Netflix viewers are binge-watching all seven episodes of intense new drama East of Eden

Netflix viewers appear to have found their latest binge-watch obsession. East of Eden, the new seven-part limited series starring Florence Pugh, has been drawing praise for its gripping story, striking visuals and performances, with some viewers admitting they struggled to stop watching once they started.

The series, which arrived on Netflix in October 2026, has also earned a strong response from critics, with its Rotten Tomatoes approval rating sitting between 87% and 89%.

Based on John Steinbeck’s acclaimed novel, the drama offers a fresh interpretation of the story and puts a greater focus on one of its most complicated characters, Cathy Ames, played by Pugh.

Viewers told they will want to watch every episode

With Netflix offering an enormous selection of dramas, true crime series and reality shows, finding something worth committing to can be difficult. But TV reviewer Luke Eccleston believes East of Eden should be high on the watch list this month.

Speaking to his 497,000 followers on TikTok, Luke recommended the series to anyone searching for a limited show they can binge in one sitting.

He warned viewers that the biggest problem may be stopping once the first episode is over.

“If you’re looking for a limited series to go and binge-watch on Netflix right now, stop and watch this one. The only warning I have is that once you start it, you’re going to wanna watch every single episode,” he said.

Luke went on to reveal that he had watched the entire seven-episode series himself.

“The series I’m talking about is called East of Eden. Now this is a seven-part limited series and I have binge watched every single episode. The performances in this show are incredible,” he added.

Netflix released all seven episodes globally on October 1, 2026.

Florence Pugh leads the cast

Created by Zoe Kazan, East of Eden revisits Steinbeck’s story through a contemporary lens, following the Trask family across generations in California’s Salinas Valley.

Pugh plays Cathy Ames, the show’s layered and manipulative antiheroine. Her interpretation gives the story a more female-focused perspective, while Christopher Abbott and Mike Faist play the rival brothers Adam and Charles Trask.

The central mystery begins when the brothers encounter a badly injured young woman outside their home.

Describing the opening of the story, Luke said: “It follows these two brothers, who are one day in their house. They hear something outside their door, and when they open it, they find a girl covered in blood, battered and bruised.”

From there, the story grows increasingly complicated as the characters’ lives stretch across decades and events from the past begin to catch up with them.

“As this story spans over decades, the past catches up with them. It creates for this intense, fantastically shot show that you absolutely have to go and see,” Luke said.

The series’ seven episodes follow the Trask family through different stages of their lives, with the story exploring how the past continues to shape the next generation.

Fans say it is difficult to stop watching

The reaction from viewers has been similarly enthusiastic.

Luke’s TikTok video has received more than 900 likes, with commenters sharing their own experiences of watching the series.

One viewer wrote: “I started this afternoon and had to force myself to stop after 3 episodes.”

Another simply said: “Watched it all in one go.”

A third viewer described it as a “marathon night”, adding that they loved the series.

Another fan admitted to having reservations before watching because East of Eden is their favourite book.

“I had my doubts going into this because this is my favourite book of all time. I didn’t think they would be able to pull off a 602-page book. I’m only three episodes in, and so far I am loving it,” they wrote.

The show’s popularity has also been reflected on Netflix, where it climbed to the top position on the platform shortly after its release.

Critics praise the adaptation

The response from critics has been strong too.

Rotten Tomatoes currently lists East of Eden with an 87% Tomatometer score based on 52 reviews, while reports around its initial release put the rating as high as 89%.

Much of the praise has focused on Florence Pugh’s performance as Cathy, as well as the series’ cinematography and visual presentation.

The adaptation also gives Zoe Kazan room to explore the source material across seven episodes rather than condensing the story into a feature film. Netflix notes that Kazan wrote and executive produced all seven episodes, allowing the series to delve further into Cathy and the Trask family’s story.

For viewers who enjoy atmospheric period dramas, complicated family relationships and mysteries that unfold over generations, East of Eden is quickly emerging as one of Netflix’s notable new dramas of October 2026.