User reviews

As someone who loved the original movie I initially found this really hard to watch as I was constantly comparing the characters to that of the movie.

After a few episodes I was about to stop comparing since in my opinion it's not a remake it's a new series entirely with "similarities". The characters have different names etc. The character I really struggled with at first was Lucian. Even after accepting that it was not a remake I could not warm to his character at all. However, by the last episode he became my favourite.

My advice do not compare - if you do you will be really disappointed. If you can go into it with your eyes open to it being a new show with a sprinkle of similarity then you will enjoy it.

Other than Sara Silva who played CeCe, all of the actors were terribly cast. To say the acting was subpar is an understatement. Not to say they aren't decent actors... But the main characters definitely weren't suited for these roles. The storyline was decent, and while it is understood these aren't the same characters as the original movie, they are loosely based on them. It's not a completely different story.... They mimicked certain scenes from the original, like Caroline kissing Annie. Lucian was meant to be a sexy character like Sebastian was, but how it was thought Zak Burgess was the right look and actor for this role is lost on me. Sara Catherine Hook, who played Caroline, did a decent job of playing a bitch, but like Zak and the Lucien character, they didn't really pull off "sexy and seductive". It would have helped to not use the Cruel Intentions title, for the show, but regardless, these actors and actresses just missed the mark.

Three stars for the first four episodes, but it got better after that.

Still not good enough to even come close to rivalling the 1999 Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Philippe, "Bitter Sweet Symphony" movie. (Written as a kid in Year Nine in 1999, and enamoured with a few scenes in that movie in particular!)

Sarah Catherine Hook is the best thing about the show. She is perfectly cruel, devious and manipulative as Caroline Merteuil, one half of the step-brother/sister focus of the series.

If you stick out the first four episodes, it does get better. But by then it's too late for the series as a whole.

Sometimes Amazon should just leave it alone. This and "Roadhouse" are two examples of modern treatments that should have stayed on the cutting room floor, so to speak.

Seriously. What are they doing? What were they thinking? The worst is the guy playing Lucien. Why would the girls think he's attractive? He looks 14 and is neither suave or debonair. In the scene where he got the attention of the VPs daughter, he looks like a child trying to look like Ferris Bueller. There are some redeeming characters, but not enough to keep you watching. I miss the days when a movie or series did not intentionally try to cover all their bases by including every social demographic and sexual preference. Or at least do it in a way that doesn't come off as forced. Maybe they should have visited a few colleges to get some perspective. If they did, and that's what they found... we need help.

I just started the show and I'm loving it right now. It's pretty good and the characters r cool. It's not something special but it's definitely entertaining. I'm on ep 6 already... lol! If you're looking for a cool show w college kids then I would def give this a try.

Oh and to the person complaining about "no melanin" please stop. Don't make everything about race. How do you feel when people complain about a white character turning black? You applaud it right? So don't complain if there's not enough "melanin" and this is coming from a person of color. Race isn't a big deal just enjoy the show.

This show promised so much but delivered so little. The storyline is painfully dull, dragging along with no real direction or intrigue. The characters are one-dimensional, lacking depth or development, leaving nothing to connect with or root for. The dialogue feels unnatural, almost cringeworthy, as if it's trying too hard to be clever or engaging.

The attempts at flirting are downright awkward, mostly because there's no chemistry between the actors. It's a far cry from the effortless charm and connection we've seen in the movies. Instead, it feels like a group of drama students fumbling through a poorly written play, trying to emulate the intrigue of the original, and failing miserably.

The casting decisions don't help either. The brother, for instance, is completely miscast. Not only does he lack the charisma or allure the role demands, but his presence feels jarringly out of place. He's devoid of any sex appeal, making the character both unconvincing and forgettable. The whole thing is an embarrassing misstep from start to finish.

I was expecting not to like it after the reviews but I found it wildly entertaining and enjoyed the melodramatics and twists. Obviously it is rooted in the original movie but I viewed it as a separate entity and enjoyed how it showcases wealth, power, pleasure, deceit and ultimately reminded me of gossip girl in some ways. It has humor much like the movie and develops some additional characters that weren't in the original movie. Overall it was a fun watch as it was meant to be and don't think people should compare it too much to the original. It's clearly inspired by but not a sequel by any means.

I'll start by saying I don't usually write reviews. However, as someone who typically only watches shows with an IMDb rating above 6.0ish, I felt compelled to share my thoughts. I hope my review encourages others not to skip this show solely based on its current ratings.

This show deserves at least a 6.5 rating. Its main issue isn't the quality itself but the inevitable comparisons to the original Cruel Intentions movie. Remakes or spin-offs rarely live up to the original, and the low ratings seem to reflect that bias. Had the show been titled something else, allowing it to stand on its own merit, it likely would have received a much fairer reception.

I thought the cast was well chosen, with Caroline and Lucien standing out as compelling "villains." Their performances added depth to the story, and I hope the show gets a second season.

Give it a try!

Who casted this? What were they on?!

Lucien looks like a twelve year old muppet that was found at a thrift store. There's no way any 20 year old is finding him attractive, or irresistible. He's actually intolerable.

The girl that plays the VP's daughter is not very convincing.

Terrible acting. Terrible writing. Terrible casting.

I don't think they should've named this, "Cruel Intentions," or used the movie's character names. Maybe then it'd appeal to the younger audience, not comparing it to the movie. None of these actors can hold a candle to Sarah Michelle Geller, Ryan Phillipe, Reese Witherspoon, or Selma Blair.

Listen, there are plenty of callbacks and nods to the 1999 classic. This show is actually really entertaining and good. I'm not sure what all of the negative reviews are on about. This has all of the camp and twisted debouchery that we loved from '99, but it's obviously set in modern times. Honestly, today's youths' obsession with, pains me to say, vintage clothes/style/looks fit really well with this. There's lots of 80s/90s looks that are very nostalgic. These young actors also do a brilliant job. I highly recommend watching this. You won't be disappointed! It's along the lines of the movie, but it's not the same and that's refreshing. It couldn't possibly be the same - but it's similar. So, you'll enjoy it!

The remake is so boring and so slow. It doesn't even hold a candle to the original. The guy who's playing Lucien doesn't even look that attractive, he looks like a middle school kid. I couldn't really get past the first episode, it was so boring and the acting is pretty bad. I'm a big fan of Cruel Intentions and I was looking forward to the remake, in fact I was looking forward to the sequel with Sarah Michelle Gellar. I'm not mad about the show, I'm just a little disappointed. You don't even know who to root for the character development is so bad. This was not a remake me asked for. I wouldn't recommend watching this. This is so bad and so disappointing. The beginning was a little good but then it went downhill for me.

This show is actually very well written and very accurate to how college campuses are now. As for the lack of representation on the college campus, and how white washed it is, that's because they are accurately showing what these elitist sororities and fraternities are actually like. The sarcasm and humor is great within each of the characters. The storylines are compelling. The people who are bad mouthing it clearly wanted a true retelling of a cult classic - but this show in no way tries to be the iconic movie, it draws inspiration from each of the OG characters and creates modern version of the archetypes in a college campus setting. And I actually enjoy the character development, if they had tried to just make a replica of 1999 cruel intentions it would be so unoriginal, and this version does a good job of creating and entirely different story. Incredibly entertaining. And the modern day cece is great, she's endearingly manic. Caroline's character is less of the conniving, unrelatable, yet iconic biotch she was in the movie and actually gets some backstory and I'm here for it. I love it and hope there is a second season.

They had me.. and then they lost me. I've watched the OG. I've even watched the many sequels after. They all had one good thing in common.. IT WASN'T DRAGGED OUT. The Greek system was a nice touch but, GOODNESS! I was annoyed with the characters. And no, I don't just mean the many many character flaws they are supposed to have. I don't want to watch 8 hours of the same scenario over and over in a different package every episode and that's what is happening.

This could have been a great mini series or a limited series but 8 episodes with the possibility of a season 2?? Where. Please let these characters have peace.

Also.. WHO IS LUCIAN!?

For some, it might seem like a dream life, but it's wrapped in such artificiality, aimed at maintaining their position in the hierarchy. A transitional stage into the lives of truly influential people, but also the first serious relationships, wild parties-who among us hasn't experienced that?

I respect the boldness of mocking others in a sarcastic style with a touch of dark humor. Few productions, in today's climate of widespread correctness, manage to stand out and offend in such a raw way.

Initially, I was quite skeptical about this series, but I see a certain potential in it. In the realm of teen productions, it fills the gap left by Euphoria or Sex Education, which, though decent, are painfully proper. Cruel Intentions plays dirty-there are no clean moves here. The target audience, as I somewhat hinted earlier, would likely be teenagers, especially girls, who might be captivated by a multi-threaded, well-developed plot wrapped in charm.

Of course, I won't deny there are aspects that are simply distasteful due to the director's indulgences, but they can be overlooked in such a lightly delivered form. It works as a break in the repertoire between more refined productions.

After finishing the first season, I feel a certain craving to find out how the characters' stories will unfold further.

I personally think the show is pretty good and enjoyable. The first episode really grabbed my attention. While some people are comparing it to the movie, I recommend you watch it yourself and decide if you like it, without paying too much attention to the negative reviews.

I also thought I wouldn't enjoy the series as well, but it turned out to be okay and I can manage it and I think it was a nice spin off to the original it obviously would not be the same to how the movie was like several years ago, time has changed. I liked the cast as well,but i do agree that the person who plays Lucien does look a bit young but regardless still liked his character.

I have watched the first four episodes so far, and although it could never compare to the OG, it's still an okay watch.

It may be a bit over the top with the F bombs, and the glorified casual sex, but it holds it's own with its scheming politics in the Greek system.

I would even go as far to say that some scenes are just comical.

If I could compare it to anything, it would be Gossip Girl OG, with a mix of Greek, and a splash of Cruel Intentions.

So if you liked any of those shows you might like this, but I wouldn't hold my breath for a second season.

I suggest only giving it a shot if you are in a drought with nothing to watch.

I just finishing watching all 8 episodes of the Cruel Intentions TV Series and it was very cruel to watch.

Positives for Cruel Intentions (2024-): Sarah Catherine Hook does a decent job with her performance as Caroline Merteuil in this show and I hope she gets more work in other movies and shows. The show is shot well and looks nice. That's it for the positives.

Negatives for Cruel Intentions (2024-): Everything else in this show is absolute dumpster fire garbage. The storylines in this show could've be really interesting, but they ultimately flop in the execution. I didn't care about any of the other characters in this show and I forgot about most of them already. I understand why they couldn't do the things that were done in the 1999 original movie, but what we have in this series isn't good at all. And, finally, the finale ends with none of the plotlines being resolved at all or I think that's what happen, you know what who cares.

Overall, Cruel Intentions (2024-) is a boring attempt to update the story from the 1999 movie with new ideas and it fails miserably. I wouldn't be surprised if this series gets cancelled soon and I wouldn't be sad because this series was a waste of time.

This tv show is for PURE ENTERTAINMENT! These other reviews are from people that thinks too deep. It's not meant to be based on real time events or "real life". It's meant to be an attention grabber! Again, PURE ENTERTAINMENT! Don't suck the joy out of it by trying to get a message from something that doesn't have a message to deliver. Most people are rating it based on the original movie from years ago that I've never seen but the remake wasn't intended for the brain of the individuals that seen the older version. It's made for teens, people who still enjoy witty things, and drama lovers (coming from someone that doesn't like drama) of 2024. It's meant for the upcoming generation not us born before 1997 that was old enough to watch the romance/thriller version that came out in 1999 . This is a drama in 2024 so it wont compare ! Thats like me growing up on the old spongebob, powerpuff girls, dora, etc. And hating the remakes even though it wasn't made for me, it was made for the kiddos of 2024. Point is give it a chance! It's filled with scandals, lies, hate, love, DRAMA! You'll be glued to your tv like "wtf is this" but then turn around and be like " ohh my goshh i wish they out her already ! " Cool tv show .

I didn't have high hopes for this series, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's much better than the horrible nineties movie, although I think that the stars of the Cruel Intentions movie (with the exception of Ryan Phillippe) will probably be remembered more than the series' stars. I wasn't fond of the male lead, although this may have been more because of the wardrobe and styling than his acting, because he did have moments where he was very charming. I did enjoy the inclusion of sorority and fraternity culture. I enjoyed the updates to today's culture, especially the influence of the internet and social media.

I don't think I'll ever rewatch the show, but I enjoyed spending a few hours watching it.

Overall, I think this was a decent remake, but I still preferred the story when it was called Dangerous Liaisons.

Where did you find these actors and why are you trying to redo this Iconic film again! Do you really think any of these people can possibly play these parts better then or anywhere near as good as, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon or Slema Blair. I don't think so. I guess for the kid these days that aren't used to seeing really good acting may think this is good but it's not. Sorry but I think this 3rd attempt at this should be your last it just doesn't get it. I don't know where these young actors are coming from but they are not being taught by the people that formed the older group of actors. They just done cut it. I'am sorry, maybe it's because I'am older and I grew up with the best. The new ones are few and far between. In my opinion.

It's a pity that so many reviewers keep comparing this version of "Cruel Intentions" with the 1999 movie, even calling that one "the original". Come on, that one was yet another version of the 18th century novel "Liaisons Dangereuses" and before and after there were many more, for instance the notorious 1988 film with Glenn Close and John Malkovich, or the recent (2022) series Dangerous Liaisons with Carice Van Houten. So let's judge this present series for its own merits.

I liked the story, it's entertaining and sexy, and many of the characters get enough depth to make you care for them, like Annie, CeCe and Scott. Unfortunately both main characters Caroline (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lucien (Zack Burgess) stay all the time a bit of a caricature, with their machiavellistic schemes and self-righteous attitudes. While Hook is at least totally convincing as the self-assured b****y queen bee, Burgess seems too baby-faced and boy-next-door to make for a seriously irresistible Don Juan.

The story has some interesting twists, there's a nice change between seriousness, suspense, inside views in the kitchy realms of an upper-class sorority, and some funny storylines, like that of endearing CeCe, which towards the last episodes by the way gets an almost tragic turn; Sara Silva does a really great job!

We are kept dangling in mid-air after the last episode, so they clearly aim at a second season. I hope it will come to that, I'm game.

The very first scene the characters use two sentences that a teenage girl would never utter. "All's well that ends well"??? SERIOUSLY? I haven't heard that in 20 years. Then, "You'd be a power couple...like the Clintons".....really? If you polled 100,000 girls between 18-22 how many would list "the Clintons" as an example of a power couple? I knew it would be bad. The original took risks in a way that films don't take risks today. This is just not the right series for 2024. Even the look of the girls is off. I just watched the trailer again for the old one and it was creepy as all heck...like it's supposed to be. You absolutely believe Ryan as an over the top sweater wielding rich kid. Every character was instantly believable in their role, even SMG playing something that was much different. You also can't make it a series instead of a movie. If you're going to do this, you have to make the audience uncomfortable and the audience doesn't want to be uncomfortable for x number of seasons.

The nail in the coffin is what screams, educated, older women trying to write dialogue of present day teenagers. It always feels like this is their perception of how they think cool kids speak. No humans talk like this.

I started watching this purely so I could hate watch it and by episode 3 I was completely hooked.

I'm not sure why it's getting so much hate because it had drama, suspense and decent storyline. I love how everything the main characters did was calculated and led to a bigger picture. I think this one was cleverly thought out and the writing isn't half bad.

I think a lot of people hated it because they love an original but this is loosely based on the original. It's not a remake, it's a story of its own.. basically what Cruel Intentions would be like if they was teens in 2024 instead of 1999.

It took me a while to warm up to some of the characters, like CeCe for instance. At first I was like "why is she like that?" Then I realised I completely relate to her and she's now my favourite character. She's carried the entire show if I'm honest.

I watched the whole thing in 2 days and to be honest I need 5 other seasons like yesterday. Probably one of the best things I've watched in ages.

Another attempt to retell the well-told story that was succesfully adapted for cinema failed tremendously. Characters are absolutely bleak and uninteresting, but Lucien takes the cake: the guy looks 14, dresses in something I can't even describe properly and somehow is popular with college girls. The entire idea to make the story college-centric was the first nail to the coffin. Pale cast was second, while the story itself takes the prize. Almost impossible to follow it because of various moving parts and secondary characters. DIalogues are absolute nightmare too, if you're wondering. In short: unwatchable, stay away. There are better college shows, there are amazing adaptations of the original story.