The Spiderwick Chronicles tv series

"The sense of wonder that ought to accompany them proves to be in disappointingly short supply (...) the Roku Channel adventure is undone by the most mundane of missteps: repetitive plotting, lumpy pacing, underdeveloped characters making inexplicable decisions" 

"It is overall satisfying and self-contained and is an adventure worth watching, either for younger viewers looking for a slightly more grown-up tale or older audiences who enjoy their adventures with a nostalgic feel" 

"Would-be viewers of Season 1 must be warned: stay far away. Between its distractingly bad dialogue and the tedious story, there is no magic to be seen here" 

"[It] gives its source material some mostly welcome updates, but only occasionally captures the magic of the books" 

"[It] lacks the excitement and adventure of the novels" 

"For families who’ve finished 'Percy Jackson' and are looking for something to watch next, 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' is a worthy enough follow-up. Just don’t expect too much in the way of bona fide magic" 

"[It] isn’t scary enough or wonderous enough to hold our interest" 

"[It] is a breath of fresh air (...) 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' season 1 is a win as a book adaptation (...) Rating: ★★★★½ (out of 5)"