Audience viewership According to
Whip Media's
TV Time,
Devs was the second most anticipated new television series of March 2020, and the tenth rising show, based on the week-over-week growth in episodes watched for a specific program, during the week of March 15, 2020. In January 2021, it was reported that
Devs was one of FX on Hulu's most-watched series to date, surpassed by
A Teacher.
Critical response The series has an 82% rating with an average score of 7.7 out of 10 based on 90 reviews on
Rotten Tomatoes. The site's critical consensus reads: "A hauntingly beautiful meditation on humanity,
Devs slow unfurling may test some viewers' patience, but fans of Alex Garland's singular talents will find much to chew on." On
Metacritic, it has a score of 71 out of 100 based on 32 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Brian Tallerico of
RogerEbert.com found
Devs to be a highly philosophical and intellectual sci-fi and called it "stunningly ambitious." He stated, "It's ultimately an unforgettable and rewarding experience." Tallerico praised Garland's work and concluded by writing, "one of the best new shows in a long time." Brian Lowry of
CNN called the series audacious, summarizing that it is "a mind-blowing concept that doesn't entirely come together at the close, but which remains unsettling and provocative throughout." Alan Sepinwall of
Rolling Stone rated the series 4 out of 5 stars, praised the performances of the actors, and complimented writing and the score, saying, "Alex Garland's new sci-fi series is a confounding and mesmerizing trip into a scary near-future." Martin Brown of
Common Sense Media rated the series 3 out of 5 stars, praised the depiction of positive messages and role models, writing, "
Devs poses ethical and moral questions about the nature of technology. Characters don't always act for the greater good, but some are driven by a sense of what is right," and complimented the diversity of the cast members. In a more mixed review from
The New York Times, James Poniewozik wrote that "It showcases what Garland does well—ideas and atmosphere—while amplifying his weaknesses in character and plot. As the techies say, it scales—for better and for worse." In a more negative review,
Sophie Gilbert of
The Atlantic wrote that "
Devs is only the latest in a series of puzzle-box shows more preoccupied with their own cleverness and their labyrinthine twists than with the burden of watchability."
The New York Times interviewed
theoretical physicist Sean Carroll about sweeping statements about humanity and determinism made by the creators of
Devs and
Westworld. When asked which show he preferred, Carroll responded, "I was very impressed with how [
Devs creators] were doing something very, very different. I thought it was a very well done show. It was slow and contemplative, but that's a perfectly good change of pace from what we ordinarily see in action movies". Liam Gaughan of
Collider called
Devs "the best
hard sci-fi show", praising the performances, emotional tone, and how it explored the
multiverse concept.
Accolades ==See also==