The first trailer for Netflix’s Locke and Key has viewers abuzz with talk of the upcoming dark fantasy series before its debut on February 7. While our full review will be going up once the embargo lifts closer to the show’s launch, we did want to take the opportunity to break down why we think this is a show that will interest you, our audience. And don’t worry, this piece will be spoiler free!
Be sure to check out the trailer below if you haven’t already to get a good sense of the show and what we’ll be discussing below:
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It’s Harry Potter Meets Your Favorite Netflix Genre Shows
If you’re into the fantasy of Harry Potter, the family dynamics of Lost in Space, and the creepy vibe of The Haunting of Hill House, then this show will be right up your alley.
Locke and Key follows the Locke family after a disturbing family tragedy that causes them relocate to their ancestral home in upstate Massachusetts, an old and dusty estate built in the 1700s called Keyhouse. Imagine an old home packed with tattered books, paintings of dead ancestors, and other relics of the past, all with the mischievous and mystical atmosphere of Hogwarts (but without the school part). It’s not long before the three Locke children — teens Kinsey and Tyler along with youngster Bode — stumble upon the innocuous magical keys hidden throughout the house and discover their wondrous and often dangerous abilities. As they struggle to learn the various rules and mysteries of the keys, while also dealing with the angst and awkwardness of attending a new school (okay, so there is a school after all), an evil creature intimately familiar with the keys enacts a plan with a nefarious goal.
The less said about this villain the better because the best part is how the story slowly unveils what they’re all about, but suffice to say that they’re decidedly unlike all-powerful fantasy bad guy Voldemort or the horrific monster boss of Stranger Things. They’re just as dangerous, but more because of their power to manipulate, divide, and hide in plain sight.
While the show starts out focused on a personal family tragedy, it grows to encompass a magical mythology with incredible stakes.
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Why Comic Fans Are Excited for Locke & Key
Netflix’s Locke and Key show is based on the Locke and Key comic book series by writer Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez. The comic began in 2012 and has since wrapped up, earning praise from fans for its enthralling mythology and winning numerous awards for how it shows the characters processing trauma in different ways. The finale issue earned a rare perfect 10 score from IGN Comics.
Why is any of this important? Hopefully the praise heaped on the source material offers you a general sense of security: not only is there plenty of excellent material to keep the show going for a long time, but you also can rest assured that Locke & Key won’t run into a situation like Game of Thrones where it ended in unsatisfying fashion because the showrunners ran out of source material; the Locke and Key showrunners already know the answers to all the big questions and how it ends. That’s not to say that the show is without its twists and turns, which brings us to our next point…
The Show Is Filled With Surprises
One of the best parts of Locke and Key is learning about the history of Keyhouse, the dynamics of the Locke family, and of course the abilities of the magical keys. The show has a devilishly good time exploring these various mysteries to build out the mythology. It tip-toes the line between having a whimsical charm and a creepy sense of dread as the characters attempt to learn more about these strange artifacts and how they relate to the history of their family, all while trying to thwart the evil creature intimately familiar with all of the keys. There’s always something unexpected waiting around every corner, and that holds true even for those who have read the comics.
While the show includes all of the hallmark elements of the Locke and Key comics, it delivers them with a new spin, so even those already familiar with the comics will find themselves surprised at how it all unfolds. The show features several new keys created just for the show, events play out in a somewhat different manner, and certain characters now have meatier roles — which goes a long way in making the show feel like a fresh and exciting experience regardless of your familiarity with the franchise.
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Joshua is Senior Features Editor at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.