Crystal Lake prequel series splits critics on whether Pamela Voorhees origin story works

Crystal Lake landed on Peacock October 15 and hit Sky/NOW in the UK four days later. It's an eight-episode prequel to Friday the 13th, set in the early 1970s, following Pamela Voorhees after her son Jason drowns at Camp Crystal Lake. Linda Cardellini plays Pamela, the lunch lady who became the original killer in the first film. Brad Caleb Kane—who also worked on IT: Welcome To Derry—runs the show.

The series adds a conspiracy subplot to the drowning and Pamela's descent. Callum Vinson plays young Jason. William Catlett plays Sheriff Levon Brooks, a romantic interest for Pamela. Gwendolyn Sundstrom plays Grace Snell, an original character who's a close friend of Jason's. The show leans on practical effects and delivers grisly deaths across its run.

Critics can't agree what kind of show this is

One outlet calls it meandering, mostly scare-free, visually bland, and neither funny nor fun. That reviewer says the conspiracy angle feels misguided, unlikely to win new fans or please old ones, and criticizes the lack of nudity and relatively tame sex scenes. The same review argues Cardellini is far better than the material deserves.

Another outlet calls it thrilling, inventive, creepy and clever, with plenty to engage viewers. That review says the conspiracy pays off spectacularly, reassures fans the show isn't light on kills, and considers Cardellini's performance reason enough to watch.

Worth your time?

Cardellini's presence elevates whatever the show ends up being. Just know you're signing up for origin story, not summer camp mayhem. The series focuses on how a mother's grief turns her into a killer, not the hockey mask era that came later.

Crystal Lake is streaming now on Peacock in the US and Sky/NOW in the UK.