Latest news with #BETH
Metro
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Gripping sci-fi series with 'preposterous twist' now streaming on Channel 4
It's a great time to be a fan of great science fiction, especially on the small screen. We've had Andor season 2, Doctor Who season 15, and a brand spanking new series of Charlie Brooker's twisted brainchild, Black Mirror. If, though, you've already watched the Rebels rise up, the Doctor save the day and enjoyed Black Mirror's twists and turns, then you might be looking for something new to watch. Well, if that's the case, you're in luck. Channel 4 has a brand new show you can watch right now, and even better, it's supposedly got a bonkers twist. The new drama is called BETH, and it follows Joe (Nicholas Pinnock) and Molly (Abbey Lee), a couple who unexpectedly get pregnant after multiple failed IVF attempts. Needless to say, though, once the miracle child is born, it becomes clear that something is very wrong for reasons we won't go into here – the spoiler police are everywhere . To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker and photographer Uzo Oleh, the show is already being compared to Black Mirror, although critics are divided on the series. In their three star review The Guardian's Lucy Mangan praised the show for it's stylish direction and impressive cast but critisised it's pacing, writing '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.' The Independent also gave the show three stars in their review. Much like The Guardian, they felt the premise was a little underbaked and criticised the 'poorly executed', and 'preposterous' twist. That said, though, they did say it provided 'food for thought' and urged their readers to check it out because, in their words, 'when it's good, it's a little miracle'. Sadly, Anita Singh from The Telegraph was far less kind. She gave BETH just two out of five stars and wrote that while it looks beautiful that Uzo 'was too hung up on the visuals'. Of course, the critics aren't the only ones who've seen the show and general audiences have been far kinder. More Trending On X @AndrewOldbury wrote: '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.' Meanwhile, on YouTube @catharinalara220 added 'Fabulous film. Tense and suspenseful. Wonderful work' a sentiment echoed by @mariamysoul, who added 'Love Nicholas Pinnock's effortless acting, and Uzo Oleh is a talented new director. Wish it had been longer. Hope it becomes a series.' BETH is Channel 4's first digital original drama, and as such, it can either be streamed on Channel 4's own streaming platform, where it's broken up into three parts View More » Or you fancy you can watch it on YouTube, where it has been uploaded as one full episode. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: All six episodes of 'stressful' Australian thriller finally free to binge in the UK MORE: Netflix quietly adds 'superb under-the radar comedy' set in Victorian London MORE: Gogglebox family announce heartbreaking death as fans pay tribute
Daily Record
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Channel 4 viewers say unique sci-fi drama compared to Black Mirror 'has to become a series'
One viewer called the drama a little miracle 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 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".
Irish Independent
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Today's top TV and streaming choices: An Ghig Mhór, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and The Survivors
An Ghig Mhór RTÉ One, 8pm New series in which a seasoned music scene veteran mentors an up-and-coming band or artist. First up, singer-songwriter John Spillane takes Kilkenny-based rockers The Donnys under his wing as they organise a gig in their hometown. Hell for Leather: The Story of Gaelic Football RTÉ One, 9.35pm A five-part documentary focusing on the important part that the sport plays in the nation's cultural and social history begins with Brian Fenton offering his emotional response to the game, before we get a glimpse of David Clifford's magical feet in slow motion. BETH Channel 4, 10pm Nicholas Pinnock and Abbey Lee star in a one-off sci-fi drama focusing on a couple who think all their dreams have come true when they have a longed-for baby — but the birth reveals a shocking secret. Forgetting Sarah Marshall TG4, 9.30pm Hit romantic comedy starring Jason Segel as a puppeteer who heads to Hawaii to mend a broken heart, only to find his ex-girlfriend there with her new rock star lover. Kristen Bell, Russell Brand and Mila Kunis co-star. The Survivors Netflix, streaming now We're mostly used to two types of Australian viewing: soaps and super-dry (to the point of cringe) comedy. This is different. The drama follows Kieran Elliott's life after two people drown in his hometown of Evelyn Bay, Australia. To top it off, a young girl also went missing. Returning with his family 15 years later, the simmering guilt resurfaces, especially when the body of a young woman is found on the beach… K.O. Netflix, streaming now No one does visceral city grit like the French. Bastien has lived as a recluse since accidentally killing his opponent Enzo in an MMA fight three years ago. Now, Enzo's widow tracks him down as, essentially, he owes her one. Her request? Find her missing teenage son. Tyler Perry's Straw Netflix, streaming now Between this and last month's release of She the People, Mr Tyler Perry is getting himself around. This offering, however, is far more stark than May's fare. Here, one mum's day unfurls as it goes from tricky to catastrophic. Pushed to the precipice by a world that seems indifferent to her plight (until they can livestream it), she soon gets attention when she unwittingly holds up a bank. The Orkney Assassin Prime Video, streaming now The Orkney Isles lie 130 miles north of Aberdeen. It's a peaceful place with a strong sense of community. In June 1994, however, Bangladeshi waiter Shamsuddin Mahmood was working at the lone curry house when a masked man fatally shot him. This documentary revisits one of Scotland's most extraordinary murder cases, examining racism, loyalty, and the impact of trauma decades later.
