novel or the original storyline but makes up a new tale using the same characters and scenes from the original story.

The original story is a coming of age tale with a strong focus on childhood bullying.

I don't want to spoil the plot to others, but I highly recommend spending time to watch the original Swedish production before watching Showtime's spotty adaptation.

Whereas the original film was a horror movie, I feel that too much extraneous subplots made this show tedious.

Never rated anything this high right out the gate after only 2 episodes.. I feel this is one of the best done series i've seen in a while. I'm talking filming, editing, etc. We'll see how well eveything else goes as it progresses. I watched the original Swedish film many years ago and while I've never read the book ( so that doesn't cloud my judgement) I loved the 2008 film and so far I'm really liking this. I love Demian Bishir he is excellent in this the only thing is the relationship with Elenor and Isah makes the entire story and I feel the actor playing the boy doesn't doesn't have the skill for the part. Also on a side note why does the mother constantly berate her son in one scene tells him to take off the blazer/jacket it will make him a target?!? I understand the kid's bullied but her and her detective make derogatory comments about him? She seems to make him feel worse about himself? Any ways I'm going to have to rewatch last night episode because I started it a 4am and fell asleep half way thru. So far I am really liking this! I hope all 10 episodes live up to the first 2!

I was skeptical since a movie is being redone I to a series. That doesn't always work very well. I really wanted to give this a perfect score but just can't after only 3 episodes. The issues I had with the original movie as well as the American version is that I was left with so many questions. Immediately this series is giving the impression those questions may get answered. It has expanded upon the original story and seems to be setting up a nice plot for the viewer to get enthralled with. Add to it violence, gore, and effects that were only teased in the movies. All said this has the hal.arks of an excellent horror series with a likeable cast.

I have seen both of the movie versions, wasn't expecting much from the series. Boy, was I wrong...the series hooked me from episode 1. I believe it is one of the best series showtime has produced thus far. This show manages to humanize vampirism...had me looking forward to the next episode and definitely the next season. Unfortunately, there is no next season...very, very disappointed with showtime, especially since the show ended on such a cliffhanger...not fair to the viewers to end it like this. Makes me want to cancel my subscription. There is so much badly written garbage on tv...it was very refreshing to find something new, different, well written and well performed. Shame on you showtime!

I am unfamiliar with the source material so my review is solely based on my opinion of this iteration. I enjoyed the series. It is an interesting concept and a different take on a vampiric series. I enjoyed the children's storylines and budding friendship, as well as their parents and their potential bond. The acting from these four was great. I enjoyed the questions of morality that the series poses in having to choose between saving your soul or saving your child. Some of the graphics looked really good, for example, the way the girl crawled on the floor and the vampiric eyes. Now for what didn't work: I was not as interested in the storyline regarding the brother/sister and henchman. I'm not sure if I just missed it, but I could not understand why the henchman was willing to go to such lengths to help the brother and sister or what his loyalty was to the scientist father. Whatever the reason, it was not compelling like the motivations were for the father and daughter duo. Some of the effects looked great, others not so much. The teen vampire's burned body was very obviously a body suit that you could see the wrinkles in when he moved. Also, a good amount of the supporting roles' acting needed improvement. The male cop, the father's best friend, the henchman, the male teen vampire and his sister's performance felt a little off at times. Despite room to improve, it was good enough to hope that it is renewed for a second season. Good series that is definitely worth a watch if you like the genre.

If you haven't seen the original 2008 Swedish film version of "Let the Right One In", set in the suburbs in the 80s, definitely check it out. The tv series has actually been a really good adaptation of it. The series is set in urban present day. They have picked some excellent actors for these rolls. Especially as they largely focus around the 6 main characters. With the extra screen time you have a more detailed story line, so we're given a really good back story. All the classic vampire tropes are there: burn in sunlight, faster and stronger, must feed on blood- with a twist, only human blood, and only if fresh within an hour. They've had the sense to leave out the silver crosses, garlic and the other 'superstitions' as the vampirism is being blamed on a virus. EXCEPT, 'having to be invited in', which makes no sense. No reason a virus would cause you to instantly start dying if you aren't invited over someone's threshold. Ignoring that, the storyline is great. Prepare to be massively grossed out, tear-up a little, and definitely want to jump out of your skin!

The original movie has been remade a few times now, and here come the series. Well, at least the series do not pretend to have anything to do with the swedish movie or book other than of a child that is a vampire.

This series it not bad on its own with the way they have taken the story. I love the cast, they are all quirky and a little creepy which fits well. The events are also believable enough and not completely made for tv nonsense, but it is not realistic at the end of the day. The series takes a lot of cliched things such as evil rich people, random organizations, military contractor meatheads and the usual plethora of mix between zombie movies and resident evil franchise. All of this is there which is curious to me because in season 2 they have so few ways to go there with this.

There is a big trend in 2022 and 2021 for series to start off strong and then jam themselves into a certain questionable path after the first season. This is no exception because the storyline for season 2 is already set and it will just be more of the same really... And we can also see the elements of several love arcs being played with as background drama which will get boring soon (it is already boring as it is..) which were not really needed. Obviously forced for the sake of them existing type script writing.

Anyway, acting is great, there are cool things happening and some boring things happening. The good thing is that the series so far seems to be ok with killing people easily which still gives me hope we will get some decent vampire slasher action later on - which it foreshadowed a few times already. Unless they decide to back off on that, we will see.

Nothing to do with the book or original movie but for what it is, it is watchable for sure. Have to dock points for all the cliched arcs they put in..

Just got through with the season, and was blown away. And I generally hate this particular subject since it is hard to suspend disbelief. But it just works. Ignore reviews that compare to the movie versions. This is its own thing. The kid actors do pretty well (which can be challenging), but all of the actors nailed it in this character driven drama. Special effects are minimal, but not really needed. The stories in this stretched out version are very suspenseful and easily pulled me in. The slower parts still kept me engaged since the explained some of the relationships between characters. Very Dexter-like feel without the narration and morbid humor.

Ummmm what did I just watch? Brilliance. I do glad the writers to this story and these characters, each character on there own journey. Each episode gives you a little bit more and keeps you wanting more. We still needed more info about the people on these pills but the cops investigation and the sewer incident gives a look inside of what has been going on in the city. Forget the original show this is a NEW IMPROVED VERSION, WITH GREAT WRITING AND ACTING. WE NEED MORE.... I'M AN INVESTED FAN. The finale left me speechless, I just couldn't believe was I had just watched. Amazing..I can't wait for SEASON 2.

#LETTHERIGHTONEIN. #LTROI.

Watching this show was a rollercoaster of emotions for me, both positive and negative (though mostly positive). I cannot even express how much I love the original novel and the movies it inspired. When I first heard about this show, and saw some of the promotional material, I must admit, I felt insulted and angry. I completely misjudged it, thinking it would be a retelling of the original story, matching the book closely. Except... well, the obvious. The characters look nothing like you're used to. It seemed like a clear example of forced diversity to me. Rehashing the same old, same old just to appeal to a certain current day audience. Thankfully, that is not actually the case. Sometimes, it's very good to be wrong.

Let me start by saying that the title for this show is a bit misleading, which also explains my initial reaction. It matches the title of the original book exactly. This while, the previous American adaptation of the story, was called Let Me In. That title would have been more appropriate for this series in stead, as, unlike Let Me In, this series does not follow the book at all. The end credits clearly say "Inspired by", regarding the book. And that is completely accurate. It is more of a spin-off, than a retelling, though it definitely manages a certain gravitas that outshines what you would expect of most spin-offs. Still, the way the series relies on the title of the original so brazenly, is a bit off in my opinion.

Whereas the original story focuses only on the lives of Oskar and Eli (or Abby and Owen, if you prefer), the story of this series branches out in myriad ways. It basically takes Lindqvuist's concept, of vampires being tragic human beings without evil inclinations that only kill because they have to, not because they want to, and expands on it, involving a lot more characters and plot lines than the original. Most of the time, this works in the show's favour, though not always.

Starting with the good. I like Eleanor and Isaiah. Their chemistry felt real (which is a detached way of saying they're pretty adorable together). The angle is quite different from the original, though I don't wish to spoil. Eleanor's innocence is maintained much longer than it is in the original story. This makes for quite a different relationship between Eleanor and her friend Isaiah, as well as Eleanor and her father. In the original, the character of the father is not even actually her father. And the relationship is not one of familial love, but something else entirely, far more sinister. Whereas Eli's/Abby's/Eleanor's caretaker was a completely irredeemable figure in the original, that is not the case here. They decided to humanise him, making him, and not his daughter, the main character of the show. This makes for a different kind of story entirely, less focused on personal drama, and more on plot twists, crime scenes, and some painfully twisted relationships between characters.

This show, even down to it's most used promotional poster, reminds me a bit of the Last of Us. Even though it came out before the HBO show, that story has been around for a decade, and I think it took a little inspiration. A father reluctanty kills for his daughter, in the hopes of finding a cure to a disease that threatens mankind. And to top it off, she's even called Ellie. This is a new plot introduced to this series, entirely foreign to the original. But still, I just had to mention it. While the plot of finding a cure creates a new tangent filled with plenty of intrigue, it does take away from the human focus of the story. The original, the book especially, was more of a human drama with vampires and horror as its backdrop. The focus lay enitrely on the boy Oskar, and the girl Eli. This show seems to flip that exactly upside down. The relationship between Eleanor and Isaiah, though endearing, is pushed more to the background to make way for entire episodes featuring a lot of detective work, and science experiments.

Although I think most of the new tangents introduced into the story work quite well, it's not all flawless. The storyline of Claire and her brother as they search for a cure was not always equally compelling to me. Neither was that of Isaiah's mother and her co-worker, as they seek out a series of strange murders relating to a new drug on the market. We, as the viewers, figure out very early on how the storylines of Claire and her brother, and that of Isiah's mother and Eli's father, are bound to come together. And yet, it all kind of plays it rather slowly, as though it were all still a big mystery. As a result of this, this show takes much too long to truly get started. Up until episode 6, I was really on the fence as to whether I actually found it all compelling or not. Only by episode 7, which I absolutely adore, did I really get hooked. For a series that only features ten episodes, that is not the best score.

This series' slow start is not only caused by the somewhat meandering plot, but also, admittedly, by the performances at times. Allround, the acting in this show is quite good, but a couple of things irk me. There are moments where Eleanor has a really emotional scene, but the girl playing her (Madison I believe), just didn't quite manage to convince me. I hate to criticise child actors, but I will say, I did not have that problem with either of the movie adaptations. Be that as it may, Eleanor as a character absolutely grew on me. She has a charismatic, somewhat boyish (no offence!) energy, that did draw me in. Something about her is just very cool to me. So much so that I can forgive some of the lapses in performance.

Then there is Eleanor's father, played by an actor with a very heavy Spanish accent. Most of the time, this is not an issue. But there were moments where it distracted me. I understand Demian Bichir is a very established actor, but this does not free him from criticism. At times he simply did not sell it for me. I'm no expert in judging acting skills, but when something feels off, I listen to my gut. He is the main character of this show, and should be the best. But I didn't feel like he was, often being outshined by the actors playing side characters around him. Again, maybe that's just me.

Admittedly, it seems this show shines the most in moments that it borrows most heavily from the original, and begins to crack a little at the seams at points where the writers tried to inject new things. This I feel is just a testament to the power of the original, not so much a devastating criticism of the show. They took the concept and ran with it, taking creative risks. Given this story has already been adapted to film twice, that was really all they could do.

I'm very sad to hear that a second season is off the table. Although I wouldn't wish this series to drag on forever, like some new version of the Walking Dead, it has more than enough merit to warrant about three seasons by my reckoning. The story has clearly been written to account for that, and as is always the case with modern day TV Shows, it's all a bit painful and disappointing to think that the many plot points set up in this story will likely never have their pay-off. We're closing in fast on a year since this came out, and judging by the very low amount of IMDB ratings it received compared to some comparable shows that came out around the same time as this one, the ratings must have been truly poor, which is a damned shame.

In closing, I'm very glad I set my skepticism aside and gave this show a chance. I cannot stress enough how passionate I am about the original story. It's gotten me to get more serious about my own creative writing than I ever have been, and I still think about it all the time. Even if there is never a second season, I'm happy with how this series managed to expand my imagination further, and engulf me into this world once more. After more than a decade of absence, Let the Right One In made a worthy return, maintaining the high bar that has already been set, and staying respectful towards the original, in its own way. And for that, I am grateful.