Ruby Stokes
Lucy Carlyle
Overview
A girl with extraordinary psychic abilities joins two gifted teen boys at a small ghost-hunting agency to fight the many deadly spirits haunting London.
Seasons
- Status
- Canceled
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 8 episodes
- First aired
- Jan 27, 2023
Cast
Reviews
6 min readThe Kids Are Not Alright (And That’s the Point)
I keep thinking about the first time we see Lucy Carlyle’s hands. They’re trembling—not from fear, but from the effort of holding back. She’s just walked into Lockwood & Co., a cramped, cluttered townhouse in Islington that smells of old books and burnt toast, and she’s about to lie about her age.
The camera lingers on her fingers, the way they press into her palms hard enough to leave marks. It’s a small detail, but it tells you everything: this is a girl who’s used to being underestimated, who’s learned to hide her fear behind a sharp tongue and sharper reflexes. And in Lockwood & Co., that’s the only way to survive.
Joe Cornish’s adaptation of Jonathan Stroud’s YA series is, at its core, a story about the weight of being young in a world that treats you as disposable. London is overrun by ghosts—vengeful, hungry, and invisible to anyone over eighteen. The only people who can see them, hear them, fight them, are children.
The government’s solution? Turn ghost-hunting into a privatized industry, where agencies staffed by teens send them into haunted houses for a paycheck, all under the flimsy supervision of adults who’ve long since lost the ability to perceive the danger. It’s a premise that could easily tip into camp, but Cornish, who cut his teeth on Attack the Block, knows how to balance the supernatural with the deeply human.
This isn’t just a show about kids fighting ghosts; it’s about kids fighting a system that profits from their fear.
The genius of Lockwood & Co. is that it never lets you forget the cost of that fight. Ghost-touch—the physical contact with a spirit—leaves behind livid, bruise-like marks, a visible tally of near-death experiences. Lucy’s arms are a roadmap of them.
The show’s horror isn’t just in the jump scares (though there are plenty, and they land with a satisfying thud) but in the quiet moments: the way Lucy flinches when a door slams, the way Anthony Lockwood’s smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes when he’s lying, the way George Karim’s nervous chatter betrays how badly he wants to be taken seriously. These aren’t just character tics; they’re survival strategies.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 7.5/10
"A breezy British teen ghost-hunting series with strong audience love and a mythology worth sticking with."
Lockwood & Co. Follows Lucy, a girl with psychic abilities, who joins Anthony and George at the ghost-hunting agency Lockwood and Co. To fight ghosts. Built as a British supernatural detective thriller for Netflix based on the books, it landed as one of Netflix's early 2023 UK supernatural teen releases. The crowd response skews positive, with 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 94% audience and 7.5 on IMDb, plus active review chatter and explainer interest around The Problem and talk about a second season. French voters are a bit cooler at around 6.latestnetflix.com's read is that 1 out of 10, which fits a fun teen genre show that delights fans more than skeptics.
What viewers praise
- Ghost-hunting team hook Lucy brings psychic abilities to Anthony and George's Lockwood and Co. Agency for ghost cases.
- British supernatural detective style Developed by Joe Cornish for Netflix as a British supernatural detective thriller based on the books.
- Strong audience reception Holds 91% on Rotten Tomatoes with 94% audience and 7.5 on IMDb as an early 2023 UK supernatural teen release.
Common complaints
- Mythology takes onboarding Explainer interest around The Problem suggests newcomers need an episode or two to learn the haunting rules.
- Not every crowd rates it as high Alongside high audience marks, other voters land around 6.1 out of 10, so the teen tone will not click for everyone.
Recommended for
Fans of UK supernatural teen mysteries Viewers who like psychic-led detective teams and ghost cases
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Lockwood & Co.: Netflix’s Supernatural Sleeper Hit
Netflix’s Lockwood & Co. (2023) arrived with little fanfare but quickly carved out a niche as a stylish, youth-driven supernatural thriller. Based on Jonathan Stroud’s bestselling book series, the show follows a trio of young ghost hunters—Lucy Carlyle (Ruby Stokes), Anthony Lockwood (Cameron Chapman), and George Karim (Ali Hadji-Heshmati)—as they navigate a world where only children can see the deadly spirits plaguing London. While the series’ first season flew under the radar for some, latestnetflix.com maintains, behind-the-scenes details and cast dynamics hint at why it resonated with fans—and why its future remains uncertain.
A Cast That Clicks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVeDUNJF82I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kBUa8X9fOA
The chemistry between the three leads is the show’s secret weapon, and the cast’s off-screen camaraderie shines through in promotional content. Ruby Stokes, who plays the sharp-eared Lucy, has spoken about the joy of working with her co-stars, calling the experience "a dream" in a Netflix featurette . The trio’s playful dynamic is on full display in the Best Friends Challenge video, where they rib each other over inside jokes and shared memories from set . Chapman and Hadji-Heshmati, in particular, seem to have a brotherly rapport, with the latter joking about Chapman’s "annoying" habit of stealing scenes .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdBWDxG0tLQ
Creator Joe Cornish, known for Attack the Block, also appears in interviews praising the young cast’s dedication. In a behind-the-scenes clip, he highlights their improvisational skills, noting how they brought "authenticity" to the supernatural stakes . While the evidence doesn’t specify whether the cast trained for fight scenes or ghost-hunting sequences, their physicality in the show suggests a level of preparation—though no details on stunt work or choreography have surfaced.
Deleted Scenes and Blooper Reels: What Fans Missed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TH_M4V-bys
Netflix released a handful of deleted scenes and bloopers, offering a glimpse into the show’s lighter side. The Deleted Scenes reel includes an extended version of Lucy’s first encounter with Lockwood, adding more tension to their initial meeting . Another cut scene features George’s lab mishap, which was likely trimmed for pacing but would’ve delighted fans of his bumbling genius .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V_roHfW1qQ
The Official Blooper Reel is even more revealing, showcasing the cast’s ability to laugh off mistakes. Stokes, in particular, seems to struggle with a prop ghost’s sudden appearance, breaking into giggles mid-take . Chapman’s deadpan delivery in one blooper—where he delivers a dramatic line while tripping over a cable—suggests he’s the cast’s resident prankster . These glimpses humanize the characters and hint at a relaxed set atmosphere, though whether Cornish encouraged improvisation or stuck to the script remains unconfirmed.
Soundtrack and Tone: Setting the Mood
The show’s eerie yet energetic tone is amplified by its soundtrack, composed by an uncredited team (the OST is listed on SensCritique but lacks details on the composer 
). The score blends orchestral tension with modern beats, mirroring the series’ balance of horror and humor. While no interviews with the music team have surfaced, the soundtrack’s availability suggests it played a key role in shaping the show’s identity . Fans have praised its ability to heighten jump scares without overshadowing the dialogue-driven scenes.
**The Future of *Lockwood & Co.***
Despite its cult following, Lockwood & Co. hasn’t been officially renewed for a second season. The first season’s 6.1/10 rating on SensCritique (based on 665 votes) reflects a divided reception—some viewers adore its fresh take on YA supernatural tropes, while others find the pacing uneven . The books, however, have a stronger fanbase, with The Creeping Shadow and The Whispering Skull earning 8.3/10 and 7.8/10, respectively . Whether Netflix will adapt more of Stroud’s series remains a question mark, though the cast’s enthusiasm in interviews suggests they’d return in a heartbeat.
For now, Lockwood & Co. stands as a testament to the power of tight-knit casts and atmospheric storytelling. If the behind-the-scenes content is any indication, the show’s charm lies as much in its off-screen friendships as its on-screen scares.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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