‘Lord of the Flies’ Review: ‘Adolescence’ Echoes Through Netflix’s Vivid, Eerie Adaptation
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, the new four-part Netflix limited series—inspired by William Golding’s 1954 classic novel and adapted by Jack Thorne (co-creator of “Adolescence”)—frames the loss of childhood innocence more as a result of nurture than nature. The story follows a group of boys stranded on an island who witness their potential utopia curdle into tragically inevitable chaos.
William Golding’s interpretation of how boys grow into men has stood the test of time, both for subverting adolescent fantasies of absolute freedom and for its allegorical depth. This first television adaptation remains largely true to the novel, feeling almost like a definitive version designed for educational screening, featuring identifiable archetypes and a broad story packed with life lessons.
Notably, this new series is not “Yellowjackets.” Despite startling, nightmare-like compositions filled with vivid red and green hues and a roaming fish-eye lens that orients the boys as if they are in an aquarium, Jack Thorne’s adaptation is not a horror show. It is a straightforward four-hour drama that trusts its source material to do the heavy lifting, supported by a talented young cast.
Set in the early 1950s with the shadow of World War II still lingering, each episode focuses on one of the four leads: Piggy (David McKenna), the intellectual first survivor; Ralph (Winston Sawyers), the naturally elected leader; Jack (Lox Pratt), the brash alpha who leads a choir-turned-hunting party; and Simon (Ike Talbut), the lone dissenter.
Thorne, alongside director Marc Munden, emphasizes that these boys see the world through their fathers’ eyes. What they understand of responsibility and survival has been passed down to them, whether through direct teaching or the absence of proper parenting. While “Lord of the Flies” may feel colder and rougher than Thorne’s previous work in “Adolescence,” and offers a more fleeting sting compared to the girls of “Yellowjackets,” its grounded approach makes for a persistent and thoughtful adaptation.
Grade: B-
All four episodes of “Lord of the Flies” were released on Netflix on Monday, May 4, 2026.
