The iconic horror survival series Resident Evil, which revolves around zombies and the company Umbrella, should be familiar to almost everyone. Today, July 14, 2022, the new series of the same name started on the Netflix streaming service. Below we give you some important information about the series and its plot.
What is it about? As already explained, the new series is simply titled "Resident Evil". This once again emphasizes that it is not a sequel or prequel to a previous film adaptation or even one of the video games. However, all events from the video games are said to have happened in the series world. The series is divided into two narrative strands:
The series often alternates between two different storylines. The history and the beginning in 2022 is told rather slowly and is intended to convey a lot of information. 14 years after the eruption, 2036 has plenty of action and a faster-told story. Here are a few clues about the two plots.
In the year 2022 we follow Jade Wesker and her sister Billie Wesker in the events surrounding the spread of the well-known T-Virus in New Raccoon City. We also meet an old acquaintance, the father of the two, namely Albert Wesker. Why he is still alive in this Resident Evil universe, when all the events from the games are said to have happened in this world as well, remains an open question.
We remember; At the end of Resident Evil 5, Albert Wesker burned to death in an active volcano, and producer Masachika Kawata said of his death at San Diego Comic-Con 2016, according to IGN: "Even if I wanted Albert Wesker to come back, there wouldn't be any chance to bring him back." Of course, this leaves a few guesses open.
Explaining why Wesker is the way he is and why he's still alive go hand-in-hand, according to Andre Dabb (producer and showrunner). So it remains exciting about Wesker. We suspect it's just a clone, because there are enough clones in the Resident Evil universe.
In 2036, we accompany Jade Wesker again. But this time mainly alone on the journey, which is very reminiscent of the Resident Evil films with Milla Jovovich in terms of atmosphere. From one place to the next, she fights her way through all sorts of undead while being pursued by the Umbrella Corporation.
She is not only haunted by worldly things, the past does not let her go either. The events surrounding the outbreak of the virus and her sister Billie keep catching up with her during her dangerous missions. Jade also worries about her husband who lives far away and her daughter. There is probably a lack of empathy and feeling here since we as viewers hardly get to know the two.
Albert Wesker (Lance Reddick) from the Netflix series Resident Evil
The various film adaptations of the Resident Evil series have never really been able to cover themselves with fame, but the 6 films starring Milla Jovovich still grossed more than one billion dollars worldwide. So you can't say that the films based around Resident Evil weren't successful. The first reviews of the new Resident Evil Netflix series are also absolutely divided. While some perceive and praise it as a successful series, for others there are a number of points that could hardly be worse.
"One of Netflix's worst series. If you change the names and title of the series, it would be just an ordinary irrelevant series. Only the name Resident Evil will draw people in."
A comment on Moviepilot about the new series.
Gamespot, on the other hand, calls the series "The Best Adaptation of the Zombie Franchise" in their current review. The article goes on to say that the series would clearly be one of the good video game adaptations, even if there are of course points where die-hard Resident Evil fans have to swallow.
The series currently has a 59% rating on Rottentomatoes, but only gets a 34% user rating. Again, the reviews are by no means unanimous, for some Resident Evil is great entertainment, for others it's an absolute waste of time.
Unfortunately, you can tell at some points in the series that they probably didn't have enough budget for a Resident Evil film adaptation. So the well-known zombie dog, which we get to see early on, looks rather artificial. We also meet other monsters from the franchise throughout the series, and not all of them look as good as we might be used to. The effects in particular quickly catch the eye and give an idea of the lower production costs.
Such points are certainly part of the rather mixed reviews, but probably not the sole reason. High expectations probably also play a role, because, with a big franchise like Resident Evil, people always hope for something breathtaking.
In conclusion: If you like action and don't have a problem with the fact that the series currently has little to do with the actual Resident Evil franchise apart from the T-Virus, Umbrella, and some well-known zombie monsters, you will still be entertained for eight hours will.
Let us know what you think in the comments!
