The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself

Lore & Background

The series was initially developed as a feature-film adaptation at Fox 2000 on 5 April 2013, with Karen Rosenfelt attached to produce, but no further updates were published. On 13 December 2020, Netflix announced a young adult television series based on the trilogy, with Joe Barton writing and executive producing, and Andy Serkis, Jonathan Cavendish, and Will Tennant also executive producing. Imaginarium Productions co-produced the series. The first season was reported to be eight one-hour episodes. Principal photography began on 5 July 2021, with most shooting in London, UK. The series title was tweeted by Netflix on 25 August 2022, and directors Colm McCarthy, Debs Paterson, and Rachna Suri were announced on 21 September 2022. The cast includes Jay Lycurgo, Nadia Parkes, Emilien Vekemans, Isobel Jesper Jones, Karen Connell, Paul Ready, David Gyasi, Kerry Fox, Fehinti Balogun, Misia Butler, Liz White, Róisín O'Donovan as Mercury, Tim Plester, Priya Kansara, and Orla McDonagh.

Reader's Guide

The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself received positive reviews from critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, 93% of 14 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8/10, and the consensus reads: 'A fantasy series full of flair along with thoughtful insight, The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself is an exemplary YA adaptation.' Metacritic assigned a score of 72 out of 100 based on 4 critics, indicating 'generally favorable' reviews. David Opie of Digital Spy rated the series 5/5 stars, praising the writing, visuals, and cast performances. Jack Seale of The Guardian gave 4/5 stars, praising the writing and visual effects. Jack Taylor of The Telegraph also rated it 4/5 stars, praising the writing, visuals, and sound, but criticizing the action scenes as 'dismally loud and boring.' Sam Moore of Radio Times gave 3/5 stars, criticizing the tone as 'uneven' while praising the dialogue and performances. Joel Keller of Decider similarly criticized the tone but praised the cast performances. Despite the positive reception, Netflix cancelled future episodes, leaving the series as a single season.

Did You Know?

• The series is based on the novel Half Bad by Sally Green.
• Andy Serkis served as an executive producer through his production company Imaginarium Productions.
• The soundtrack was composed by Rosa Walton and Jenny Hollingworth of the band Let's Eat Grandma.

From Page to Screen: A Long-Germinating Adaptation

Sally Green's novel Half Bad first attracted Hollywood attention in April 2013, when Fox 2000 reportedly began developing a feature-film version. Karen Rosenfelt, known for producing The Twilight Saga, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, and The Book Thief, was named as the potential producer, but the studio never published further updates and the project quietly stalled. Nearly eight years later, on 13 December 2020, Netflix announced it would adapt the trilogy as a young adult television series. Joe Barton stepped in as writer, executive producer, and showrunner, joined by Andy Serkis, Jonathan Cavendish, and Will Tennant in the EP chair. Serkis's own company, Imaginarium Productions, co-produced the show, with the first season planned as eight one-hour episodes. The creative team expanded in late 2022: Colm McCarthy, Debs Paterson, and Rachna Suri were named directors, with McCarthy also serving as an executive producer alongside Phil Robertson of Imaginarium. Producers Adrian Sturges and Steve Clark-Hall rounded out the leadership slate, and Netflix officially revealed the series title on 25 August 2022.

An Ensemble Built for a World of Magic

The series assembled a diverse and accomplished cast to bring Nathan Byrne's story to life. Jay Lycurgo took the lead as the young man discovering his heritage, while Nadia Parkes portrayed Annalise O'Brien and Emilien Vekemans played Gabriel. Isobel Jesper Jones joined as Jessica Byrne, and Karen Connell appeared as Ceelia, with Orla McDonagh stepping into the younger version of the same character. The supporting roster included Paul Ready as Soul O'Brien, David Gyasi as the dangerous witch Marcus Edge, Kerry Fox as Esmie, Fehinti Balogun as Bjorn, Misia Butler as Niall, Liz White as Penelope, Róisín Murphy as Mercury, Tim Plester as Rowan, and Priya Kansara as Flo. The core leads were announced on 18 March 2022, with the remaining principal cast following shortly after. Behind the camera, David Higgs served as cinematographer and Elen Lewis and Tom Chapman handled editing. Principal photography kicked off on 5 July 2021, with most scenes shot across London. For the score, the electronic duo Let's Eat Grandma, Rosa Walton and Jenny Hollingworth, composed an original soundtrack, drawing inspiration from folklore, fairy tales, and the soundtracks of Under the Skin and Utopia.

Critics Celebrate Flair and Thoughtful Storytelling

Upon its 28 October 2022 premiere, the series earned broadly positive critical attention. Rotten Tomatoes tallied a 93 percent approval rating from 14 critics, averaging 8 out of 10, with a consensus calling it an exemplary YA adaptation full of flair and thoughtful insight. Metacritic's weighted score of 72 out of 100, based on four critics, confirmed generally favorable reception. Individual reviews highlighted specific strengths: David Opie of Digital Spy awarded a perfect five stars, singling out the writing, visuals, and standout performances from Lycurgo and Vekemans. Jack Seale of The Guardian gave four stars, describing the visual effects as impressive and confusingly beautiful. Jack Taylor of The Telegraph also rated it four stars, praising what he called economic storytelling while noting the action sequences felt dismally loud and boring. Sam Moore of Radio Times offered three stars, finding the tone uneven yet applauding the snappy dialogue and stellar performances. Joel Keller of Decider echoed concerns about a typical teen-drama feel but lauded the cast, particularly Parkes.

A Beloved but Brief Netflix Run

The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself arrived on Netflix on 28 October 2022, following a promotional trailer released on 13 October. The eight-episode first season adapted the story of Nathan Byrne, a young man uncovering his true heritage as the illegitimate son of the powerful and dangerous witch Marcus Edge. Despite the strong critical consensus and positive audience response, Netflix moved to cancel the series, ending its run after a single season. This decision came despite the source material being a trilogy, meaning the narrative arc remained unresolved on screen. The cancellation stands in sharp contrast to the near-universal praise the show received, with critics on both Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic affirming its quality. For fans of Sally Green's original novel, the abrupt conclusion left the broader world of the Half Bad universe untold in its adapted form. The series nonetheless cemented itself as a well-crafted entry in the young-adult fantasy genre, remembered for its strong performances, inventive visuals, and the distinctive electronic score that gave it a unique sonic identity.

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