Quick answer: Early reviews of MGM+’s Treasure Island agree that the six-part adaptation looks ambitious and benefits from David Oyelowo’s Long John Silver, but critics disagree with—or question—how its new ideas serve Robert Louis Stevenson’s story. The Hollywood Reporter’s Angie Han called it “handsome but undercooked,” while The Guardian and RogerEbert.com published much harsher assessments. The common issue is not a lack of effort; it is whether the reinvention gives Jim Hawkins enough emotional weight to make the adventure work.
Updated October 12, 2026. This is an early-review roundup, not a final audience verdict. The series is still releasing weekly, and the number of published reviews remains limited.
What does “handsome but undercooked” mean?
The phrase comes from The Hollywood Reporter’s October 10 review by Angie Han. It captures a familiar problem with expensive literary adaptations: the production can look carefully made while the storytelling still feels unfinished. In this case, the series reworks character roles and plot elements instead of simply retelling Stevenson’s 1883 novel. Han’s review recognizes the scale of that ambition but argues that the execution does not fully deliver on it.
That distinction matters. “Handsome” is a judgment about the visual world and craft; “undercooked” is a judgment about whether the drama, characters and ideas have had enough time to develop. A stormy ship, period costumes and a commanding pirate can establish atmosphere quickly. A coming-of-age story needs something harder: a convincing inner life for Jim, meaningful consequences for his choices and a clear reason for changing a classic that already has a strong dramatic engine.
What the early critics are saying
The Hollywood Reporter: ambition without enough payoff
Angie Han’s review describes a version of Treasure Island that changes characters and plot elements freely, bringing themes of subjugation and rebellion forward and placing historical events such as the Haitian Revolution in the background. The review’s “handsome but undercooked” framing suggests that the series has plenty of ideas and visual polish, but does not consistently turn those ingredients into compelling drama.
That is a more useful takeaway than treating the headline as a simple thumbs-down. A bold adaptation can be worthwhile even when its parts do not fit together. The question is whether the new material deepens the original story—or merely makes it busier.
The Guardian: Jim risks becoming a supporting character in his own story
The Guardian’s October 12 review is substantially more negative, awarding the series two out of five stars. The review objects to the adaptation’s added abilities, stylized flashbacks, melodramatic dialogue and expanded role for Bess Hawkins, played by Hayley Atwell. Its central concern is that Jim, played by Tom Sweet, lacks enough charm and depth to anchor the adventure.
This criticism gets to the heart of the adaptation’s biggest risk. Bess’s expanded role can make the story feel fresher and give a familiar tale a different emotional center. But if her story consistently eclipses Jim’s, the series may weaken the coming-of-age arc that gives the treasure hunt its lasting meaning.
RogerEbert.com: the reinvention does not justify its changes
Rendy Jones’s review for RogerEbert.com is also sharply critical. It argues that the new material—particularly the emphasis on Bess and the grittier tone—does not justify the length or the departure from the original adventure. The review praises Atwell’s charisma but contends that Jim is reduced to a device for moving the plot rather than becoming a fully developed protagonist.
These reviews are not identical, and they should not be presented as if every critic reached the same conclusion. They do, however, raise a shared question: does the adaptation’s reinvention make the characters more compelling, or does it pull attention away from the boy whose choices are supposed to shape the journey?
Why David Oyelowo keeps coming up in the discussion
Long John Silver is a difficult role to refresh. The character must be charming enough to win trust, threatening enough to make betrayal frightening, and complicated enough that viewers understand why other characters follow him. Early coverage repeatedly singles out Oyelowo’s performance as a strength, even when reviewers are unconvinced by the larger series.
That contrast may explain why the show can feel promising in individual scenes yet less satisfying as a whole. A strong central performance can create tension and ambiguity, but it cannot by itself solve structural questions about pacing, point of view or character development. Silver may be the most immediately vivid presence in the story; Jim still needs to feel like the person whose transformation matters most.
Is the new Treasure Island worth watching?
For viewers who enjoy bold reinterpretations, the series may still be worth sampling. The production offers a different take on familiar characters, a more prominent role for Bess and a darker approach to the voyage. Viewers who want a faithful adaptation focused tightly on Jim’s growth may be less satisfied by the early episodes, especially if the added plotlines feel more distracting than illuminating.
My assessment is that the most useful question is not whether this version changes too much. Adaptations are allowed to change the source material. The question is whether each change earns its place. An expanded character should reveal something the original could not; a darker tone should add moral or emotional complexity; and a new historical backdrop should affect the choices characters make rather than simply decorate the setting.
Because only a limited set of reviews is available at this early stage, it is too soon to treat the critical response as a settled consensus or to infer how general audiences will react. Viewer scores and aggregate ratings can also change as more people watch and more reviews are published.
Early review snapshot
- The Hollywood Reporter: calls the series “handsome but undercooked,” highlighting the gap between ambition and execution.
- The Guardian: gives the adaptation two out of five stars and questions its additions and treatment of Jim Hawkins.
- RogerEbert.com: argues that the reimagining does not sufficiently justify its changes to the classic story.
These are individual critical judgments, not a representative poll of all reviewers. Rotten Tomatoes’ season page showed zero critic reviews when checked for this article, so a reliable Tomatometer percentage was not available at that time.
Official trailer
Watch the official trailer through the series’ publisher. The video is embedded from YouTube; playback can depend on region and platform availability.
Frequently asked questions
Why are critics calling Treasure Island “handsome but undercooked”?
The phrase is from The Hollywood Reporter’s review. It describes a series with ambitious ideas and strong visual presentation whose storytelling, in that critic’s view, does not fully realize its potential.
What did The Guardian think of Treasure Island?
The Guardian published a two-out-of-five-star review on October 12, 2026. It criticized the adaptation’s additions and argued that Jim Hawkins is not developed strongly enough.
Do critics like David Oyelowo as Long John Silver?
Oyelowo’s performance is frequently identified as a strength in early coverage, even among reviews that are critical of the overall adaptation.
Is Treasure Island’s Rotten Tomatoes score available?
When checked for this article on October 12, 2026, Rotten Tomatoes’ season page listed zero critic reviews, so there was no critic percentage to report. Aggregates can change as reviews are added.
Is the 2026 series faithful to Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel?
No, not entirely. It reworks character roles and plot elements, including giving Bess Hawkins a larger part and adding new story material. Whether those changes improve the story is a matter of critical judgment.
Where can viewers watch Treasure Island?
The series is an MGM+ original in the United States. Paramount+ carries it in the UK and Ireland; availability can vary by country and subscription.
Sources and further reading
- The Hollywood Reporter review by Angie Han (syndicated copy)
- The Guardian — Treasure Island review, October 12, 2026
- RogerEbert.com — Rendy Jones’s review
- Rotten Tomatoes — Treasure Island Season 1
- Paramount+ — Official series guide and promotional stills
Written by Shivam Das. Review descriptions are attributed to their publishers; this article’s comparisons and viewing advice are editorial analysis, not statements from the reviewers.
