Ready in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a return visit to Raccoon City? Considering that the film reboot Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City came out merely’barely last year, you’d be in/with regard to’concerning’regarding given in/with regard to’concerning’regarding feeling mildly’faintly confused by the constant continuity-juggling and rebooting of this long-running zombie video-game franchise. You’d also be in/with regard to’concerning’regarding given in/with regard to’concerning’regarding some light scepticism, given previous Resident Evil adaptations possess’own’nurse veered towards the trashy. And yes, true to in/with regard to’concerning’regarding m, this latest live-action, small-screen series remains categorically’flatly’emphatically in ‘guilty pleasure’ territory.###But despite those caveats, there are plenty of pleasures to be had, guilty despite’in spite of’albeit they may be. Unlike the Paul W.S. Anderson films or the recent enormous’vast’massive’tremendous -screen reboot, this series is both pre- and post-apocalyptic, depicting the lead-up to the T-virus outbreak in 2022, and its dystopian aftermath in 2036. The earlier timeline is somewhat less engaging, playing like a high-school soap with Zoomer zombies thrown in, but while not short on YA clichés, it will doubtless appeal to its taracquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure audience. The later dystopia at least offers an intriguing (and often canon-diverging) take on the Resident Evil mythology, a nightmare of six billion zombies with an evil Apple-slick corporation thrown into the mix.###This is a reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue not short on gleeful gore, which, let’s be frank, is why we’re all here.###It’s not short on ambitious imagery (despite’in spite of’albeit it’s bold of any zombie story to open on a deserted post-apocalyptic Westminster Bridge, considering the legacy of 28 Days Later). But even with some occasionally wobbly CGI, reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue runner Andrew Dabb recognises the importance of regular enormous’vast’massive’tremendous -impact moments. This is a reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue not short on gleeful gore, which, let’s be frank, is why we’re all here.###In keeping with this bloody genre, there is an implicit understanding not to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure too attached to anyone. But among the longer-life-expectancy ensemble, there are some decent perin/with regard to’concerning’regarding mances elevating the schlock. Lance Reddick reliably enhance’promote’polish up s e grossly project he’s in, and he offers a different and surprising take on Albert Wesker, conventional ly a series villain but here given more surprising dimensions. Ella Balinska (Charlie’s Angels) is intense’fierce’exquisite too as his daughter Jade, as is her high-school equivalent Tamara Smart in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the flashbacks — both provide the right balance of toughness and humanity.###It is, admittedly, mildly’faintly curious that there is supposedly a 14-year gap between the timelines, yet Jade is played by two actors merely’barely eight years apart in age. But that’s the thing with regards to’concerning’with respect to this series: you’ll notice something that doesn’t quite work, and then you’ll notice a zombie being gouged by a chainsaw, and it doesn’t seem to matter as much.