The Luminaries: Season 1

"Not since Peter Jackson's last elven ad campaign has there been so bewitching a screen vision of New Zealand."

"A cracking, challenging read has become a cracking, unchallenging series and both do their jobs perfectly. Joy."

"The performances are mostly terrific - especially Hewson, who succeeds in creating a compelling character out of a woman whose motivations are never completely clear."

"But even with my moments of befuddlement and discombobulation I enjoyed the show.It's rare to see new world New Zealand presented in such a lush, lavish and obviously expensive way. The acting across the board is superb and even though it's on TV, it's hugely cinematic.So you bet I'll be tuning in again this Sunday night. A dummy like me couldn't get through the book so having The Luminaries on the telly really is fool's gold."

"There’s good acting, not just from two extremely beautiful women. Great settings, even if not enough was spent on lighting. And let’s face it, in literature violent delights often have violent ends. And it was filmed here. What’s not to like?"

"With its colourful characters, well-realised world and intriguing mysteries, this Luminaries looks well set to light up New Zealand’s cold covid-19 shadowed winter nights and win Catton’s story a whole new army of admirers."

"As a visual package, it sits well with The Piano and The Lord Of the Rings as the top three reasons to visit New Zealand the minute this global pandemic is over. The Luminaries is sheer optical escapism, clad in period settings which, like the gold which drifts from the pink dress worn by its heroine (Eve Hewson) in the arresting opening episode, dazzle and seduce. Once the dust has settled, however, Catton’s story can be harder to fall in love with than its alluring setting."