Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama The Eleventh, which premiered on the Feeln streaming platform in 2015 and delivers a deeply personal story about family, forgiveness, and the power of unexpected connections.
The Eleventh premiered on May 12, 2015, on Feeln (Hallmark’s subscription streaming service), featuring multiple short episodes that run approximately 15-20 minutes each. The series stars legendary actress Cloris Leachman alongside an ensemble cast including Christopher Atkins, Tracy Nelson, Ed Asner, and Florence Henderson. Created as part of Feeln’s original programming initiative, this family drama explores themes of estrangement, grief, and reconciliation through an intimate storytelling format.
A young woman reconnects with her estranged grandmother after her mother passes away, and as their new relationship blossoms, troubling family secrets are unearthed that threaten to tear them apart. The series combines heartfelt family drama with mystery elements, offering viewers both emotional depth and intriguing revelations about hidden family history. What makes this show particularly compelling is its focus on how death can sometimes bring families together while also exposing the secrets that drove them apart in the first place.
The Letter That Changes Everything: When Death Opens Doors
The Eleventh follows Janine, a soon-to-be college student who delivers a letter to her estranged grandmother Margaret three months after her mother’s death. The central premise revolves around this initial contact that leads to an unexpected relationship between grandmother and granddaughter, despite protests from Janine’s father. The series doesn’t shy away from exploring the complex emotions surrounding family estrangement and the courage required to bridge decades-old gaps.
Each episode builds the relationship between Janine and Margaret while gradually revealing the family secrets that caused the original rift. The show expertly balances intimate character moments with slowly unfolding mystery, creating a narrative that feels both emotionally authentic and dramatically compelling.
Margaret: Cloris Leachman’s Powerful Matriarch
Cloris Leachman stars as Margaret, delivering a nuanced performance that showcases her legendary acting range. At 90 years old during filming, Leachman brings both vulnerability and strength to this complex character who has lived with family estrangement for years. Her portrayal captures the delicate balance between a grandmother’s love and the pain of long-held family secrets.
Margaret’s journey throughout the series demonstrates how age doesn’t diminish the capacity for growth and change. Leachman’s performance anchors the show’s emotional core while showing how unexpected second chances can transform even the most stubborn family dynamics.
Janine: Ren Montoro’s Grieving Granddaughter
Ren Montoro plays Janine, bringing youthful energy and genuine emotion to her role as the grieving young woman who initiates contact with her estranged grandmother. Montoro’s performance captures both the vulnerability of someone dealing with loss and the courage required to reach out to family members she’s never known. Her chemistry with Leachman creates the heart of the series.
The intergenerational dynamic between Montoro’s Janine and Leachman’s Margaret drives the show’s exploration of how family connections can survive even the most damaging separations.
Supporting Family: Ed Asner and Florence Henderson’s Complex Dynamics
Ed Asner and Florence Henderson appear as supporting characters who add layers to the family drama, representing different perspectives on the long-standing family conflicts. Their presence brings additional gravitas to the series while showcasing the ensemble cast’s chemistry from their previous work together on classic television shows.
The Secrets Revealed: When Truth Threatens Healing
The series builds toward revelations about the family secrets that caused the original estrangement, forcing all characters to confront whether reconciliation is possible when painful truths come to light. Without spoiling specific details, the climactic episodes explore how families can either be destroyed or strengthened by finally addressing long-buried issues.
These pivotal moments successfully tie together the series’ themes about forgiveness, family loyalty, and the sometimes painful process of healing generational wounds.
Success on Feeln
The Eleventh holds an 8.4 rating on IMDb, showing strong audience appreciation for this intimate family drama. The series was praised for Cloris Leachman’s powerful performance and the show’s authentic portrayal of family dynamics. Feeln’s investment in this original content demonstrated the streaming platform’s commitment to family-friendly programming that tackles serious emotional themes with care and respect.
The Perfect Family Drama
If you love intimate family stories with legendary performances and emotional depth, The Eleventh was the perfect series to stream on Feeln. The show successfully combined veteran acting talent with authentic storytelling about family reconciliation and the power of unexpected connections.
Why This Series Touched Hearts
The Eleventh represented everything meaningful about family television by refusing to shy away from the complex emotions surrounding family estrangement while offering hope for healing and reconciliation. This wasn’t just another family drama, it was a testament to the power of love to overcome decades of separation and misunderstanding.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 5
Platform: Feeln (Hallmark’s streaming service, now discontinued)
Release Year: 2015
Current IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Genre: Family Drama, Short Form Series
Status: Complete series (original run 2015-2016)
Protagonists: Margaret (Cloris Leachman), Janine (Ren Montoro), supporting cast (Ed Asner, Florence Henderson)
Antagonist: Family secrets and decades of estrangement threatening reconciliation