Lockwood and Co brings to life the beloved book series originally written by Jonathon Stroud, and in all the right ways: it’s book accurate, hilarious, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. This thriller series follows the adventures of three intrepid teens as they try to navigate the dangerous business of ghost hunting and the perilous underground societies of London. 

The show builds up the world of Lucy Carlyle and present day Britain, which is reeling with the aftermath of The Problem and is now overrun with violent ghosts. In this world, only children have the gifts to see, hear, or touch the ghosts. And their talents fade with age, so they are thrown into the ghosthunting business at a young age. The show does an excellent job of explaining the intricacies of the ghost hunting agencies, the politics, and the mystery of the ghosts through the eyes of the characters themselves.

Through beautiful scenery and lighting, the way this show was filmed creates a mysterious atmosphere that only adds to the suspense. As the conspiracy before Lockwood and Co is slowly built up and revealed, the scenery around the characters changes in subtle yet significant ways that put the viewer on edge of their seat.

New actors Ruby Stokes as Lucy Carlyle, Cameron Chapwood as Anthony Lockwood, and Ali Hadji – Heshmanti as George Cubbins manage to capture the essence of being awkward yet stubborn teens perfectly. Each actor delivers a heartwarming and unique performance for each character that connects with viewers. 

Want an excuse to cry your heart out? The first episode is only the start of the waterworks with Stokes’ emotional performance as a grieving Lucy trying to honor the wishes of her loved one. Or watch Ali Hadji – Heshmanti’s performance as George as he portrays the sheer terror the character feels as he helplessly begins to spiral into a darkness that his friends will have to save him from. 

For Chapwood’s debut on screen, he delivers a performance that perfectly captures the ‘devil may care’ attitude of Anthony Lockwood from the books. From staring down armed attackers without flinching to haphazardly throwing himself into danger, Chapwood brings an entertaining and sarcastic energy to the screen. He manages to balance the arrogance of Lockwood with tender moments that add to the character’s depth, like admitting to the team that he relies on them to keep him afloat in the midst of all the chaos.

However, the best part about the show is the connection between the characters. From the moment Lucy is introduced to Lockwood and George the characters meld together into a team, even with the growing pains and teen stubbornness getting in the way. It is a perfect representation of the ‘found family’ trope. 

Each episode leads to the introduction of a new character with a piece of a puzzle that will get Lockwood and Co into another sticky situation as they try to unravel the mystery of their latest case. From removing ghosts from family homes to solving the mystery of old murders, the show certainly knows how to keep viewers interested and eagerly anticipating the second season.