William Golding’s classic 1954 dystopian novel gets its first television adaption written by Jack Thorne (Adolescence) and directed by Marc Munden (Utopia, The Sympathizer) about a group of schoolboys stranded on a tropical island in the Pacific following a plane crash. Ralph (Winston Sawyers) is named their leader, and with the help of intellectual “Piggy” (David McKenna), they work to survive and be rescued, but soon another boy, Jack (Lox Pratt), leads a rebellion, and their tentative “society” devolves into warring factions in this timeless and tragic tale of human nature. (four approximately 60-min. episodes)
Lord Of The Flies
What’s it rated? TV-MA
What’s it worth, Anna? Full price
What’s it worth, Glen? Full price
Where’s it showing? Netflix
Glen: If you’ve seen director Peter Brook’s 1963 black and white film that rather slavishly follows Golding’s spartanly written 200-page book and clocks in at just 92 minutes, you might be wondering how Thorne manages to wring four hours out of this tale. It’s simple: backstory. Thorne adds more information that in turn makes the characters—even Jack—more sympathetic. Some might find this sacrilegious—you don’t mess with a classic—but I found it even more interesting and insightful. In Golding’s book, the boys’ descent into anarchy feels inevitable, but in Thorne’s hands, what happens has a lot to do with past experiences. It remains a gripping and tragic story, and Mark Wolf’s cinematography is stunning. Totally worth the four-hour investment.
Anna: I remember reading this book and feeling dread with every page turn and sadness with how quickly and easily these boys fell into utter menace. I can’t say that the dread subsided with this series. We’re still watching ego and fear overtake Jack’s crew as Nicky’s (yes, Piggy’s real name is revealed) attempt at law and order is swiftly overruled. This series is absolutely gorgeous. From the dense jungles of the islands to the steadily growing layers of filth on the boys’ skin, Munden did a masterful job building this world. Writer Thorne has a knack, and apparently a fondness, for writing about the complicated and sometimes dark world that lives in a young boy’s mind, but also the tenderness that lies there. The love we see between some of these boys, Nicky is an especially tender soul, brings this retelling of a classic to a new level. I don’t ever want to watch humanity turn on itself, but we get more from this than just that. We get a tragic love story and reminder of what small kindnesses can mean in even the darkest times.
Glen: Each episode is named after the four main characters, one being Simon (Ike Talbut), a sensitive, wide-eyed boy we discover became close to Jack when they were both left at school over the holidays. After Jack and his gang split off from Ralph, Nicky, and their crew, Simon realizes Jack has stolen his diary in which he revealed his feelings for him. A hint of gay subtext. If you’ve read and recall the book, you know what’s coming, but again, Thorne adds his own elaborations onto the events. Are humans hardwired toward violence, power, and chaos? Sometimes it seems like it, but we also see examples of cooperation and kindness. More of that, please!
Anna: Those glimpses of vulnerability, kindness, and cooperation become so meaningful when pitted against the atrocities that hate, power, and ego bring. I think we got a bit of the female version of Lord of the Flies with Yellowjackets, another great series that explores the depths of what desperation and isolation bring. Listen, I can’t say that this is a fun story to watch unfold, but it’s done masterfully here. I have nothing but praise for both the actors and makers of this sadly beautiful series.
New Times Arts Editor Glen Starkey and freelancer Anna Starkey write Sun Screen. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in May 14 – May 21, 2026.