When we talk about the film Cruel Intentions from 1999, a cult work that marked an entire generation, it is impossible not to remember its dark aura, its perfidious manipulations, and its subtle but impactful eroticism. The series adaptation proposed by Prime Video tackles a major challenge: reinventing this universe while placing it in a new era. Unfortunately, season 1, made up of eight episodes, struggles to capture the essence of its predecessor and oscillates between broken promises and narrative hesitations. The plot of the series takes place in a university universe in Washington, DC, where two half-siblings, Caroline Merteuil and Lucien Belmont, orchestrate a power game on their campus. They rely on their key roles in fraternities and sororities to maintain their social status.
At a prestigious university in Washington. Two students, ruthless half-brother and half-sister, are ready to do anything to stay at the top. After a brutal hazing incident threatens the entire university system, they will do whatever is necessary to preserve their power and reputation – even if it means seducing the daughter of the Vice President of the United States.
Their ultimate ploy: seduce the daughter of the Vice President of the United States, Annie Grover, in order to protect their interests in the face of an investigation linked to a hazing scandal. This transposition of the original setting to the academic world had everything to enrich the story, in particular by exploring the dynamics of fraternities and their codes of belonging. However, this choice remains under-exploited. The characters get bogged down in plots that lack the tension and psychological acuity needed to truly captivate. If the concept is promising, the series never follows through on its ideas. Caroline Merteuil is supposed to embody Machiavellian intelligence and cold manipulation. Yet she sometimes seems too obsessed with superficial issues, like maintaining the prestige of her Delta Phi Pi sorority.
Her machinations, while frequent, lack the depth and calculated cruelty that were the venomous charm of the original Kathryn character in the 1999 film. For his part, Lucien, her accomplice and half-brother, suffers from a lack of of charisma and an inability to fully embody the arrogance and danger his role demands. The supporting characters, while varied, also fail to rise to the level of expectations. Cece Carroway, Caroline's right-hand man and a character with frenetic energy, remains an interesting addition but never fully exploited. His relationship with a professor or the efforts of Beatrice Worth, a university activist, to bring down Caroline, could constitute captivating plots, but they blend into an overall lukewarm story.
The series constantly teases promising elements: sexual tensions, manipulation games, and psychological dramas. But these elements are never exploited to their full potential. Instead of delving into the emotional chaos and toxic relationships that could form the thrilling heart of the story, it stays on the surface, too cautious to truly disturb. A striking example is the leak of Lucien's sex tapes. An event that, in a bolder series, could have triggered major upheavals, but here the impact is barely felt. There's a strange hesitation felt, as if the series is afraid to fully explore the dark, realistic consequences of its storylines.
The main problem with this first season lies in its uneven pacing. The first two episodes laboriously lay the foundations, but interest takes time to manifest. It is only from the third episode that the issues begin to become clearer, but without ever managing to completely captivate. Many moments feel drawn out, making it feel like the story is trying to fill the eight episodes with subplots that lack substance. This slowness is accentuated by dialogues that are often not very impactful and scenes which, although aesthetically pleasing, lack the emotional and dramatic intensity necessary to truly make an impression.
Visually, the series manages to capture an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere, true to the spirit of Cruel Intentions. The costumes, sets and staging reflect a certain level of quality. But this aesthetic is not enough to fill the narrative gaps. A series like this must go beyond appearance and immerse its viewers in a whirlwind of complex manipulations and emotions. Here, everything remains too clean, too controlled, without any real risk-taking. Cruel Intentionsas a series, had the potential to establish itself as a landmark work by fully embracing the cynicism, audacity, and perversity that made the original film famous. Instead, she seems to constantly hesitate, as if worried about being too dark or too provocative for her target audience.
In comparison, other series set in university settings, such as Tell Me Liesmanage to explore similar themes with palpable tension and manipulative characters that fascinate as much as they frighten. Cruel Intentionson the other hand, seems to soften its angles, thereby diluting the impact of its plots. If a second season sees the light of day, it will absolutely have to abandon its hesitations and allow itself to plunge headlong into chaos and darkness. Character relationships should become more complex and dangerous, while subplots should be integrated more organically into the main narrative. Above all, the series must rediscover the audacity which was the strength of its original inspiration. Without this, it risks remaining a bland adaptation, incapable of leaving a lasting imprint.
The first season of Cruel Intentions leaves a mixed impression. While it has some interesting elements and some entertaining moments, it fails to capture the intensity and calculated nastiness that could have made it a must-watch series. The promises are there, but they do not materialize, leaving a taste of unfinished business. A series like this cannot afford to be timid: it must dare, shock and fully embrace its ambitions. For now, Cruel Intentions remains a pale shadow of what it could have been.
Note : 3.5/10. In short, Cruel Intentions remains a pale shadow of what it could have been.
Available on Amazon Prime Video
