TV show · 2020 · Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Mystery · English
Curator score: 4.3/10 (108.9K ratings)
Secrets are meant to be unlocked.
Overview
After their dad's murder, three siblings move with their mom to his ancestral estate, where they discover magical keys that unlock powers — and secrets.
Ratings
Curator score: 4.3/10
IMDb: 7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 68%
Metacritic: 61
TMDB: 7.7/10
Production
Genre Arts, IDW Entertainment, Circle of Confusion, Hard A Productions
Cast
Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones, Jackson Robert Scott, Kevin Durand, Sherri Saum, Brendan Hines, Coby Bird
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, YA-leaning fantasy mystery with strong world-building and a fun key-of-the-week conceit, but it’s uneven in tone and often softens the darkness of its premise. The first season is the most engaging; later seasons move faster and wrap up the mythology, though the emotional stakes can feel thinner than the setup promises.
Best for
Viewers who like supernatural family mysteries
Fans of puzzle-box fantasy with serialized mythology
Teen and young-adult genre drama audiences
People who enjoy bingeable Netflix adventure series
Skip if
You want consistently dark horror
You prefer tightly plotted prestige drama
You’re looking for a fully adult, grounded mystery
You dislike YA melodrama or uneven effects-heavy fantasy
Overview
Locke & Key has an easy hook: a haunted family house, grieving siblings, and magical keys that open doors to powers, memories, and danger. The concept is imaginative and the show does a solid job turning each key into a mini-mystery, which gives it a strong binge rhythm. The cast also helps sell the emotional side, especially in the early episodes when the family dynamic is still being established.
Worth noting
The problem is that the series often feels like it’s balancing two different shows: a spooky coming-of-age mystery and a broader fantasy adventure aimed at a younger audience. That can make the tone feel inconsistent, and some of the menace from the source material gets smoothed out. Season 1 is the strongest for atmosphere and setup; Season 2 keeps the momentum but is less fresh; Season 3 is brisk and gives closure, though it’s the least essential stretch.
Bottom line
If you’re in the mood for an accessible supernatural binge with a clever premise and enough twists to keep things moving, it’s worth a look. If you want something sharper, scarier, or more emotionally layered, there are stronger genre series in the same lane.
2011 · Curator 1.4/10 (4.7K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM Plus, Philo, Spectrum On Demand, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads
A fast-moving supernatural YA series with romance, mythology, and an easy binge pace for genre fans.