‘Clickbait’ —Spoiler Free Review

Netflix’s newest attempt to match HBO’s murder mystery thrillers

Photo Courtesy of Netflix

Netflix has been trying to find its edge again with original programming for a while now. They’ve taken risks with shows like ‘Stranger Things, ‘Narcos’ and ‘House of Cards’. But besides those and some others, they’ve stayed within a certain lane with a lot of their original programming. I’m not saying that they’ve produced a string of bad original series. Quite the opposite actually. There are plenty of Netflix original shows that are great and deserve applause.

However, they haven’t done as many edgy shows by now as other streaming platforms. They have a bad habit of taking a boundary-pushing show and letting it stall mid-takeoff. Unlike its competitor HBO, which constantly pushes its content towards new styles, and doesn’t waver during the journey.

All of that being said, ‘Clickbait’ is a step in the right direction for Netflix. It’s an unfamiliar style compared to most of the shows on the platform. Between the non-linear nature of its episode layout and the thrilling plot, this show hooks its audience quickly. It’s another great addition to the growing list of must-watch Netflix shows.

Premise

In this mini-series, Nick Brewer (played by Adrian Grenier) is kidnapped and appears online holding a sign saying “At 5 million views I die”. His family, sister Pia (Zoe Kazan), wife Sophie (Betty Gabriel), sons Kai and Ethan, and a rogue group of teens, must search for Nick and answers as scandal engulfs their family. Every episode will leave you on the edge of your seat wondering if they will be able to outpace the view count on a now-viral video…

Photo Courtesy of Netflix

Spoiler Free Review — Barry’s Bites Rating = 8.4

‘Clickbait’ definitely took a risk with its stylistic approach and it worked out exceptionally well. This series brings a refreshing thriller to Netflix’s growing list of original shows.

One of the most impactful elements of this show is the episode layout. Essentially the first two episodes are a cloak for the rest of the season. In the beginning, you believe it’s going to center around a hostage scenario. However, in reality, the show proceeds to examine the entire mystery from different characters' perspectives.

If you’ve ever seen the movie ‘Vantage Point’, this basically runs with the same concept. However, unlike ‘Vantage Point’, this show doesn’t beat you over the head with redundancy. Instead, it offers a new perspective without wearing the audience down.

By taking the perspective of a different character during each episode the show unveils and examines the motives of that individual. You’ll gain a new understanding of the characters during every episode, which adds another layer to the overall mystery.

Photo by Ben King for Netflix

Another key element that plays into the show's success is the quick introduction to the mystery. It could’ve easily spent an episode warming the audience up to the characters. Instead, it ignites the mystery within the first 30 minutes of episode one. This makes for a gripping show from the start and hooks the audience almost immediately.

Adrian Grenier became somewhat of a household name due to ‘Entourage’. But besides his fictional role as a chill actor who tries, does, loses, then makes it big again, we haven’t seen him in much else. That was until ‘Clickbait’. This show is night and day compared to his role in ‘Entourage’. He plays a family man that the audience either roots for in some episodes or despises in others. By doing so he has put himself back on the map as a potentially dynamic actor for future roles.

Adding some aggressiveness to the cast is Zoe Kazan as Pia Brewer. She brings a vivacious flair to the thriller in a way that elevates the mystery. As the sister of Nick, she functions as a plot-driving character.

I didn’t expect my feelings towards the characters to constantly evolve. At first, the show makes you hate Nick, then as the mystery takes another turn, you’ll hate someone else. But by the end, you know who is responsible and who you should really hate…

‘Clickbait’ is another great show Netflix chose to add to their growing library of original content. It’s definitely a refreshing thriller that is sure to continue to grab the attention of Netflix’s subscriber base. I would highly recommend it if you’re searching for something to watch. Check out the trailer below!

*This article was originally published in the Film Cut