Cruel Intentions S01
Director: Phoebe Fisher and Sara Goodman; executive produced by Roger Kumble, Neal H. Moritz, among others
Cast: Sarah Catherine Hook (Caroline Merteuil), Zac Burgess (Lucien Belmont), Savannah Lee Smith (Annie Grover), Sara Silva (CeCe Carroway), John Harlan Kim (Blaise Powell), Khobe Clarke (Scott Russell), Brooke Lena Johnson (Beatrice Worth), Sean Patrick Thomas (Professor Chadwick)
Cruel Intentions – Season 1 reimagines the notorious 1999 film as a contemporary college-set drama, set at elite Manchester College near Washington, D.C. Caroline Merteuil (Sarah Catherine Hook) and her step-brother Lucien Belmont (Zac Burgess) ascend the social ladder of Greek life through manipulation, seduction, and scandal. Triggered by a hazing tragedy, Caroline sets Lucien a bet: seduce Vice President’s daughter Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith) into pledging her sorority, Delta Phi, thus fueling a new circle of power and tension. Wikipediathewrap.com
Created by Phoebe Fisher and Sara Goodman, and executive produced by filmmakers including Roger Kumble, the series blends homage and innovation. It borrows motifs from the original—like the vintage Jaguar, cross necklace, and even musical nod to “Bitter Sweet Symphony”—while expanding plotlines into college politics, LGBTQ subplots, and modern scandal dynamics. Sean Patrick Thomas reprises a connection to the film by playing Professor Chadwick, his role echoing his original 1999 character. Amazon+13ew.com+13Wikipedia+13
Critically, the series flopped—Rotten Tomatoes reports a 24% Tomatometer with consensus that it fails to capture the original’s wit and edge, while Metacritic scores average 41/100 from critics indicating mixed or poor reception. Rotten Tomatoes+1
Audience response was mixed: IMDb averages 5.5/10, and Reddit commentary often admonished its lack of chemistry, narrative depth, and creative energy compared to the film. Some fans appreciated its campy charm and modern updates, but many considered it a pale imitation. Reddit
Ultimately, Prime Video canceled the series in March 2025, citing disappointing performance and engagement. Despite attempts to court nostalgia and younger viewers, Cruel Intentions – Season 1 failed to deliver the provocative thrill or cultural resonance of its predecessor
Cruel Intentions – Season 1 reimagines the notorious 1999 film as a contemporary college-set drama, set at elite Manchester College near Washington, D.C. Caroline Merteuil (Sarah Catherine Hook) and her step-brother Lucien Belmont (Zac Burgess) ascend the social ladder of Greek life through manipulation, seduction, and scandal. Triggered by a hazing tragedy, Caroline sets Lucien a bet: seduce Vice President’s daughter Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith) into pledging her sorority, Delta Phi, thus fueling a new circle of power and tension. Wikipediathewrap.com
Created by Phoebe Fisher and Sara Goodman, and executive produced by filmmakers including Roger Kumble, the series blends homage and innovation. It borrows motifs from the original—like the vintage Jaguar, cross necklace, and even musical nod to “Bitter Sweet Symphony”—while expanding plotlines into college politics, LGBTQ subplots, and modern scandal dynamics. Sean Patrick Thomas reprises a connection to the film by playing Professor Chadwick, his role echoing his original 1999 character. Amazon+13ew.com+13Wikipedia+13
Critically, the series flopped—Rotten Tomatoes reports a 24% Tomatometer with consensus that it fails to capture the original’s wit and edge, while Metacritic scores average 41/100 from critics indicating mixed or poor reception. Rotten Tomatoes+1
Audience response was mixed: IMDb averages 5.5/10, and Reddit commentary often admonished its lack of chemistry, narrative depth, and creative energy compared to the film. Some fans appreciated its campy charm and modern updates, but many considered it a pale imitation. Reddit
Ultimately, Prime Video canceled the series in March 2025, citing disappointing performance and engagement. Despite attempts to court nostalgia and younger viewers, Cruel Intentions – Season 1 failed to deliver the provocative thrill or cultural resonance of its predecessor