Resident Evil Review: A Lackluster Addition to the Franchise
Netflix’s newest horror series, Resident Evil, fails miserably in attempting to immerse itself in the critically-acclaimed franchise.
Resident Evil attempts to create its own unique story and a world apart from the original franchise and videogames while making it known that the series occupies the same universe.
The series is set in two different timelines. The first world in 2022, where we follow Billie Wesker and Jade Wesker as teenagers and experience how the virus becomes the world’s downfall. In this timeline, we get an adequate introduction to Umbrella’s newfound image as Billie and Jade move to New Raccoon City with their father, Albert Wesker.
The series attempts to draw the audience in from the beginning by alluding to past situations, such as the original Raccoon City bombing. Using the pivotal character that died in the Capcom videogame franchise to entice the audience is a smart move. It causes necessary confusion, leading to more views for excessive periods, which in turn helps the show’s ratings.
However, to call Albert’s role in the series entertaining would be a flat-out lie. Unlike the smaller version of Wesker in the original films, this Albert is prevalent and front-and-center but not as edgy. He’s also a clone of the original that died in a volcano in Capcom’s Resident Evil 5.
It’s revealed that before his demise in the videogame, he made multiple different clones of himself using Umbrella technology. However, Evelyn, the new CEO of Umbrella, finds out and immediately shuts the project down, but not without keeping the clones as her personal projects.
That’s not to say that Lance Reddick doesn’t obliterate the role and make it his own because he does, but there’s not enough material for him to work with.
The other timeline is set in 2036: a world set 14 years after the T-Virus has ravaged the globe. Throughout this timeline, we also see the story of how Billie and Jade became estranged.
In the original Resident Evil film franchise, global communications are few, with radios being the best and most reliable form of communication. However, that issue doesn’t seem to be as prevalent in the Netflix series.
Jade makes video calls to her daughter and boyfriend throughout the season, indicating that the internet is still accessible. Also, updated machinery that makes evading zeroes, aka zombies, a piece of cake.
There is action, but there are far more dramatic elements to it as we unravel the worn tether between sisters and watch as a mother works tirelessly to get home to her daughter.
There are minimal jump scares and semi-terrifying moments, and the series falls short in the action department. We needed to see more gore, guts, and rotting flesh.
The mediocre series does not fulfill its goal of bringing an intriguing addition to the critically acclaimed Resident Evil franchise. But, living up to Milla Jovovich and her radiance is a daring task to beat, so it’s no surprise the series doesn’t live up to par.
If you’re a fan of the Capcom videogame franchise, there are quite a few fun easter eggs. Although, there aren’t enough to quench the Resident Evil videogame fans’ thirst thoroughly.
We’re supposed to fall for this new twist on the series, but it adds zero emotion or depth to the story because we already know what happens for the most part.
Sometimes the approach of showcasing two different timelines works, and other times it doesn’t. For Resident Evil, it works exclusively to tell Billie’s story of becoming the first to resist a zombie bite, and that’s it.
There’s no mystery, even when the series attempts to be vague and provide thrilling reveals. It’s a shame that the series fails to find its footing because there are some intriguing aspects to be explored.
If Resident Evil is renewed for Season 2, there must be vast improvements on the story’s pacing and thematic elements.
What did you think of this season of Resident Evil? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Resident Evil Season One is available to stream on Netflix.
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Cade Taylor
Cade Taylor is a television and film critic living in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV. His love for television developed at a young age, with a concentration on queer stories, sitcoms, teen dramas, and science fiction thrillers. In addition, he works full-time as a news producer, telling the stories of Missourians and helming "Produced in the Bi-State," a segment spotlighting actors, musicians, and entertainers from the St. Louis area. He can be reached by email at cade@telltaletv.com.