Channel 4 viewers say unique sci-fi drama compared to Black Mirror 'has to become a series'
Channel 4's latest venture into YouTube drama has been received with mixed feelings, branded as a vexing iteration of Black Mirror but with a 'preposterous twist'.
Entitled BETH, it marks the broadcaster's debut digital original series. As of yesterday (June 9), viewers have had the opportunity to delve into the narrative through various mediums.
Audiences can access the drama via Channel 4's own streaming service, divided into three bite-sized episodes ranging from a mere 7 minutes to a modest 16 minutes each.
Alternatively, the whole piece is assembled into one single episode for free on YouTube, delivering a succinct total run-time of 35 minutes.
Given these concise formats, it's perhaps not a shock that the mind behind the project, writer and director Uzo Oleh, has previously confined his filmography to short films. In the leading roles are Nicholas Pinnock – set to feature in Long Bright River – and Australian model Abbey Lee, reports Surrey Live.
They portray Joe and Molly, a couple flourishing in success whose long-held aspiration to parent a child eventually materialises; however, their joyous event turns their lives upside down. As Joe discovers a shocking truth, he grapples with the dilemma of safeguarding his family or disclosing his findings to the world.
Although BETH has just started making its rounds among audiences, early critiques and feedback are beginning to surface. Notably, a review by The Guardian was less than flattering, labelling BETH as "a frustratingly unfinished Black Mirror."
They continue to critique: "Channel 4's first YouTube show about a couple's IVF woes looks stylish, but at just three 15-minute films, it feels wildly rushed. TV this brief needs to be perfectly formed .... and this is far from it."
They further comment: "Beth is a very stylish and confidently directed piece, with fine performances throughout – especially from Pinnock, though he also benefits from having the most to do. But the script needs to be tighter and work harder so that we aren't left feeling as if we've just watched the beginning of a Black Mirror episode."
In another review, The Independent pans the finale as 'preposterous', skipping detailed spoilers: "I won't go into spoilery details here, but there's a ginormous twist, which is not only poorly executed, but preposterous...the actual pay-off is pants. I'm no doctor, but I'd say there's a six per cent chance of it inspiring awe."
Nevertheless, they manage to recommend the show, saying: "But you should still check out Beth because, when it's good, it's a little miracle."
The sentiment of value for the viewing time wasn't lost on others either, especially given its concise format.
On social media, one audience member expressed: "It's great to see Channel 4 breaking new ground by commissioning digital dramas. Beth is a meditative and delicately told story by Uzo Oleh of a couple's attempt to conceive."
Another viewer expressed their desire for the digital drama to be a precursor to something bigger. Commenting on the show's YouTube channel, they enthused: "Amazing Brother...I love it. This has to become a series".
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