‘East Of Eden’ review: brutal American epic powered by Florence Pugh

It hardly needs to be said at this point but the easiest way to make anything better is to add Florence Pugh. East Of Eden proves this once more. The Netflix miniseries starts with her character Cathy, beaten and bloody, dragging herself over the threshold of the Trask brothers’ house. Appalled, they take her in but soon they’re arguing over this mystery woman’s motives, while Cathy sits upstairs and eavesdrops on them both. What’s going on behind her eyes? Pugh makes sure we’re kept guessing. READ MORE: The best TV shows of 2026… so far! So begins the latest adaptation of John Steinbeck’s Cain and Abel-inspired fable: an epic tale of suffering and self-determination in which almost all the characters end up roundly miserable. Written and executive-produced by Hollywood star Zoe Kazan (whose grandfather, Elia, directed the celebrated 1955 film adaptation), this is a version that goes heavy with its mournful string soundtrack and all-star cast. But they’re worth the investment, because there’s plenty of meat in this multigenerational saga. Cathy’s arrival merely accelerates the slow-burning rift between Adam and Charles Trask, here played with a touching reserve by Christopher Abbot...