With as many original series as Netflix releases every month, some of them will inevitably fall through the cracks and be doomed to languish in obscurity. But others manage to cut through the noise and find an audience even when the odds are stacked against them. This is the case with the Norwegian series of disasters La Palmawhich has risen to the top of the Netflix TV charts a week after its four episodes premiered on the service.

The limited TV series follows a family on vacation in La Palma and a group of geological researchers who try to raise the alarm before the volcano erupts. Martin Sundland (The quake), Lars Gudmestad (Headhunter) and Harald Rosenløw Eeg (The wave) created La Palma. All four episodes were directed by Kasper Barfoed (The nurse).

There haven’t been many reviews yet, but Netflix subscribers who have seen it don’t seem to be very impressed. To Rotten tomatoesViewers called it “truly ridiculous,” “terrible,” “cheesy and unrealistic,” and “possibly the most annoying television show I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Others were far more forgiving of the plot and acting, with YouTuber Movies and Munchies saying that “the stunning visuals, palpable moral dilemmas and family dynamics help make up for the shortcomings, so this isn’t a complete storytelling disaster.” “

La Palma made headlines in 2021 when the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge erupted and destroyed more than 3,000 buildings on the island, but the show is not based on a true story. However, the team behind the show clearly took inspiration from the 2021 outbreak.

If you’re a fan of crazy, over-the-top disaster movies like… 2012, San Andreasor The day after tomorrowyou’ll probably have a good time with it La Palma. If not, you could end up joining the crowd of scathing reviews Rotten tomatoes.