Betrayal review – this espionage thriller is so drab and downbeat it's like a different genre

"Betrayal," the latest espionage thriller from BBC One, sets up an intriguing premise: a 20-year veteran spy caught in a personal and professional quagmire. However, beneath its promising exterior lies a damp, grey narrative that squanders on gritty realism at the expense of pacing and tension.

As John Hughes (Shaun Evans), a maverick MI5 agent, navigates his complicated life outside of work, we're introduced to the weight of his marital woes. Claire (Romola Garai) is his long-suffering wife, shouldering the bulk of domestic responsibilities while her husband remains enthralled by the thrill of espionage. Evans's portrayal brings a sense of vulnerability to John, but it's a quality that often undercuts the tension required for the spy genre.

The series' attempts at realism are admirable, yet they hamper the narrative's momentum. Betrayal is an action thriller, yet its dirty car parks, flat-roofed pubs, and cramped B&Bs feel more like a slog than an espionage thriller. Even the cinematography fails to inject much life into these environments.

The pacing falters further with clunky exposition that bog down what should be breakneck plot twists. When key information is revealed in convenient, contrived ways, it undermines the viewer's investment in John's story. The central mystery itself lacks complexity and surprises – one twist half an episode before the season finale renders the remaining plot fairly predictable.

Evans's performance remains the series' strongest asset, infusing a sense of desperation into John's character despite being saddled with subpar material. Garai shines as Claire, her nuanced portrayal imbuing depth to their troubled relationship. It's unfortunate that both actors can't elevate this underwhelming narrative beyond its confines.

Ultimately, Betrayal feels like an espionage thriller trapped in the wrong genre – it prioritizes realism over tension and complexity, leaving the viewer feeling drained rather than entertained.

I gotta agree with this review . I mean, Shaun Evans is defo the strongest part of the show, his character's got so much depth to him. But, oh man, the rest of it just feels like a slog . The pacing is all over the place and the 'twists' are just so predictable . And can we talk about how they set up the spy stuff? It feels like they're trying too hard to be realistic instead of actually making it exciting . And don't even get me started on the cinematography, it's all just so... grey and dull . I mean, I know it's supposed to be gritty realism or whatever, but can't they just inject some life into it? It feels like they're more interested in showing us how boring a spy's life is rather than actually making us care about the mystery . Anyways, overall, I'd say it's an okay show but it could've been so much better with some tweaks .

I dont get why its gotta be so grey all the time... I mean, ive seen this kinda spy stuff before on the telly, but betrays pacing is super slow i love shaun evans as an actor tho, hes always brings somethin to his roles and romola garai is great too, she's like the heartbeat of the show but yeah, its all a bit meh this spy genre needs more action and less "reality" stuff if u ask me

I just finished watching "Betrayal" on BBC One , and I gotta say, it was a major letdown for me . The premise sounded so promising - a spy caught in a personal quagmire? Sounds like a recipe for some gripping drama! But honestly, the whole thing felt like they took all the gritty realism and went "meh" . I mean, I get that it's supposed to be an espionage thriller, but those flat-roofed pubs and cramped B&Bs just made me wanna roll my eyes .

And don't even get me started on the pacing! It was like they took a page straight outta every slow-burning spy movie ever made... zzz... . And I love Shaun Evans' performance as John Hughes, but even he couldn't elevate this dull narrative to its full potential .

I did think Romola Garai shone in her role as Claire, though! She brought so much depth and nuance to their troubled relationship . Too bad it wasn't enough to save the whole show from itself . All in all, "Betrayal" just felt like a messy, slow-burning slog . Maybe I'm just not in the right mood for spy dramas anymore... or maybe they just need a reboot?

I just watched this show "Betrayal" and gotta say, I was really excited for a gripping spy thriller but it ended up being a total snooze fest . I mean, don't get me wrong, Shaun Evans is super good as the lead character John and Romola Garai's portrayal of his wife Claire is spot on . But seriously, the pace of the show was so slow and clunky, it felt like they were more interested in hitting you over the head with realism than actually delivering a thrilling story . The cinematography was pretty meh too - all those dirty car parks and flat-roofed pubs just didn't do it for me . I mean, come on, can't a spy thriller have some excitement and surprises? It felt like they knew the plot twists from 5 episodes ago . Overall, I'd say "Betrayal" was a disappointment, but hey, at least it's got two great performances to show for it

I dunno man... I was so hyped for this show to be real, you know? It had all the makings of a great spy thriller - gritty realism, complex characters... but it just fell flat for me. I mean, I get what they were going for with John's personal struggles and all that, but it felt like they forgot to inject any actual excitement into the show. Like, don't get me wrong, Shaun Evans is sick as always, but even he couldn't save this narrative from itself . It was like watching a car crash in slow motion - you know it's gonna be messy, and yeah, that's exactly what happened here. I'm all for realism and depth, but not when it comes at the expense of actual plot twists and turns!

I dunno about this one... I mean, Shaun Evans is def a talented actor, but even he can't save this show from being kinda meh . The story's got some good stuff, like John's marital woes and his struggles with espionage, but it all feels so heavy-handed and grey . I get that it's trying to be realistic, but sometimes realism just doesn't mean you gotta make everything feel so darn bleak . It's like they're trying to suck the excitement out of a spy thriller . But hey, Romola Garai is awesome as Claire - she brings some much-needed warmth to the show . Maybe if they'd just balanced out the realism with a bit more tension and surprise, it could've been something special .

I'm so confused about this show... I mean, the premise sounds really interesting, but then it just kinda meanders along? The character of John seems super relatable, especially with his personal struggles, but it feels like he's stuck in a rut and can't escape it no matter how hard he tries. And don't even get me started on the plot twists... I felt like I saw every major turn coming from a mile away

I do love Romola Garai as John's wife Claire, though - she brings so much depth to her character and their relationship feels super real. But overall, I'm just not invested in this story. I need some more excitement and surprises! What did you guys think of it? Was it just me or was the pacing all over the place?

I'm so disappointed in Betrayal . I thought it was gonna be a gripping spy thriller, but it just felt meh . The whole thing feels like it's missing that kickstart to get the plot rolling. It's like they're trying too hard to be realistic and gritty, but ends up being dull and slow .

And don't even get me started on the cinematography . I mean, who thought those car parks and pubs looked cool? They just make it feel like a slog to watch. And the pacing? Forget about it . It's all over the place. You're literally waiting for something to happen, but nothing ever does .

I do love Shaun Evans as an actor tho . He brings this sense of desperation to his character that makes him kinda relatable. But even he can't save the show from its overall lackluster plot . It's like they took all these great spy thriller elements and just phoned it in .

Anyway, if you're a huge fan of espionage thrillers or something, I guess Betrayal might be worth checking out . But for me? No thanks .

I just finished watching "Betrayal" and I gotta say, I was really let down . The whole premise seemed so interesting but then they just kinda... dropped it. It's like they took all the cool spy stuff and replaced it with boring everyday life drama. I get that John Hughes has marital problems and all, but can't they at least make his work life a little more exciting? And don't even get me started on how long it takes to reveal clues - I was waiting for a major plot twist like 2 hours into the episode, lol. I mean I liked Shaun Evans as John Hughes, he's got some great acting chops, but even he couldn't save this show from its slow pacing.

I just finished watching this "thriller" on BBC One and I'm still trying to process how they managed to take a promising premise and turn it into such a snooze fest Betrayal is literally the spy genre's version of a midlife crisis – all flash, no substance. The whole thing feels like a chore to watch, like you're stuck in traffic on a grey, drizzly day

The characters are so poorly fleshed out, it's hard to care about John and Claire's marital woes . And don't even get me started on the pacing – it's like they took every exciting moment from a typical spy thriller and replaced it with an endless loop of boring, realistic nonsense

I mean, I love Shaun Evans as much as the next person, but even he can't save this mess . The cinematography is dull, the plot is predictable, and don't even get me started on those dirty car parks...

It's like they wanted to make an espionage thriller that was more about "reality" than actual tension or suspense . Newsflash: you can have both! Betrayal just doesn't deliver

I was really excited to watch this show but it just didn't deliver for me. The spy genre is all about suspense and twists, and I felt like that got lost in the dull setting of London . It's a shame because Shaun Evans looked so invested in his character, he could've carried the whole thing with his great acting skills . And Romola Garai was amazing as always, her character added some depth to the show . The only thing that kept me watching till the end was to see how John's story would play out, but by then I was just waiting for it to be over . Overall, I wouldn't recommend this one unless you're a huge fan of the spy genre or Shaun Evans

I dunno what happened to spy thrillers lately... everything just feels so grounded and realistic now. Used to be you'd get this pulse-pounding energy, but I guess that's gone out the window. This show tries to be gritty, but it just ends up being slow and plodding. Shaun Evans is great as ever, but even he can't lift this material. It's like they're trying too hard to make it feel "real" instead of going for some actual excitement.

I was really hyped for "Betrayal" but after watching it I'm still trying to figure out what happened . The premise is so cool - a spy getting caught up in his own life - but it just doesn't deliver on that promise. The pacing is all over the place, it's like they're trying to be realistic but it just feels like an info dump . I mean, dirty car parks and cramped B&Bs? Really? It's not exactly the most exciting setting for an espionage thriller.

I do think Shaun Evans is talented though , he brings a lot of depth to John's character. And Romola Garai is great as his wife Claire too . But even with their strong performances, it feels like they're fighting an uphill battle against the subpar writing . I don't think I'd waste my time on this one unless you're a die-hard fan of spy dramas . 2/5 stars, not impressed

I feel ya, mate ... I think this review is saying that sometimes, even with talented actors, a show can still go off track if the writers aren't careful with pacing and plot twists. It's like, you're on the edge of your seat, expecting something big to happen, but it doesn't deliver . And yeah, realism is cool and all, but it shouldn't come at the expense of entertainment value . I think that's why Shaun Evans shines in this show - he brings so much depth to his character, even when the rest of the narrative isn't there for him . It's like, his performance is saying "hold on, folks, let me carry this ship" ...

I gotta say, I feel bad for Shaun Evans and Romola Garai - they're basically carrying this whole show on their shoulders . But you know what's even more interesting? The fact that even with subpar material, they still managed to bring some life to it. It just goes to show that talent can only take you so far... and the rest is up to the writers and directors. Like, if they had put a bit more thought into pacing and tension, I think they could've made something really special out of this . The thing is, we all have days when things just don't go our way, right? But it's how we respond that matters - do we let it bring us down, or do we use it as an opportunity to learn and grow ?

ugh i know wot u mean , spy shows r supposed 2 b all about thrills n suspense but dis one just feels like a slog , gotta admit shaun evans is still pretty great in it tho & romola garai's performance as his wife is actually quite strong , but like cmon bbc one can u do better than this? the cinematography is all meh too and i hate how predictable the plot is . its like they took all the excitement out of espionage n left us w/ just a bunch of grey characters having problems

Ugh, I'm so done with this show! It had all the ingredients for a killer spy series - gritty realism, a complex central mystery, and talented actors like Shaun Evans and Romola Garai. But noooo, it just phoned it in and ended up being a boring slog . I mean, what's the point of having a talented actor like Evans if he's stuck with this dull, predictable storyline? The way they tried to make the espionage feel realistic but ultimately just felt like a chore was so frustrating. And don't even get me started on how slow-paced it was - I found myself checking my watch every five minutes . It's like they took all the excitement and tension out of the spy genre and replaced it with... nothing . The actors did their best, but even Evans's amazing performance couldn't elevate this mess. So yeah, Betrayal was a total letdown for me

I don't get why BBC One would go for such a dull setting . All that gritty realism just makes for a boring watch. Give me some twists and turns, some real action any day . And can we please have better cinematography? Those bland pubs and car parks are so uninviting . Even the actors, Evans and Garai, can't save this show from its slow pace . Maybe if they'd focused more on the spy aspect and less on making it feel like a realistic drama, it would've been something else .

I'm not gonna lie, I was hyped for this show at first, thought it was gonna be a real page-turner ... but man, it's like they took all the excitement out of espionage and just left us with this meh, slow-burning drama . The acting is solid, don't get me wrong, Romola Garai shines as usual , but even she can't save this show from its overall lackluster vibe.

I mean, I love a good spy thriller as much as the next guy , but "Betrayal" feels like it's more concerned with being realistic than actually delivering on the action and suspense. It's like they're trying to pass off a decent TV movie as a full-fledged series ... Newsflash: it's just not that engaging.

Still, I do appreciate the attempt at realism, even if it doesn't always pay off . And Shaun Evans is definitely doing his best with the material he's got . Maybe next season they'll step up their game and make this show actually worth watching ?