Were “East of Eden” merely a sumptuous period piece, it would still be event viewing, the kind of somber-toned release that announces the onset of Fall TV. Directors Garth Davis (“Lion”) and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre (“The Mustang”) join a crew of artisans, including production designer Grant Major, costume designer Kirsty Cameron and score composer Laura Karpman, in conjuring a moment in time as specific as the Genesis story is universal. By the episodes’ end, I wasn’t totally convinced a narrative so dependent on the passage of time was an organic fit for the screen. (Pugh gets aged up with cosmetics, but Abbott looks as boyish as ever while Adam attempts to act as patriarch.) Still, the endeavor feels worth it for Pugh and Lee’s standout efforts, which etch their characters deep into one’s memory. Even great books can acquire dust on the shelf; an infusion of feeling helps keep them alive.
All seven episodes of “East of Eden” are now streaming on Netflix.
