Stephen King’s new sci-fi horror TV showThe Instituteis dividing audiences and critics on Rotten Tomatoes following its recent two-episode premiere. Based on King’s 2019 novel of the same name, thestory ofThe Institutefollows telekinetic teenager Luke Ellis, who is kidnapped and studied at the titular building while trying to escape with other kids around his age.
The Institute, which had its two-episode premiere Sunday, July 13 on MGM+, has been dividing critics and audiences onRotten Tomatoes. According to the site,the show has a 71% rating from critics based on 14 reviews, while it carries a 55% from less than 50 audience scoresas of writing. Audiences are clearly more mixed about the series' quality.
What The Institute’s Rotten Tomatoes Scores Say About The Show
It’s Winning Over Critics More Than Audiences
While both scores could be considered mixed, there’s clearly a higher level of positivity surrounding the series from critics.Reviews forThe Institutepraise it for a unique story with compelling characters. This includes the way it’s presented and how it ties Luke and police officer Tim Jamieson’s stories together as intense events unfold throughout.
However,audiences are less forgiving about any shortcomings the show may have. Reviews from audiences criticize the acting and pacing, with some having issues with thecharacters inThe Institutenot being fleshed out enough. However, there are also positive reviews which, while not perfect, emphasize how much they’re enjoying the show so far.
Given the divide between critics and audiences, it seems likeThe Institutestill has some way to go before being able to bridge that gap. However, the series has only just begun, and with six episodes remaining, has plenty of time to increase the intrigue. Given positive reviews from critics, it sounds like that’s the direction it will be headed.
Our Take On The Institute’s Rotten Tomatoes Divide
The Show Still Has Time To Prove Itself To Audiences
Critic reviews are based on more than just the two episodesthat have been released so far. Because audiences haven’t seen the full series, it’s possible the show’s score with them will improve as new episodes come out. While some may feel the show had a rocky start, this could be rectified as the weeks progress.
Luckily, the series maintains plenty of elements from the original novel, making it a familiar tale to those who already know King’s work. Because of its status as an adaptation,The Institutewill likely play even more into the ideas of the book as the plot progresses, perhaps alleviating unhappiness with how it’s been presented.
