New 'Lord of the Flies' Adaptation Is Here: Should You Add This Show to Your Watchlist? (Yes)

BBC One premiered a four-part adaptation of one of the most relevant and darkest literary works of the 20th century: William Golding's Lord of the Flies.

Showrunner Jack Thorne and director Marc Munden have taken on the classic story of a group of schoolchildren who are stranded on a desert island after a plane crash. Their task is not only to retell the familiar plot, but also to discover new nuances.

Did they succeed? Let's find out.

What Is 'Lord of the Flies' About?

It's the mid-1950s. A plane carrying schoolchildren crashes on a tropical island. The adults are killed, leaving the children alone and forced to organize themselves.

Two leaders with opposing approaches immediately emerge: sensible Ralph, who strives for order and attempts to build a semblance of society, and domineering Jack, who sees himself as a hunter and leader. Their conflict is exacerbated by their fear of a mythical beast that supposedly dwells in the jungle.

As their attempts to establish normalcy fail, the fragile norms of morality and cooperation crumble, giving way to paranoia, cruelty, and primal instincts.

BBC's 'Lord of the Flies' Is a Worthy and Respectful Adaptation of the Cult Original Source

This is the third major adaptation of Golding's novel, each of which has been released during a period of profound social pessimism.

The creators of the miniseries approached the material with great reverence, preserving the original's dark and unsettling atmosphere, as well as its central message about the dark side of human nature.

The casting of the young actors is exceptionally successful. Winston Sawyers, Lox Pratt, David McKenna, and Ike Talbut portray compelling, multifaceted characters whose transformation from frightened children to participants in the tragedy keeps viewers on edge.

The visuals, from idyllic beaches to menacing jungles, masterfully heighten the sense of isolation and escalating madness.

The New Adaptation Opts for Psychological Depth Over Hopeless Pessimism

The main difference between this adaptation and its predecessors is the creators' deliberate attempt to infuse the story with humanity and psychological depth. Drawing on his experience working on Adolescence, Jack Thorne focuses on the inner worlds of the key characters.

Each of the four episodes delves deeper into the past and motivations of one of the characters: Piggy, Jack, Simon, and Ralph. Flashbacks reveal topics of family trauma, overprotection, loneliness, and loss that shaped these boys even before the disaster.

This approach neither negates nor trivializes Golding's harsh message; rather, it complicates it, reminding us that behind every manifestation of "evil" lies a damaged human story.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Lord of the Flies'?

• Lord of the Flies has 80% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the series has a score of 6.4/10.

Where to Watch 'Lord of the Flies'?

Lord of the Flies is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.