Key Takeaways
- Plot Overview: This new adaptation of Steinbeck’s work focuses on the Trask family’s multigenerational saga, highlighting Cathy Ames as a complex antihero.
- Series Comparison: Unlike previous adaptations, this Netflix series offers a more in-depth exploration of characters and themes from the original novel.
- Character Depth: Florence Pugh’s portrayal of Cathy Ames adds layers of complexity, transforming her into a more relatable antihero.
- Visuals and Direction: Directed by Garth Davis and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, the series features stunning visuals that enhance its emotional depth.
Plot: This fresh interpretation of Steinbeck’s masterpiece will explore the multigenerational saga of the Trask family, focusing new attention on its indelible antihero, Cathy Ames.
Review: John Steinbeck, like many iconic and notable authors, is one of those writers that everybody claims to have read, but probably has only cracked open the required reading during their school days. That means most people are likely familiar with The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck’s extensive library of Pulitzer- and Nobel Prize-winning works includes Cannery Row and the oft-cited East of Eden. East of Eden was adapted into a popular 1955 film by director Elia Kazan, starring James Dean in one of his few roles. That classic film clocked in at just under 2 hours and excised a significant portion of Steinbeck’s 600-page epic. While the 1981 television miniseries restored much of the writing, there has never been a truly definitive take on East of Eden until now. With Zoe Kazan, the granddaughter of Elia, aboard as executive producer, writer, and showrunner, Netflix’s seven-episode limited series interpretation of the novel is an absolute masterpiece that rivals not only the versions that came before but also the novel itself.
Having seen the entirety of East of Eden, the seven-episode series is not for the faint of heart, as it explores a sprawling timeline going from before the Civil War through World War I and chronicles multiple generations of the Trask family and the biblical drama that their bloodline endures. Echoing the Book of Genesis, notably the story of Cain and Abel, and drawing its title directly from their story, East of Eden deals with eternal themes ranging from love and family to guilt, freedom, and self-destruction. There are pairs of siblings across the multiple generations, led at the beginning by Adam and Charles, and then later by the eerily Cain-and-Abel-reminiscent names Aron and Caleb. The biggest difference between this version and the 1955 film is the point of origin for the narrative. The feature film centered mostly on 1917 and the relationship between Caleb (James Dean), his brother Aron (Richard Davalos), and their contentious relationship with their parents, Adam (Raymond Massey) and Cathy Ames (Jo Van Fleet). In the Netflix series, the film opens with the violent introduction of Cathy (Florence Pugh) to Charles (Mike Faist) and Adam (Christopher Abbott), then flashing back decades earlier to the young Trask boys learning from their father, veteran soldier Cyrus Trask (Tracy Letts). The different way Cyrus treats his two sons sets the tone for where their adult lives take them.
As you can tell from all of the marketing for this new series, the focus is definitely on Florence Pugh in the role of Cathy Ames. Author John Steinbeck envisioned the female antagonist of the story as the devil incarnate, down to the description of her almost having cloven hooves for feet and a scowl on her face. While she is still absolutely the antagonist of the story, the shift in focus that Zoe Kazan brings to this interpretation of the tale is creating more of an anti-hero quality around Cathy and the choices she makes in her life. Florence Pugh, no stranger to nudity on screen, bears all in multiple ways, as Cathy literally whores herself out throughout the entire series. Pugh is one of the most dynamic actresses working today, and she brings a calculating intensity to this portrayal of Cathy Ames that makes her both terrifying to watch and hard not to sympathize with. The triangle among Cathy and the two Trask brothers is accentuated even further by the excellent performances of Christopher Abbott and Mike Faist. Abbott, who is soon to be seen playing Professor X in the new Marvel film based on the X-Men, is more subtle than we’ve seen him before in an intense performance that is quieter than I would have expected from the actor known for his emotionally resonant performances. Faist gets to be a lot more visceral in his performance here, something reminiscent of his turn in Challengers, and also an impressive performance opposite Pugh and Abbott.
The first several episodes of the series set in the late 1800s and early 1900s could operate as a series unto themselves. As the story progresses, it follows Adam and Cathy’s fraternal twin sons Caleb (Joseph Strada) and Aron (Joe Anders), and it becomes almost a sequel in its own right. The depth and range of the story and the challenges the two younger Trasks face, including Aron’s relationship with Abra Bacon (Zoe Phillips), echo the rivalry between Charles and Adam while the specter of Cathy looms over everyone. The series also boasts impressive turns from Ciaran Hinds, Martha Plimpton, and Your Friends & Neighbors’ Hoon Lee as Trask employee Lee. The thematic cycle from one generation to the next is fascinating to watch, and the gorgeous production values that recreate turn-of-the-century Salinas, California reminded me of the beautiful visuals in last year’s exceptional Train Dreams. The biblical allusions in the story are not subtle but they work far more naturally here than in the film or original novel. This is at times a melodramatic epic of love and loss that is not shy about pushing every emotional button that you may have but it is infinitely more relatable than what was presented in Steinbeck’s book compared to its truncated film adaptation.
Directed by Garth Davis (Lion) and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (Lady Chatterley’s Lover), East of Eden transforms New Zealand’s landscape into early twentieth-century California in muted hues that reminded me of dramas like Brokeback Mountain and Power of the Dog. There is a more mature feel to East of Eden than I anticipated with starkness coming through in emotional trauma at its core not just through repeated conflicts between brothers or any moment featuring Cathy Ames but also through recurring themes like timshel from Steinbeck’s novel. Inspired by a Hebrew word, timshel becomes central to East of Eden. Timshel means “thou mayest,” emphasizing control over one’s destiny within this narrative revitalized by Zoe Kazan. Kazan’s writing credits include impressive works like Ruby Sparks and Wildlife, but they pale compared to her mastery displayed here. Writing with insight beyond her years showcases a powerful transformation for a book already regarded as a masterpiece. While Alexander Chee shares scripting credit on one episode, East of Eden would be recognized as a career-defining moment for Kazan.
Led by what may be Florence Pugh’s best performance yet, East of Eden strengthens melodramatic elements found within John Steinbeck’s novel while restoring overlooked chapters cut from her grandfather’s feature film adaptation while also adding depth to underwritten female characters. East of Eden remains a gripping family saga rooted in biblical allegory but also serves as an engaging adaptation. Zoe Kazan has crafted an accessible yet challenging narrative that resonates with viewers while likely earning numerous accolades. East of Eden stands out as one of this year’s best series offering Florence Pugh another defining performance amidst her already illustrious career. Viewers will find themselves emotionally engaged throughout this epic journey spanning from Civil War-era events through World War I across New England to Salinas Valley.
East of Eden premieres on October 1st on Netflix.
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