Common Sense Media Review
By Weiting Liu
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Murder and psychological twists in romance thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Gardener
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE GARDENER, Elmer (Álvaro Rico) is a young man working at a garden center run by his controlling mother, La China (Cecilia Suárez), as a front for a murder-for-hire business. Trained to kill without remorse, Elmer makes poisonous serums and buries victims beneath his plants. But when he's assigned to kill preschool teacher Violeta (Catalina Sopelana), he experiences loving emotions for the first time. As he grows conflicted and discovers more about himself, Elmer must decide between returning to his emotionally numb state or embracing his humanity, even if it puts him at odds with La China and their deadly operation.
Is It Any Good?
This brooding psychological thriller slowly unwinds the making of a killer through the twisted mind of his mother. In The Gardener, Suárez's chilling voice-over narration sets the tone for a noir-ish tale of emotional void and repressed humanity. The show opens quietly but shockingly with a cold-blooded murder, establishing a rhythm of creeping tension rather than explosive twists. Formal cinematography, moody set design, and varied lighting choices are paired with a stirring score.
Particularly, a fish-eye POV sequence of Elmer's breakdown shows that the creators are invested in stylish world-building. But it's during these pivotal emotional moments that Rico's restrained performance falters and struggles to fully sell the transformation. The genre blending—part romance, part murder mystery, part crime drama—is impressively cohesive, but there also persists a sense of déjà vu mimicking Psycho, You, and Fargo. Though the execution is compelling enough, The Gardener lacks a distinct voice to make it feel wholly original.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the long-term psychological effects of parental control and emotional isolation depicted in The Gardener. What do you think of the relationship between Elmer and La China? And how can you recognize controlling and abusive relationships and steer clear of them?
What do you think of the romantic relationship between Elmer and Violeta? In what ways does the show blur the line between love and obsession, and what commentary does it offer on romantic idealization?
What impact does the show's lack of clear moral consequences have on the viewer's understanding of right and wrong? What do you have to watch out for when viewing a show with morally corrupt messages?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 11, 2025
- Cast : Álvaro Rico , Cecilia Suárez , Catalina Sopelana
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : April 27, 2025
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