Raised by Wolves' greatest strength is its unpredictability

The Ringer

The unapologetically weird HBO Max sci-fi series, which is back for Season 2, is "freed from any preconceived notions about what it should be—giving the show license to get unapologetically weird and profound as it embraces mystery-box storytelling," says Mile Surrey. He adds: "Once again, Raised by Wolves throws a curveball at the audience. After painting the Mithraic as cruel fundamentalists in Season 1, the new batch of episodes underlines that there is no good versus evil binary. The surviving Mithraic that the Atheists round up on the planet are enslaved and fitted with bombs that will detonate if they try to leave the settlement. And just as it’s unclear whether Sol is really communicating with his followers—and what the deity’s intentions might be—the Trust has an inscrutable endgame, leading some weary Atheists to speculate whether the AI will ever cede control of the colony."

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• The bottom line is that there is simply nothing like Raised by Wolves on television: "It’s sci-fi, but it also really leans into fantasy," says Allison Keene. "It’s stocked with strange ideas and compelling performances, and has a keen sense of aesthetic; the rendering of Kepler-22b’s landscapes and weather patterns are surprising and eerie. Continuing with the palettes and textures Ridley Scott employed in his direction of the first two episodes of Season 1, this feels like a truly alien world, one that is clearly <filled with secrets. The combination of CG and practical effects are well-considered, and the series continues to be an immersive blend of action and lore, never relying too much on either visuals or dialogue to tell the story. Both work in concert to do a ton of heavy lifting regarding world building, without that element ever feeling too dense or boring—it’s exciting, with each twist and turn arriving as clues to better understand this crazy place, from its smallest elements to its greatest themes. And yet, the answers to the mysteries always take a backseat to the interpersonal dynamics among the survivors."
• Season 2 offers catharsis for parents overwhelmed by the pandemic: "For those parents with enough time for a TV break — and please, parents, take any reprieve you can — Raised by Wolves Season 2 offers an otherworldly remove from your worries and, quite possibly, catharsis to boot," says Ben Travers. "The HBO Max series is absolutely batsh*t science-fiction, with weaponized screams shrill enough to burst entire bodies and airborne snakes long enough to devour small civilizations. If an escape is all you seek, this should do the trick. But the eight-episode second season is also about the heavy burdens placed on parents. Framed by the dangerous setting of an uncivilized planet and all the perils lurking within, Raised by Wolves could provide just the release mothers and fathers need from the real world’s mounting anxieties. If two robots programmed to properly raise their children can’t always get it right, then maybe, just maybe, it’ll take a little pressure off we humans."
• Amanda Collin and Abubakar Salim discuss playing robots on Raised by Wolves, including how they pee wearing a giant silver unitard