Hemlock Grove is a horror series built on dread, and it mostly delivers on that promise. The Netflix original, created by Bill Condon and Brian McGinn, follows Peter Kern (Bill Skarsgård) and Roman Kern (Xavier Samuel) as they investigate the death of their sister, Shelley (Katerina Graham), in the small Pennsylvania town of Hemlock Grove. The show blends supernatural terror with murder mystery, and for a while, it holds the audience’s attention through strong performances and a dense, atmospheric setting.
But the series struggles to find its footing. Its second season loses focus, and the finale leaves many questions unanswered. The result is a show that starts strong and ends on a frustrating note.
Trailer, via Netflix.
First Season Sets the Tone
The pilot episode introduces Hemlock Grove as a place of secrets and shadows. The Kern family is wealthy and powerful, but they are also deeply troubled. Peter is a drug addict who hides behind a mask of calm; Roman is a cold, calculating sociopath with a taste for cruelty. Their father, Frank Kern (Ferdinand Kefouri), runs the local mill and controls the town’s politics, but he is a man of contradictions, both charming and menacing.
The show builds its tension around the Kern family’s investigation into Shelley’s death. The police suspect foul play, and the Kern brothers dig deeper, uncovering a web of lies that stretches back decades. Along the way, they meet other residents of Hemlock Grove, including:
- Ethan Quinlan (David Mendenhall), a young man who is a distant relative of the Kerns
- Olivia Godfrey (Ambyr Childers), the town’s golden girl and a rival to Shelley
- Norman Babcock (Landon Liboiron), a nerdy outcast who knows more than he lets on
- Sheriff Romero (Joel Gretsch), the lawman who tries to keep the peace
These characters give the show its emotional weight. Olivia’s jealousy and Norman’s loneliness make the story feel personal, even as the supernatural elements grow stranger. The show’s visual style helps too, with dark forests, foggy streets, and a color palette that leans toward blue and green.
The first season is the strongest part of Hemlock Grove. It sets up the mythology without rushing it, and the performances carry the drama. Skarsgård and Samuel are a compelling duo, and their chemistry makes the show’s central relationship feel authentic. The show also benefits from its setting, which feels like a real place with its own history and rhythms.
Second Season Loses Focus
The second season is where Hemlock Grove begins to falter. The show introduces new characters and new threats, but it fails to maintain the momentum of the first season. The plot becomes more convoluted, and the pacing slows down significantly.
The season introduces a werewolf named Larry (Rufus Sewell) and his daughter, Crystal (Tamara Feldman). Larry is a mysterious figure who seems to know more about the town’s history than anyone else, but his motivations remain unclear for much of the season. Crystal is a teenage girl who is trying to understand her heritage, and her storyline gives the season some emotional depth. But the show spends too much time on Larry’s backstory and not enough on the present-day action.
The second season also introduces a supernatural entity known as the Boogeyman, a malevolent force that stalks the town. This addition adds a layer of horror to the show, but it also dilutes the focus. The Boogeyman storyline is interesting, but it competes with the human drama and sometimes overpowers it.
The second season also suffers from a lack of direction. The show jumps forward in time, skipping months or years between episodes, which can be confusing for viewers. The show also introduces flashbacks that don’t always connect to the present storyline, making the overall narrative feel disjointed.
Finale Leaves Questions Unanswered
The final season of Hemlock Grove ends with a cliffhanger that never gets resolved. The show leaves many threads dangling, and the audience is left wondering what happens to the characters they’ve followed for two seasons. This is a bold choice, but it is also a frustrating one.
The finale brings together all the major players, but it doesn’t deliver the answers the audience wants. The show hints at a larger conspiracy involving the town’s founding families, but it never fully explains the details. The show also raises questions about the nature of reality itself, suggesting that the world of Hemlock Grove might be a construct. These ideas are intriguing, but they are left unexplored.
The finale also ends on a note of uncertainty. The show suggests that the characters might live, but it doesn’t confirm it. This ambiguity is a legitimate artistic choice, but it also leaves the audience feeling unsatisfied. The show has spent two seasons building a world, and then it pulls the rug out from under the viewer.
| Season | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strong performances, atmospheric setting | Some pacing issues |
| 2 | New characters, expanded mythology | Disjointed narrative, unanswered questions |
Cast Carries the Show
Despite the show’s flaws, the cast is uniformly excellent. Skarsgård and Samuel anchor the series with their complex portrayals of Peter and Roman. Their scenes together are some of the best in the show, and their dynamic carries the emotional weight of the story.
Childers and Liboiron also stand out. Childers brings a sharp edge to Olivia, making her a formidable antagonist. Liboiron gives Norman a quiet dignity that makes him sympathetic despite his outsider status. The supporting cast is rounded out by Gretsch’s solid performance as the sheriff, and Sewell brings a chilling presence to Larry.
The show’s production values are also high. The cinematography is moody and atmospheric, and the locations feel lived-in. The show’s sound design is effective, with unsettling music that heightens the tension. The show’s costuming is also notable, with the characters dressed in period-appropriate styles that add to the show’s sense of place.
Final Verdict
Hemlock Grove is a show that is greater than the sum of its parts. Its first season is a strong entry into the horror genre, and its cast is consistently excellent. However, the second season and the finale leave the show feeling unfinished.
The show’s strengths are its performances and its world-building. The show creates a rich, immersive universe that feels lived-in and grounded. The characters are flawed and complex, and their relationships are the heart of the story. The show’s weaknesses are its pacing and its narrative structure. The show loses focus in its later seasons, and the finale leaves the audience wanting more.
Overall, Hemlock Grove is a show that rewards patience but frustrates commitment. It is worth watching for its first season, and it is worth skipping the later seasons unless you are invested in the characters. The show is available to stream on Netflix, and it remains a cult favorite for fans of supernatural horror.
The show’s final score is 4.5 out of 10.
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