Netflix’s La Palma, a four-episode Norwegian miniseries that premiered on December 12, 2024, has stormed to the top of the platform’s Top 10 charts, but not without sparking a firestorm of viewer reactions. Directed by Kasper Barfoed and created by Martin Sundland, Lars Gudmestad, and Harald Rosenløw Eeg, the disaster thriller follows a Norwegian family’s idyllic Christmas vacation on the Canary Island of La Palma, which turns into a nightmare when a young scientist uncovers signs of an imminent volcanic eruption capable of triggering a catastrophic tsunami. Starring Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Anders Baasmo Christiansen, and Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, the series blends stunning visuals with a harrowing tale of survival, sacrifice, and family drama. Yet, its intense narrative and controversial ending have left audiences divided—some call it “the most stressful binge of the year,” while others, furious at its unrealistic plot twists, swear they’ll never travel again. With a 29% Rotten Tomatoes audience score and heated debates across social media, La Palma has become Netflix’s most divisive hit of 2025, gripping viewers with its premise but frustrating them with its execution.
A Vacation Turned Catastrophe
The core storyline of La Palma centers on the intersection of personal and natural disasters. The series follows Fredrik (Anders Baasmo Christiansen), a teacher, and his wife Jennifer (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal), who arrive on La Palma with their teenage daughter Sara (Alma Günther) and young son Tobias (Bernard Storm Lager) for a Christmas getaway. Their holiday, initially filled with sun-soaked promise and a luxurious room upgrade, is overshadowed by marital tension and Sara’s coming-of-age struggles. Meanwhile, geologist Marie Ekdal (Thea Sofie Loch Næss), alongside her Icelandic colleague Haukur (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson) and Spanish supervisor Álvaro (Jorge de Juan), discovers alarming seismic activity at the Cumbre Vieja volcano. Their warnings of a potential eruption and tsunami—one that could send a Manhattan-sized landslide into the Atlantic, threatening continents—are dismissed by skeptical authorities, setting the stage for chaos.
The narrative weaves three threads: the family’s fight to survive as tremors escalate, the scientists’ desperate attempts to sound the alarm, and the broader panic among tourists on the island. The series builds tension through scenes of ash clouds, lava flows, and a looming tsunami, culminating in a finale that has viewers “yelling at the TV.” The show’s premise draws loosely on the 2001 Cumbre Vieja tsunami hypothesis by Steven N. Ward and Simon Day, which posited that a volcanic collapse could trigger a mega-tsunami, though experts have since downplayed its likelihood. Despite its fictional nature, La Palma’s depiction of a real island and its 2021 eruption has sparked fear, with some fans on X declaring, “I’m never going to La Palma after this show!”
A Star-Studded Cast in Crisis
The cast delivers compelling performances, even as the script falters. Thea Sofie Loch Næss shines as Marie, a determined young scientist haunted by a childhood flood that killed her parents, adding emotional depth to her race against time. Anders Baasmo Christiansen and Ingrid Bolsø Berdal bring nuance to Fredrik and Jennifer, whose strained marriage crumbles under the pressure of survival. Alma Günther’s Sara navigates teenage rebellion and resilience, while Ólafur Darri Ólafsson’s Haukur provides a steady, pragmatic counterpoint to the chaos. The ensemble, including minor characters like Jens (Trond Espen Seim), a morally conflicted tourist, captures the human stakes of the disaster, though some viewers found their decisions infuriating.
The series’ visuals, praised by critics like Chris Joyce of Movies and Munchies for their “stunning” quality, amplify the tension, with sweeping shots of La Palma’s volcanic cliffs and CGI-heavy tsunami sequences. However, the character-driven drama, particularly the family’s interpersonal conflicts, has drawn ire for overshadowing the disaster elements. One X user vented, “La Palma is just family drama with a sprinkle of volcano. Where’s the tsunami?!” The show’s attempt to balance personal stories with apocalyptic stakes has polarized audiences, with some appreciating the emotional depth and others calling it “melodramatic filler.”
The Controversial Ending That Broke Viewers
The finale, “Beneath the Waves,” is the crux of La Palma’s outrage. As the volcano erupts and a tsunami looms, the family separates amidst evacuation chaos. Fredrik sacrifices his helicopter seat for a woman and child, a noble act that leads to a convoluted prison break involving Marie and her brother Erik. The climax introduces a questionable plot device: a scientist (not Erik) claims a “cancellation point” on Tenerife where tsunami waves neutralize each other, allowing Sara and a pilot, Charlie, to survive a plane crash in a physics-defying twist. The family reunites at this safe spot, but Marie, having lost Erik to a vengeful prisoner she freed, is left alone, her grief juxtaposed with the family’s tearful embrace. The series ends with a flashback of Erik’s voice urging humanity to “listen to nature,” a message that feels hollow to some viewers.
Social media erupted over the ending’s implausibility. On Reddit, one user raged, “How does a plane survive a tsunami? This is Fast & Furious nonsense!” Another called it “a drunk pub script,” lamenting the “dumb” survival of key characters. The 29% Rotten Tomatoes audience score, based on over 500 reviews, reflects this frustration, with complaints about “unrealistic” plot armor and a “woeful” final episode. Yet, some defended the show, with an X user noting, “It’s not perfect, but the visuals and tension make it worth a watch.” Critics, though sparse (only three reviews, all positive), praised its bingeability and lack of melodrama, with Decider’s Joel Keller calling it “enjoyable” for its concise four-episode run.
Why the Outrage?
La Palma’s polarizing reception stems from unmet expectations. Marketed as a high-stakes disaster thriller akin to Chernobyl or The Impossible, it leans heavily into family drama, frustrating viewers craving more catastrophe. Posts on X highlight the emotional toll, with one user warning, “Ignore La Palma unless you want to cry like a baby and get all emotional.” Others reported “anxiety” and sleepless nights, with the show’s depiction of a tourist haven turning deadly prompting some to swear off travel. “La Palma has me rethinking vacations forever,” one tweeted, reflecting fears tied to the real 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption, which, while devastating, didn’t produce the mega-tsunami depicted.
The show’s logic gaps—dinghies outrunning tsunamis, a plane surviving a wave—drew particular ire. A Reddit user fumed, “It’s like the writers forgot physics exists.” The emotional manipulation, especially Marie’s tragic arc and the family’s improbable reunion, felt forced to some, with The Book Decoder calling it a “logic-destroying mess” and sarcastically dubbing it “Fast & Furious: Volcanic Drift.” Yet, its No. 1 spot on Netflix’s charts and eighth place among non-English shows globally (per Reelgood) show its undeniable pull, with 150 million hours viewed in its first two weeks.
A Real-World Scare
La Palma’s premise, while fictional, taps into real fears about the Cumbre Vieja volcano, which last erupted in 2021, causing $1 billion in damage but no tsunami. The series draws on a 2001 study by Ward and Day, which hypothesized a massive landslide could trigger a transatlantic tsunami, though later research debunked its scale. This grounding in a “chilling hypothesis” has heightened viewer anxiety, with X users researching climate change and volcanic risks after watching. “La Palma got me reading about tsunamis instead of sleeping,” one admitted. The show’s failure to clarify its fictionalized elements has fueled misconceptions, with some believing La Palma faces imminent doom, despite experts reassuring that such a catastrophe is unlikely.
Netflix’s High-Stakes Gamble
La Palma’s success, despite its 29% audience score and 6.2/10 IMDb rating, underscores Netflix’s knack for turning polarizing content into streaming hits. Its $30-$40 million budget (estimated for a four-episode miniseries) is modest compared to The Gray Man’s $200 million, and its 150 million hours viewed suggest profitability. The show’s climb to No. 1, overtaking No Good Deed and Black Doves, highlights its bingeability, with a tight 3-hour runtime praised by critics like Archi Sengupta for its “juxtaposition of holiday vibes and looming danger.” Yet, its low audience score contrasts with Netflix’s Society of the Snow (2024), a disaster film with critical acclaim, showing the risk of prioritizing drama over plausibility.
The series faces a crowded 2025 landscape, with Netflix’s Wednesday Season 2 and American Primeval vying for attention. Its Norwegian roots, following successes like Troll and Ragnarok, add international appeal, but the lack of a critical Rotten Tomatoes score (due to only three reviews) limits its prestige. Fans on Reddit have suggested better alternatives like The Impossible (88% Rotten Tomatoes) or Day After Tomorrow, reflecting dissatisfaction with La Palma’s execution.
Cultural Impact and Viewer Divide
La Palma has sparked a cultural conversation about disaster thrillers and their emotional toll. Its depiction of a family vacation gone wrong resonates in an era of eco-anxiety, with viewers rattled by climate-driven disasters. The show’s impact on La Palma’s tourism is a point of contention, with one X user claiming it “destroyed the tourist industry” by scaring viewers away. Others, however, found its visuals and premise gripping, with Tom’s Guide calling it a must-watch for fans of intense dramas. The debate mirrors reactions to Leave the World Behind (2023), another Netflix hit that divided audiences with its apocalyptic tone.
The series’ refusal to pull punches—characters face brutal fates, and Marie’s loss is unrelenting—has made it “too traumatic to finish” for some. “I couldn’t get past episode 2,” a Reddit user confessed, citing anxiety. Yet, its short length and high stakes keep viewers hooked, with WION dubbing it “so binge-worthy.” The outrage, while loud, hasn’t dimmed its streaming dominance, suggesting Netflix’s formula of bold premises and divisive execution still works.
Conclusion
La Palma is Netflix’s most polarizing disaster thriller of 2025, a gripping yet flawed saga that has viewers screaming, crying, and rethinking travel plans. Its blend of stunning visuals, strong performances, and a chilling premise delivers moments of brilliance, but its implausible ending and heavy-handed drama have sparked fury, earning it a dismal 29% audience score. Despite this, its No. 1 streaming rank and 150 million hours viewed prove its magnetic pull. Thea Sofie Loch Næss and Anders Baasmo Christiansen anchor a story that’s as divisive as it is addictive, making La Palma a testament to Netflix’s ability to turn controversy into conversation. Whether you love it or hate it, this volcanic nightmare will leave you shaken—just don’t expect to sleep soundly after.
