Netflix’s Best New Show Nabs A Perfect 100% Critic Score, 94% Audience – Forbes
ByPaul TassiByPaul Tassi, Senior Contributor. Toxic TownThis article was published on 3/5 and republished on 3/6.While it’s easier to focus on higher profile shows on Netflix like Kate Hudson’s Running Point or Robert De Niro’s Zero Day, there’s a new program with some great actors that currently has perfect scores from critics.That would be Toxic Town, racking up a 100% from critics and an also-great 94% audience score, albeit with not too many reviews in. The series only runs for four episodes, and serves as an exploration of a tragic period in Corby from 1985 to 1997. The case was the first to establish a link between toxic waste in the atmosphere and birth defects, and the show follows the story of four mothers dealing with the tragedy.The real life event had dozens and dozens of babies in Corby born with these defects, and the mothers fought back eventually leading to a 2009 decision. The ruling:“There was an extended period between 1983 and August 1997 in which Corby Borough Council was extensively negligent in its control and management of the sites which they acquired from British Steel and otherwise used. That negligence and, as from April 1, 1992, breach of statutory duty on the part of CBC permitted and led to the extensive dispersal of contaminated mud and dust over public areas of Corby and into and over private homes, with the result that the contaminants could realistically have caused the types of birth defects of which complaint has been made by the claimants.”Toxic TownThis series stars some high profile British actresses including former Doctor Who, Jodie Whittaker, and current White Lotus cast member Aimee Lou Wood in a dramatic role for the actress. Netflix The Diplomat veteran Rory Kinnear is also there as well.While sometimes we talk about miniseries performing well enough to get renewed for a second season, no, that’s not this kind of thing, given the true story it’s based on. This isn’t Shogun, but it is certainly worth a watch to understand this extremely important case that had huge ramifications across many industries, even though you may never have heard of it. I hadn’t.Toxic Town is not tearing up the Netflix charts or anything, but it has been present on the top 10 list for almost two weeks now, indicating more and more people are hearing about it and wanting to see what it’s all about. It’s currently the only perfectly scored series on the list with the highest audience scores as well. Check it out.Update (3/6): A lot of new shows have hit the Netflix top 10 list including Meghan Markle’s With Love, Meghan, Medusa and Harlan Coben’s Just One Look, but Toxic Town has stayed in place at #8, and this really has a solid run of engaging interest since release last month, which is heartening to see.However, I am not exactly sure what happened, but it has lost that high audience score which has now gone down from 94% to 70%. It does however still have its perfect 100% critic score with a few more reviews in. I’ve been reading up on the series a bit and have come across some good interviews with the cast. There is one video in particualr that has the cast members talking with the moms themselves involved in the lawsuit, which is worth watching for sure:So, we will see how long it lasts on the list, but clearly it’s a story worth checking out if you want to know a piece of history that’s hugely important, but overlooked by almost everyone. This show shines a light on it, which is well-deserved.Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
