Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Drugs, language, violence in arresting but clumsy series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Clickbait
What's the Story?
Siblings Pia (Zoe Kazan) and Nick Brewer (Adrian Grenier) have struggled to maintain their close relationship ever since Nick's buttoned-up wife Sophie (Betty Gabriel) came into the picture, but far more serious troubles loom as CLICKBAIT begins. At first, Pia thinks the horrifying videos online must be a prank: Nick holds up signs saying "I abuse women" and "At 5 million views I die." But as police and Nick's family scramble to find him, Nick's secret life emerges, unraveling the secrets of those around him, too.
Is It Any Good?
Intriguingly and briskly plotted and stocked with a great cast, this mystery/thriller series grabs attention and holds it, even if ultimately it's overstuffed with big messages. Catfishing, cancel culture, journalistic ethics in an age of 24-7 news and gossip, the pluses and minuses of living one's life in an age of on- and off-line surveillance: all of these meaty topics and more make an appearance in Clickbait, which unspool Rashomon-style, with each episode taking on the viewpoint of a different character connected to Nick: his unstable sister, his long-suffering wife, a detective assigned to his case, his teenage son, all of whom, it turns out, have secrets and twisty motivations that are lots of fun to watch unravel.
Ultimately, Clickbait wants to make too many points at once, and characters sometimes take a back seat to the ideas showrunners are clearly trying to get across. Yes, we get it, a journalist investigating a hot story can go too far; yes, trusting what someone tells you about themselves online is pretty foolish. Clickbait takes some weird turns while communicating its moral bulletins, and often feels emotionally manipulative and heavy-handed. But as a narrative, it crackles and moves along nicely.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why criminal settings are so common for modern television dramas. What dramatic possibilities does Clickbait offer? Find out when your teens are ready for complex content like this show.
How is the viewer supposed to relate to the character of Nick Brewer? Is he sympathetic? A villain? A flawed hero? How can you tell how viewers are supposed to feel about him?
Movies and TV shows often communicate with a characteristic color palette: cheerful musicals will have eye-popping bright colors, horror productions will have lots of red and black. What's the color palette of this drama? Why?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 25, 2021
- Cast : Zoe Kazan , Betty Gabriel , Adrian Grenier
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 7, 2024
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