The Haunting - The Haunting of Bly Manor

After a flawless first season that completely blew me away in every aspect, I’d be somewhat naive to expect the same scenario to repeat. This time, Mike Flanagan took on a project where horror isn’t the primary genre. Don’t get me wrong, the remote mansion with the two children creates a chilling atmosphere at a high level, but the series is no longer primarily about scares; it’s more of a drama. The return of a few familiar faces was a pleasure, especially the young Victoria Pedretti, who delivered another exceptional performance; I predict a bright future for her in Hollywood. Otherwise, some episodes were indeed weaker, I won’t deny that, but a few episodes also truly elevated the series, such as the fifth episode and the final two. Personally, I found the fifth episode to be a real treat. Flanagan’s knack for dialogue was again evident; you really get immersed in the conversations. The cinematography was top-notch once more. And the ending was satisfying; I didn’t expect such a nicely wrapped-up romantic story, and all my questions were answered. In summary, the first season was perfect, but the second also has a lot to offer and usually outshines the competition. For me, it’s 8/10. (12/10/2020)

The Haunting of Bly Manor is definitely an original horror television series. My problem was that it was more of a romantic drama, albeit a drama with supernatural elements. Admittedly, that suits the genre of ghost stories that focus more on the atmosphere than being necessarily scary, although I think it does not seem to work for a modern television show. (11/09/2020)

After the brilliance of The Haunting of Hill House, I never would’ve guessed that Mike Flanagan could slip into such mediocrity, but Bly Manor does just that. I had my doubts, especially after Midnight Mass, and unfortunately, they were spot on. The first half feels like a dull, young adult version of The Sixth Sense — not much substance there. However, the second half does pick up a bit, and just when you think it’s a total snooze, the story starts to get interesting. There are even a few ghostly moments that are genuinely compelling. But when you compare it to the brilliance of Hill House, Bly Manor still feels like a watered-down version. (11/24/2021)

Perfectly splendid. A real Gothic ghost story that is based on characters, psychology, a scary atmosphere and romance. The series is more about sadness, the consequences of actions and melancholy than about being scary. This is supported by great acting, especially by both of the children. And then there's one perfectly utilized idea, which in the fifth episode takes the genre's standard of quality to another (and significantly higher) level. Yes, the maker (not only) adapted James´ Innocents better and more accurately, but this is so “loosely based on the theme" that it doesn't really matter, as it's unique and, above all, good enough to stand up on its own. It's not a better or worse first season; it's just completely different. You can even play the game “find the hidden ghosts in the mise-en-scène". In addition, any possible drawbacks are offset by the emotionally impressive final 40-minute epilogue. (10/15/2020)

While Hill House managed to captivate me, Bly Manor fell short, largely due to the creators' approach. They seemed to forsake the tension-building and high-quality atmosphere of the first season in favor of a romance subplot that felt out of place and often led to odd outcomes. Admittedly, a few episodes did hit the mark, and with more effort, they could have matched the first season's quality. However, on the whole, it was a noticeably weaker endeavor. (01/28/2021)