Resident Evil is a sci-fi horror and action series released on Netflix on 14 July 2022. Created by Andrew Dabb, it is based on the Japanese video game franchise of the same name and the second adaptation of the franchise, after the animated miniseries Infinite Darkness, and the eighth live-action adaptation after the film franchise.
The cast of the series includes Lance Reddick as Albert Wesker, Jade and Billie’s father, Ella Balinska as Jade Wesker, Tamara Smart as young Jade Wesker, Adeline Rudolph as Billie Wesker, Siena Agudong as young Billie Wesker, Paola Núñez as Evelyn Marcus, Ahad Raza Mir as Arjun Batra, Turlough Convery and Connor Gosatti as Simon.
There are 8 episodes in the series with a runtime of about 45-60 minutes respectively.
-Resident Evil Review Does Not Contain Any Spoilers-
Plot: Parallel Stories Side by Side
The story of the series takes place over two timelines. The first is set in 2022, which shows 14-year-old sisters Jade and Billie Wesker moving to New Raccoon City. Adjusting to the new life and overcoming their past, they realise that their father may be concealing dark secrets about their lives and things that could destroy the world.
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The second timeline takes place over a decade in the future, in 2036 where only 15 million humans remain, with over 6 billion animals and people being infected with the T-virus. It follows Jade, who is fighting for survival in a world overrun by the blood-thirsty infected and mind-shattering creatures.
Recurring Characters But Completely New Story
The series starts off in the year 2036, in London, which is said to be 14 years after the end of most of the civilisation. In a ravaged city, Jade Wesker is on a dangerous mission to study the infected or called ‘zeroes’ and figure out a way to cure or contain them. It has been 6 months and she hasn’t met her family, consisting of Arjun, her husband and her daughter Bea.
Honestly, when I first saw the zombies or zeroes, expecting them to look horrifying but on a closer look, they just look like people with some really bad big pimples or overgrown polyps on their faces. I mean, they should have done a slightly better job with the costume and makeup. Anyway, following Jade’s encounter with them, we are transported to 2022.
In 2022, Jade and Billie Wesker are moving into the New Racoon City with their father Albert Wesker. If you are familiar with the game franchise then you would also know Albert, although he is nothing like the game. A bit subtle family man who can turn intimidating when he needs to. Working with the Umbrella Corporation on new joy program/pills for kids.
There are a few easter eggs here and there, which tie them to the game storyline, like lookout for leeches. Another main character is Evelyn Marcus, who runs the Umbrella Corporation and wants to change the world, on her terms quickly. Although the last Joy program leads to them nuking Racoon city, she still wants to work on the unstable T-virus-based products.
The story goes back and forth from past to future, while the future sequences are mostly your typical action-packed fighting scenes, the backstory story is shown in past flashbacks. How do the teenage sisters uncover the dark secrets about their lives and the corporation, but in the future we only see Jade and Billie ambiguously mentioned to be dead. Is she really dead?
Final Thoughts: Stream It or Skip It?
Resident Evil series on Netflix is an average addition to the long long franchise. It’s not that bad but definitely not as impactful. The viewers who are familiar with the timelines of the game might enjoy the live adaptation (and don’t worry Albert Wesker’s toned-down transformation will make sense later on), but for new viewers, it might look like another take on numerous zombie apocalypse content.
The 2022 timeline starts off with some teenage school drama but soon takes a dark turn and is definitely the attention-grabbing part of the episodes. However, the 2036 timeline is packed with really good action sequences, but at times it looks stretched when Jade transitions from one deadly encounter to another, repeatedly. Also, even though Jade is the lead she doesn’t have any cool fight-off sequence, instead, a disposable side character has a full shining montage.
The series ended on a cliffhanger as we don’t really get to see everything that leads up to the 2036 version of Jade. I guess all the unanswered questions, the origin of the Wesker sisters and their mother might become the plot for the next seasons if there will be any.
Resident Evil is streaming on Netflix.
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(Jeff golhum) UHHhhhhh…..ME….NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…..this is NOT resident evil, they only put the name on ANYTHING these days, this could rather be a horror movie with differents name,
EVERYTHING IN THIS SHOW IS WRONG, there is NOTHING THAT GET ME INNTRESTING TO WATCH IT, im at eps four and its getting worse and worse, the women that boss of umbrella IL FUCKING HATE HER, shes waaaay to happy acting a cold bitch, the only name i know here is wesker, in old games hes supose to be a badass, merciless, scary big guy, a bigg boss, here hes nothing like that, the people who made this has NOT EVER SEEN OR PLAYED THE GAMES, i want to see jill, leon, sherry ada like they really are, im NOT rascist or anything but, its orginaly was white people, but netlix are always doing their way and NEVER EVER LISTEN TO THE FANS, A THREE STAR??!? WHAT THE FUCKING HELL NOO,
il give it a weak 1,0 star, im head butting my head in the brick wall every 10 minutes watching this thurd, my advice: go watch the movies instead, im facepalming and yelling WHYYY THEY DO THAT ITS SO STUPID!??? Are they trying to be killed, if they do this tourment will be over quiker.