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A Teacher

A Teacher

Power, abuse, and the damage it leaves.

2020Miniseries1 season10 episodes~25 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

Claire Wilson, a young teacher at a suburban Texas high school, begins an affair with her student, Eric Walker. But their relationship accelerates faster than anticipated and the permanent damage becomes impossible to ignore.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch A Teacher?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists A Teacher streaming on Hulu and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about A Teacher?

A Teacher earns 2 badges, led by Preferred by Men and Broadly Agreed.

Reception

Is A Teacher worth watching?

A Teacher's Midcredits score is the 43rd percentile of all shows, from 19K ratings across 2 sources. 67% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

43rd percentile

Better received than 43% of shows

38th percentile among Drama48th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)43rd
Approval (how many liked it)44th

Acclaim

Broadly Agreed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

69 /100

43rd percentile of all shows

41st percentile among Drama48th percentile among 2020s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.0 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

67% liked it

44th percentile of all shows

37th percentile among Drama49th percentile among 2020s
67% rated it 7–1033% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

92nd percentile

19K ratings across platforms

91st percentile among Drama94th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 19% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree the show features strong acting from the leads and handles a controversial subject with serious intent.

Fans praised

  • strong lead performances by Kate Mara and Nick Robinson
  • honest portrayal of power dynamics and long-term consequences
  • compelling and binge-worthy storytelling

Detractors panned

  • rushed pacing and filler episodes in the second half
  • unsatisfying, preachy finale that undermines earlier nuance
  • unconvincing age gap and lack of character depth

What stands out

ActingDivisive78

strong lead performances by Mara and Robinson

Emotional impactDivisive65

effective in conveying long-term trauma

TensionDivisive60

uneasy build-up in early episodes

Plot and storyDivisive55

engaging first half, loses steam after exposure

Characters50

underdeveloped motivations and thin backstory

Pacing40

strong start but slow and disjointed after episode 6

EndingDivisive35

abrupt and preachy finale divides opinion

Originality35

familiar teacher-student affair trope

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 13 points higher than women.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 7 points apart
  • US vs non-US 6 points apart

Episodes

1 season

Miniseries · 2020 · 10 episodes · 7.4 average across 10 rated episodes

  • S1E1

    Episode 1

    Nov 10, 202026 minTMDB rating 8.0
  • S1E2

    Episode 2

    Nov 10, 202028 minTMDB rating 8.8Season best
  • S1E3

    Episode 3

    Nov 10, 202021 minTMDB rating 8.1
  • S1E4

    Episode 4

    Nov 17, 202027 minTMDB rating 7.8
  • S1E5

    Episode 5

    Nov 24, 202024 minTMDB rating 7.9
  • S1E6

    Episode 6

    Dec 1, 202024 minTMDB rating 6.7

Watch experience

What is A Teacher like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you unsettled.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseMelancholicBittersweet
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.SerializedSingle-season story
ToneThe series treats its subject matter with heavy seriousness, never undercutting the gravity of the central relationship.
The rideThe show sustains a constant undercurrent of tension and impending consequence, with emotional weight distributed across the run.
StructureThe story unfolds linearly across episodes, tracking the relationship and its fallout from beginning to end.
Episode formatThe series follows a continuous story across episodes, focusing on the evolving relationship and its consequences.
Season formatWith only one season and a concluded arc, the series tells a complete story from beginning to end.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
UnsettlingThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe series lingers as a cautionary tale about abuse of power, leaving an uneasy awareness of the damage done.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Tragedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4% (this title): Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% (this title) · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Tragedy: A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin. · Corruption arc: Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).

4% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe series chronicles the step-by-step moral decay of a teacher who abuses her position, following the tragic arc of corruption.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfCorruption
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7% (this title): Power 5% · Corruption 3% (this title) · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% (this title) · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Power

Corruption · 3% of showsBetrayal · 3% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe series examines how a teacher exploits her authority, corrupting her own principles and betraying her student's trust.
StanceThe series critically examines the forbidden relationship, highlighting its harms and power imbalances rather than romanticizing it.

The world

ContemporaryInstitutionalSuburbanRealistic
AmbientSupportive music · original score
Settinga small-town high school and the surrounding community

Content guide

Is A Teacher okay for kids?

TV-MA

A Teacher is rated TV-MA. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (8/100), sexual content at intense (63/100), language at moderate (60/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (58/100) and frightening material at minimal (11/100). Overall it is heavier than 18% of TV-MA shows.

Ratings in 10 other countries
  • UK15
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Ireland16
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil16
  • Austria12
  • Netherlands16
  • Poland16
  • RO18
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 48% of all showsHeavier than 18% of TV-MA shows
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
light for a TV-MA show
heavier than 2%
Sex & Nudity
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 68%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 33%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 59%
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
light for a TV-MA show
heavier than 4%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is sexual content. Everything else sits at or below what TV-MA shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does A Teacher have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in A Teacher?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Kate Mara
as Claire Wilson
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Nick Robinson
as Eric Walker
Ashley Zukerman
as Matt Mitchell
Rya Kihlstedt
as Sandy Walker
Shane Harper
as Logan Davis
Dylan Schmid
as Josh Smith
Marielle Scott
as Kathryn
Adam David Thompson
as Nate Wilson
Camila Perez
as Alison
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Charlie Zeltzer
as Phil Walker
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

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