East of Eden Reviews on X: Zoe Kazan’s seven-episode Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck’s sprawling classic has finally arrived, bringing Florence Pugh, Mike Faist and Christopher Abbott into the world of the Trask family. As viewers have started making their way through the series, X (formerly Twitter) is already doing what X does best: screaming about television, defending the beloved books, discovering a new obsession and occasionally declaring that a show has done something to them.
The early reactions to East of Eden 2026 are largely praising its performances, particularly Pugh’s portrayal of Cathy, but there is also some pushback, with one viewer calling the first episode clunky and underwhelming. The timeline is divided, but Cathy Ames is getting her bouquet.
East of Eden Reviews on X: Florence Pugh Is Getting Serious Praise for Playing Cathy Ames
If there is one thing that keeps appearing across the early reactions on X, it is FLORENCE PUGH. User @legendaarykay was particularly taken with Pugh’s performance, writing, “Florence Pugh as cathy Ames in East of Eden the actress that you are!!” while adding that Pugh is “acting her absolute ass off here, you can literally feel every single emotion”.
Honestly, that says a lot about what people seem to be responding to in this adaptation. Cathy is not exactly a character you can play on autopilot. Another user, @justmiaslife, was equally enthusiastic, calling Pugh “astonishing” as Cathy Ames. They write that Pugh finds “extraordinary depth and understanding in her without ever softening or taking away her evil”.
They described the performance as “fearless, layered and deeply intelligent” and called it a “masterclass” in acting.
Zoe Kazan’s Adaptation Is Also Getting Bouquets
It is not just Florence Pugh getting her credit. The user also praised Zoe Kazan’s work behind the series writing, “feels like the job of a lifetime for Zoe Kazan, who understands Steinbeck’s novel like no other”, and praised their “creative sisterhood with Florence Pugh”
Another user, @m_stormwitch, after watching just two episodes, was particularly impressed by how closely the series follows its source material. They wrote, “it’s incredible how it’s almost a word for word adaptation of the source material and yet people on the internet told me this was gonna ruin the book without even watching it”
The reaction particularly taps into one of the oldest internet battles surrounding literary adaptation: “the book was better” discourse.
Mike Faist and Florence Pugh Have Already Become an Obsession
X user @louiology kept things more emotional than analytical, writing, “mike faist and florence pugh changed my bitchass life and then thanked Zoe Kazan for the limited series.
It captures the immediate appeal of the casting: Pugh and Faist bring very different energies to the series, and viewers are already responding strongly to their pairing.
Not Everyone Is Feeling the Adaptation
The internet would obviously not remain the internet if there were no differences in opinions. User @ellysmelancholy had a dramatically different response after watching the first episode. They write, “I feel like the victim of a prank. That was so low quality I’m confused and gagged,” further criticising the screenplay as “Clunkier than a field full of boulders” while dismissing the acting, score and cinematography.
It is admittedly one of the more brutal reactions currently floating on X, and it is worth keeping the piece because a review roundup becomes a little pointless when it pretends the internet is a unanimous fan club when there is criticism sitting.
The early response to East of Eden clearly is not entirely a single note. Some viewers are already invested in the performance and the show’s fidelity to the novel, while others are finding the execution far less impressive. The split is probably going to make the conversation around the series even more interesting as more audiences watch the episodes.
The Series Expands Beyond the Film
Another X reaction placed the new adaptation in the context of the story’s previous screen adaptation. X user @rycbar32_ pointed out that, unlike the 1955 East of Eden film starring James Dean that focused on the rivalry between the two brothers, the new series explores the two intertwined families across the larger story.
They wrote, “Unlike the 1955 film with James Dean that only covered rivalry between two brothers from quarter of the book this covers the two intertwined families”, further mentioning that Zoe Kazan is the granddaughter of Elia Kazan, who directed the 1955 film.
So yes, there is an actual family connection sitting inside this little adaptation history and perhaps that makes Kazan’s version feel even more layered as a piece of cinematic history and not simply another attempt at adapting Steinbeck’s story.
So What Is X Saying About East of Eden?
From the early reactions, the loudest reaction is around Florence Pugh. Viewers are praising the intensity, complexity and emotional depth that she brings to Cathy Ames, while reactions describe her work in terms ranging from “astonishing” to a “masterclass”.
Zoe Kazan’s handling of the novel is also earning praise, particularly from the viewers impressed by the show’s fidelity to the novel and its ability to balance scale with intimacy, but there is already a dissenting corner of the internet that finds the adaptation clunky and visually and dramatically underwhelming.
East of Eden is clearly giving viewers plenty to talk about, whether they are analysing characters, screaming about Pugh’s role, defending the adaptation’s faithfulness or wondering what everyone is watching. The series has only “just released”, and the discourse has already moved in.
Watch East of Eden on Netflix.
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