The Resident Evil Netflix Show is an Abomination, But There’s Still Plenty of Room for RE on TV

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Back in 2017, I remember seeing this fake poster floating around online claiming there was a Resident Evil Netflix series coming. It looked pretty cool – all creepy doors, which I later found out was just a photoshopped image from The Haunted Mansion poster – and it made it seem like they were going to base the show on the original game. Turns out it was a total fake, but Resident Evil actually did get a Netflix series in 2022. Honestly, everyone trashed it – the critics hated it, and fans were super disappointed – so I didn’t even bother checking it out when it came out.

I’d seen enough of the poorly-made Resident Evil films and wasn’t eager to watch another live-action adaptation of a franchise I loved. However, with the 30th anniversary of Resident Evil, I decided to revisit everything related to the series. I replayed the games, watched all the animated movies, read the novels by S.D. Perry, and even endured all the live-action films. Finally, I challenged myself to binge-watch the entire Netflix series in a single sitting.

The Netflix series based on Resident Evil didn’t live up to expectations. While it occasionally references elements from the games, it largely ignores the established storyline, making it feel like a superficial adaptation. It comes across more as a poorly made teen drama than a faithful Resident Evil experience, though it’s unintentionally funny at times.

This article will have SPOILERS for the Resident Evil franchise.

What is the Resident Evil Netflix Show About?

The Netflix series Resident Evil jumps between two timelines. One follows the children of Albert Wesker as they learn about his connection to the Umbrella Corporation in the past. The other takes place in a future where the world has been destroyed by monsters created by Umbrella, resulting in a story set after the apocalypse.

The Netflix series Resident Evil features classic monsters from the games, including zombies, zombie dogs, and lickers. There’s even a character who strongly resembles the famous chainsaw-wielding enemy from Resident Evil 4, and the show playfully includes a reference to the memorable (and somewhat silly) “master of unlocking” line from the original game.

Okay, so episode 5 of the Resident Evil show really felt like playing the games! I loved seeing Billie and Jade teaming up to figure out puzzles, finding important items, and unlocking hidden areas. The piano part with “Moonlight Sonata” was a great touch, and discovering those videos of Lisa Trevor was seriously creepy. But the best part? Wesker casually mentioning how he apparently died in a volcano! That totally confirms Resident Evil 5 is officially part of the show’s story, which is awesome!

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Overall, the Resident Evil series on Netflix isn’t worth your time. It drags on slowly, the characters aren’t very engaging, and there’s not much of a compelling reason to keep watching. While Lance Reddick delivers a strong performance – especially as the different versions of Wesker – and is a standout, the rest of the show is difficult to get through. It’s easily one of the worst shows Netflix has produced, and that’s saying something considering how many bad shows are on the platform.

There’s Plenty of Room for Another Resident Evil TV Show

Despite the cancellation of the Resident Evil Netflix series after just one season and the generally negative reaction from fans, another attempt at a TV adaptation could still work. The idea hinted at in that early, unofficial poster—a series based directly on the first Resident Evil game—has real promise. It’s surprising that, after seven live-action movies and a full Netflix season, we haven’t yet seen a faithful adaptation of the original game.

A Netflix series based on the original Resident Evil game – or even Resident Evil Zero – would be a great way to approach a TV adaptation without interfering with the existing movies. The recent Welcome to Raccoon City movie didn’t succeed, and plans for a sequel were cancelled. The upcoming Resident Evil movie in 2026 is expected to be a completely new story, not based on the games. Hopefully, Netflix or another streaming service will try making a Resident Evil TV series that truly honors the games. It would be disappointing if the 2022 show was the only TV attempt for the franchise, especially since it wasn’t well-received.

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2026-03-28 16:04