Stranger Things Happen in New Series "The Institute"
The show's failure to deliver a compelling story and its lack of exploration of important themes make it a disappointing watch, especially for fans of Stephen King's work. With the debut of "The Long Walk" series on the horizon, viewers may be hoping for a more thrilling and emotionally potent adaptation of King's novels.
A new series based on Stephen King's 2019 novel "The Institute" has received a disappointing review from The Hollywood Reporter, with the show being described as "Stephen King-lite" and lacking emotional potency or spectacle.
The show follows two parallel storylines, one of a former Boston police officer, Tim Jamieson, and a 14-year-old genius, Luke, who is abducted and taken to a mysterious facility called the Institute. The Institute is a testing ground for kids with specific gifts, where they are subjected to invasive medical tests, torture, and interventions to enhance their powers. Despite a strong performance from Mary-Louise Parker as the leader of the Institute, the show's execution is not enough to generate excitement or anticipation.
The reviewer praised the unsettling performances by the adults in authoritarian roles but criticized the show's inability to build momentum, stating that the characters' storylines are often dull and forgettable. The show's themes of family separation, immigration policies, and missing kids are acknowledged but not fully explored, making it a muted and forgettable series.
The review concludes that "The Institute" is a disappointing adaptation of Stephen King's novel, with a dull and forgettable story, underwhelming performances, and a lack of emotional potency or spectacle. This review comes as a new series based on another Stephen King novel, "The Long Walk", is set to debut, which may offer a more gripping and exciting storyline.