RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness tries to bring the video game franchise to life as an animated series, and it mostly fails. The show follows Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield as they investigate a mysterious signal linked to a terrorist attack. It sounds like a solid setup. In practice, the execution drags down the premise.
Trailer, via Netflix.
Leon and Claire’s Mission
Leon and Claire are both members of the United States Strategic Homeland Division. They join forces to find out what caused the signal and stop a growing threat. Their partnership carries some weight. The problem is that the plot around them refuses to commit to any one direction.
The series jumps between multiple timelines and perspectives, and the script never settles on a single thread. This makes the pacing uneven. Some episodes move at a brisk clip while others stall over exposition that never pays off.
The Signal Mystery
The signal itself is meant to be the mystery at the center of the story. It connects to a terrorist attack and to the show’s villain, who is revealed to be a familiar face from the games. That villain reveal lands as a surprise, but the setup around it is thin. The show spends too much time circling the signal without showing us why it matters.
The terrorist angle also gets short shrift. The show introduces a group that feels like a placeholder rather than a real threat. Their motives are never fully explained, and their actions feel more like plot devices than genuine obstacles.
Character Moments
The best moments in RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness come from its characters rather than its plot. Leon and Claire share a history that the show occasionally draws on, and their scenes together carry more emotional weight than any of the action sequences.
There are also guest appearances from other characters from the games, including a few surprises. These moments are brief, but they add a sense of continuity that the main storyline lacks. The show leans on nostalgia more than it builds new ground.
Animation and Sound
The animation is competent, though it doesn’t push the boundaries of the medium. Characters look like their video game counterparts, and the action scenes are staged with care. The sound design does a better job, with tense scores that match the show’s attempts at suspense.
“The show leans on nostalgia more than it builds new ground.”
That tension is undercut by the writing, which can’t sustain the mood it creates visually.
Where It Falls Short
The biggest failure is the show’s inability to balance its ambitions. It wants to be a spy thriller, a horror story, and a character drama all at once. None of those elements get enough room to breathe. The result is a series that feels scattered, even when individual scenes are strong.
The pacing is a constant issue. Episodes run long, and the middle stretch often loses focus. There are stretches where the show repeats information it already covered in earlier episodes, which makes the runtime feel longer than it should be.
The Final Stretch
The season finale tries to tie everything together, but the payoff is weak. The resolution to the signal mystery is rushed, and the final confrontation with the villain feels underwhelming. The show ends with a cliffhanger, but it’s a cliffhanger that doesn’t leave you wanting more so much as confused about what you just watched.
What Works
Despite its flaws, RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness isn’t a complete loss. The voice acting is strong, and the show’s commitment to its characters pays off in small moments rather than grand set pieces. The animation holds up well, and the music remains the show’s strongest element.
The show also benefits from its familiarity with the source material. Fans of the games will recognize references and callbacks that non-fans might miss, but they don’t carry the narrative on their own.
The Verdict
RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness has a promising premise and occasional strong character work, but it can’t overcome its structural problems. The plot is too scattered, the pacing is uneven, and the payoff is underwhelming. It’s a show that fans of the games might enjoy for its callbacks, but it doesn’t hold up as a standalone piece of entertainment.
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