The series received mixed reviews.
The Guardian gave it a score of 2/5, describing it as "
E.T. meets
the Wicker Man as murderous gnomes run amok," and described it as "tropey" and "bland".
CBR said that it was "too cute" to be considered a horror series, and that it was missing a lot of key elements.
The Michigan Daily stated that it becomes increasingly hard to sympathize with Josephine as the series progresses, and said, "(the series) could use some improvement and possibly more likeable characters, but it most definitely doesn't lack creativity. Its chilling and unsettling twist on Christmas is not a familiar phenomenon when it comes to the screen. So while this six-episode fantastical horror may not be Netflix's next acclaimed sci-fi series, it is an addicting watch nonetheless.
Nordic Watch praised the series, saying, "combining a Christmas family drama with fantasy, folklore, and horror – on a par with your scariest
Doctor Who episode – the series is both disturbingly freaky and heart-warming fun." In December 2021,
Elves was in the top ten most viewed series on Netflix. ==See also==