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⏱ 2 min read
💡 TLDR
David Oyelowo and Hayley Atwell are absolute powerhouses, but they’re basically carrying a gorgeous, hollow shell of a show. It’s a visual feast with volcanoes and revolutions, yet the characters feel so shallow you won't actually care if they survive.
MGM+ is out here trying to rewrite the rules with their new Treasure Island adaptation, but honestly? Effort doesn’t always equal impact. Creator Robert Murphy isn’t just doing a beat-for-beat retelling; he’s throwing everything at the wall—from themes of rebellion to the Haitian Revolution playing out in the background. It’s an ambitious fever dream that looks incredible, even if the actual vibe feels totally hollow.
High Stakes and Higher Charisma
The show does have some serious heavy hitters carrying the weight. David Oyelowo is absolute perfection as Long John Silver, bringing so much depth to every smirk and glare. He manages to portray the complexity of a formerly enslaved man who has had to fight for every single scrap he owns. Then you have Hayley Atwell as Bess, Jim Hawkins’ widowed mother, who is basically a scheming powerhouse. She plays a mercenary, single mom who uses her charm as a literal superpower to manipulate men, and honestly? Her chemistry with Tomer Capone (playing the shipwrecked Billy Bones) is so intense it almost turns into a bodice-ripper. Atwell and Oyelowo are working so hard, in fact, that it’s initially easy to overlook how thin the writing really is.
💫 Atwell and Oyelowo are working so hard, in fact, that it’s initially easy to overlook how thin the writing really is.
A Beautifully Empty Adventure
Visually, the series is gorgeous. Whether it’s baroque European manors or lush, overgrown jungles, it avoids that fake green-screen look we see in so many big productions. But once the initial “wow” factor wears off, the emotional connection just isn’t there. Because every character is driven solely by greed and shifting loyalties, watching them navigate mutinies and murder plots starts to feel like watching computers play chess rather than humans living life.
Even when things get wild—think active volcanoes, jungle treks, armed revolutions, and even an upsetting shot of a murdered cat—it’s hard to actually care about what happens next because the characters lack real depth. We see Jim Hawkins (Tom Sweet) navigating this chaotic world, but without a strong sense of his history or emotional stakes, even the most daring escapes start to feel like a slog. It’s a glossy, expensive production that serves up plenty of spectacle but leaves you with absolutely nothing to hold onto.
Are you more into high-budget spectacle or do the characters have to hit home for you?
❓ People Also Ask
Who are the main cast members in the MGM+ Treasure Island series?
The main cast of the MGM+ Treasure Island adaptation includes David Oyelowo, Hayley Atwell, Tomer Capone, and Tom Sweet. David Oyelowo delivers a complex performance as Long John Silver, while Hayley Atwell portrays Bess, the scheming mother of Jim Hawkins. Tomer Capone plays the shipwrecked Billy Bones, and Tom Sweet takes on the role of the protagonist, Jim Hawkins. These high-profile actors carry much of the show's weight through their intense performances and onscreen chemistry.
What makes the visual production of Treasure Island stand out?
The visual production of Treasure Island stands out because it utilizes lush, realistic environments instead of relying on a fake green-screen look. The series features gorgeous settings ranging from baroque European manors to overgrown, vibrant jungles. This high-budget spectacle includes intense sequences involving active volcanoes, jungle treks, and armed revolutions. While the imagery is described as an ambitious and beautiful fever dream, the visual splendor sometimes fails to compensate for the lack of emotional depth in the writing.
How does the new Treasure Island adaptation differ from the original story?
This adaptation differs from a standard retelling by incorporating ambitious new themes such as rebellion and the Haitian Revolution. Creator Robert Murphy moves beyond a beat-for-beat recreation of the source material to build a more complex world. The show introduces new character dynamics, such as Bess being a mercenary single mother who uses charm to manipulate others. While these additions add layers of spectacle and historical context, the narrative focus remains heavily centered on greed and shifting loyalties.
Why do some viewers find the characters in Treasure Island difficult to connect with?
Viewers may struggle to connect with the characters because they lack significant emotional depth and personal history. Most characters are driven primarily by greed and changing loyalties, which can make their interactions feel more like a calculated chess match than human experiences. Even when the protagonist Jim Hawkins faces daring escapes or chaotic situations, the lack of clear emotional stakes makes the journey feel hollow. This absence of soul prevents the audience from forming a meaningful bond with the cast.
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📰 Source: Hollywood Reporter