Season 1 – The Outsider

2020

Crime

Drama

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List

91%

Tomatometer

76 Reviews

82%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Based on Stephen King's best-selling novel of the same name, "The Outsider" begins by following an investigation which at first seems like it will be simple and straightforward but things change as it leads into the gruesome murder of a young boy by a seasoned cop. When an insidious supernatural force edges its way into the case, it leads the investigators to question everything they believe in. The character of Holly Gibney from "Mr. Mercedes" is a major character in this series.

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Critics Consensus

Though The Outsider's slow burn isn't always satisfying, it remains watchable thanks to its excellent performances -- especially series standout Cynthia Erivo.

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Graeme Blundell

The Australian

Mendelsohn continuing his great work in TV, with another display of that distinctive brand of jittery intensity, as a Georgia cop who is faced with the grisly investigation, a particularly unpleasant and brutal murder of a child.

Dec 16, 2020

Full Review

Karl Quinn

The Age (Australia)

The Outsider pulls off a remarkable high-wire balancing act... It's classic King, this eruption of the otherworldly in the midst of Middle American normality.

Feb 14, 2020

Full Review

Roxana Hadadi

Pajiba

The whirlingly macabre, ruthlessly tense, and transfixingly spooky mood of The Outsider makes the mini-series a must-see this spring.

Jan 19, 2020

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Daniel Seddon

NME (New Musical Express)

Hopefully, The Outsider's Fincher-flavoured intensity and sharp acting performances will prove a winning combination for viewers.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 13, 2021

Full Review

Fausto Ponce

Alta Fidelidad Magazine

The Outsider continues to hold us in deep suspense. [Full review in Spanish]

Apr 26, 2021

Full Review

Valerie Ettenhofer

Film School Rejects

It's King's oeuvre as we've never seen it done before, with moody camerawork, taut scripts, and what at first appears to be a complete genre shift for the Master of Horror.

Apr 19, 2021

Full Review

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Eddie A

Slow phase but a good show. was hoping for season 2. :(

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/18/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Almost as good as True Detective season 1. But close!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/24

Full Review

Raiodesol S

Slow paced and very introspective, giving life to its characters and really getting you involved in the story, it, by the end, starts to be a little similar to… well… IT. A creature that feeds on children that hides in the shadows and no one believes. They say writers are doomed to write the same story over and over, and since this is an adaptation of a Stephen King’s book, it figures. Even with that, and it’s weird and speedy finale, the show manages to deliver great characters with good mystery solving.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/02/24

Full Review

Tim H

One positive: I walked away impressed by Jason Bateman's directing abilities. He crushed the first 2 episodes. Then is slowly went downhill. It reminded me of a couple having an argument. Random things said back and forth, then dismissed a few minutes later. I couldn't put myself through the whole season. I stopped at episode 7.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/01/24

Full Review

Nashville I

The Outsider is a good mystery-thriller, but there's just way too much wasted time. Episodes 1-3, great. Episodes 4-10 should've been 3, maybe 4 episodes at most. There are countless scenes that go nowhere, and have no impact on anything. Then even worse, there are are huge plot developments that main characters CHOOSE not to react to. It's obvious when there's a plot twist the screenwriters are choosing not to do anything about it, because they need the show to stretch to 10 unnecessary episodes. There's enough mystery to keep you hooked, but way too much fluff in the middle. Also, the villain to be fleshed out wayyyy more than he was in the end.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/15/24

Full Review

Hei Det E

Although the premise is interesting and above the average for your run of the mill thriller/mystery show, "The Outsider" runs out of ideas about halfway through. It's nicely and believably acted, but the cast aside, some characters end up quite flat and one-dimensional. If a weekend of binge watching is what you're looking for, you could do a lot worse - but don't expect "The Outsider" to stay in your mind for longer than it takes the end credits to roll (pun intended).

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/14/24

Full Review

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Ben Mendelsohn

Ralph Anderson

Jason Bateman

Terry Maitland

Julianne Nicholson

Glory Maitland

Mare Winningham

Jeannie Anderson

Marc Menchaca

Jack Hoskins

Bill Camp

Howie Salomon

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Episode 1

Aired Jan 12, 2020

Fish in a Barrel

When the body of an 11-year-old boy is found in the Georgia woods, detective Ralph Anderson launches an investigation into the gruesome murder; eyewitnesses and physical evidence point to local teacher and baseball coach Terry Maitland.

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Episode 2

Aired Jan 12, 2020

Roanoke

Ralph admits to being baffled by conflicting physical evidence; an unexpected tragedy throws the investigation into a tailspin; Glory tries to soothe her daughter Jessa, who says she's been visited by a strange man in her room at night.

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Episode 3

Aired Jan 19, 2020

Dark Uncle

Despite being on mandatory leave, Ralph continues to scrutinize the confounding circumstances surrounding the night of the murder; Jack has a hair-raising experience at a remote barn where key evidence and a mysterious substance have been found.

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Episode 4

Aired Jan 26, 2020

Que Viene el Coco

While retracing the Maitlands' recent family vacation, Holly pursues a possible connection to an eerily similar case and gains valuable insight from local former detective Andy Katcavage; Glory faces increased scrutiny in her daily life.

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Episode 5

Aired Feb 2, 2020

Tear-Drinker

After returning from an eye-opening trip to New York, Holly searches for clues at several locations connected to the Dayton case; Jeannie finds herself shaken by an unnerving incident at work and delivers an ominous warning to Ralph.

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Episode 6

Aired Feb 9, 2020

The One About the Yiddish Vampire

Holly presents her theory about the connection between two other child murders and the Frankie Peterson case; while Ralph remains skeptical, a more receptive Yunis suggests they start looking into Claude, the last person to have contact with Terry.

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Episode 7

Aired Feb 16, 2020

In the Pines, In the Pines

Holly tries to help a volatile but conflicted Jack, while their whereabouts are being tracked by Ralph and Alec; after she's confronted by gossip, Glory considers Howie's suggestion on how to secure her family's financial future.

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Episode 8

Aired Feb 23, 2020

Foxhead

Sensing something ominous afoot, Claude reconnects with his brother in Tennessee, while Holly, Ralph, Yunis, and Andy follow him in hopes of isolating the evil force and thwarting its next kill; a visiting family avoids a dangerous encounter.

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Episode 9

Aired Mar 1, 2020

Tigers and Bears

After obscuring their true purpose in town from local police, Ralph and Yunis interview witnesses from the cave festival, while Holly and Andy visit the scene; later, the group considers its next move as Claude deals with the weight of his role.

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Episode 10

Aired Mar 8, 2020

Must/Can't

The group finds itself in a climactic showdown in their last-ditch effort to root out El Coco.

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The Outsider: Limited Series Featurette - The First Two Episodes