Critic Reviews

This is an authorized portrait of a celebrity — albeit an unlikely and, by all accounts, wonderfully down-to-earth celebrity, which Julia certainly captures.

Lancashire captures all of Julia's larger-than-life qualities. ... Julia feeds the soul to the brim. [11 - 24 Apr 2022, p.6]

Each episode of Julia is named after one of Child’s signature dishes, from “Coq Au Vin” to “Boeuf Bourguignon” to “Chocolate Souffle.” And like any good meal, even if you didn’t enjoy every single seasoning, you’ll still be savoring Julia long after the final bite.

Earnest and elegant. ... Julia lovingly crafts a portrait of a happy marriage—that of Julia and Paul Child (Sarah Lancashire and David Hyde Pierce), plucky, older aesthetes with a passion for the senses. As it progresses, Julia widens its scope to embrace workplace politics, early feminism, and the downside of celebrity, all side dishes that bake more gradually.

Lancashire’s Julia is touching and complex. ... “Julia” is pleasant, easy to watch, and, of course, filled with delicious-looking food and the obsession with it. Don’t worry, you can’t gain weight from watching.

Yes, Julia has some flaws, but its good qualities outweigh the missteps. Most importantly, the show feels like the Julia Child it wants to portray: warm, generous, driven, imperfect, charming, and in love with feeling good.

Lancashire is much more naturalistic than Streep, giving us her character’s fury and self-doubt as well as her scheming and charisma.

While there's definitely still room for growth, “Julia” is, all things considered, a well-written, superbly acted, charmer of a show. I can definitely imagine enjoying another serving.

"The French Chef" exposed Americans to the joy of being in her company for half an hour every week. "Julia" delectably continues that tradition.

It settles in by episode three, and begins to feel like an indulgent treat, even if it remains a little uneven. The performances are wonderful, almost old-fashioned, reaching for a classic cinema feel.