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NOS4A2

NOS4A2

2019–2020Ended3 seasons21 episodes~60 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

A young Victoria "Vic" McQueen discovers she has the power to unlock portals that help her find lost objects. As she delves further into this hidden universe, she encounters many other "inscape travelers" - some benevolent, and some who have been corrupted by their power. When Vic encounters Charlie Manx, an immortal who stays that way by feeding off of the souls of children, she makes a sworn enemy of Manx.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch NOS4A2?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists NOS4A2 streaming on AMC+, Shudder via Prime Video and The Roku Channel (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy · $9.99

Highlights

What stands out about NOS4A2?

NOS4A2 earns 1 badge: Unsettling.

Reception

Is NOS4A2 worth watching?

NOS4A2's Midcredits score is the 38th percentile of all shows, from 14K ratings across 2 sources. 63% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

38th percentile

Better received than 38% of shows

33rd percentile among Drama36th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)41st
Approval (how many liked it)37th

Acclaim

Mixed: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

69 /100

41st percentile of all shows

39th percentile among Drama40th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.8 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

63% liked it

37th percentile of all shows

29th percentile among Drama35th percentile among 2010s
63% rated it 7–1037% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

91st percentile

13K ratings across platforms

89th percentile among Drama91st percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 34% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The show has an intriguing premise and strong villain, but the execution is uneven.

Fans praised

  • Zachary Quinto's layered performance as Charlie Manx
  • unique world-building and original vampire lore
  • atmospheric production design and cinematography

Detractors panned

  • illogical character decisions and plot holes
  • protagonist Vic McQueen is unlikeable and poorly cast
  • pacing drags with tedious teen/family drama

What stands out

ActingDivisive72

Quinto praised as standout; Cummings widely criticized as miscast

OriginalityDivisive70

fresh take on vampire lore with creative supernatural concepts

AtmosphereDivisive70

creepy, immersive world with strong sense of place

TensionDivisive50

some effective suspense but undermined by illogical acts

CharactersDivisive45

Vic called annoying and unlikable; Manx and Bing intriguing

Plot and storyDivisive40

plagued by illogical character choices and plot holes

Emotional impactDivisive40

protagonist's emotional struggles fail to connect for many

PacingDivisive35

slow burn that often drags into tedium

Preferred by

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

  • Women vs men 1 point apart
  • Critics vs users even
  • US vs non-US 7 points apart

Episodes

2 seasons

Season 2 · 2020 · 10 episodes · 7.0 average across 1 rated episode

  • S2E1

    Bad Mother

    Jun 21, 202043 minTMDB rating 7.0
  • S2E2

    Good Father

    Jun 28, 202043 min
  • S2E3

    The Night Road

    Jul 5, 202043 min
  • S2E4

    The Lake House

    Jul 12, 202043 min
  • S2E5

    Bruce Wayne McQueen

    Jul 19, 202043 min
  • S2E6

    The Hourglass

    Jul 26, 202043 min

Watch experience

What is NOS4A2 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
TenseDreadMelancholic
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Bleak · 3% of shows
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.SerializedOne continuous story
ToneThe material is played straight, with a dark, brooding atmosphere and no ironic distance from its horror elements.
The rideThe series sustains a pervasive tension and dread across its run, with character-driven moments of sorrow.
StructureThe story is told in a conventional beginning-middle-end order across seasons, with some nonlinear flashbacks to characters' pasts.
Episode formatThe series follows a continuous story across seasons, with each episode advancing the overarching plot of Vic versus Charlie.
Season formatEach season continues the same story and cast, building directly on previous events.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
UnsettlingHaunting · 9% of shows
Why it leaves you this wayThe viewer is left with the lingering dread of Charlie Manx's predatory menace and the uneasy cost of Vic's supernatural gift.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

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).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% (this title) · 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%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · 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%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

18% of shows fit this archetype

with Quest underneath

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe series arc is Vic McQueen discovering her power and hunting the child-feeding immortal Charlie Manx, a predatory monster. The rescue element gives it a secondary quest shape.

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 showsSelfPurposeSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% (this title) · Corruption 3% · 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% · 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%

Self

PurposeFamily bondsPower · 5% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe story centers on Vic's discovery of her gift and her drive to use it against a monster, exploring what gives life meaning when facing evil.
StanceThe show interrogates the nature of purpose and the cost of wielding power, rather than celebrating the hero's journey outright.

The world

ContemporarySuburbanRuralWildernessHorror supernatural
AmbientOrchestral modernSupportive music · original score
SettingA New England town haunted by an immortal being who drives a supernatural car.

Content guide

Is NOS4A2 okay for kids?

TV-14

NOS4A2 is rated TV-14. As of August 29, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (60/100), sexual content at moderate (48/100), language at moderate (47/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (62/100) and frightening material at intense (64/100). Overall it is heavier than 79% of TV-14 shows.

Ratings in 16 other countries
  • UK15
  • Germany16
  • France18
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil16
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK16
  • MexicoAA
  • Norway18
  • Portugal16
  • ROAP
  • SingaporeR21
  • Spain18
  • SwedenFrån 15 år
  • Türkiye18+
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 61% of all showsHeavier than 79% of TV-14 shows
Violence & Gore
Intense · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 62%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 74%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 67%
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 88%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 78%

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

The reason to think twice is frightening material, drug and alcohol content, and violence. Everything else sits at or below what TV-14 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 NOS4A2 have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in NOS4A2?

Cast

Ashleigh Cummings
as Vic McQueen
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Ólafur Darri Ólafsson
as Bing Partridge
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jahkara Smith
as Maggie Leigh
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach
as Chris McQueen
Virginia Kull
as Linda McQueen
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Zachary Quinto
as Charlie Manx
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Ashley Romans
as Tabitha Hutter
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Mattea Conforti
as Millie Manx
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jonathan Langdon
as Lou Carmody
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Dalton Harrod
as Craig
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

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