BBC One's highly anticipated new thriller, 'The Guest', has been met with a wave of incredulity and frustration, leaving viewers branding the primetime drama "complete and utter tosh".
The series, which promises a gripping tale of a mysterious stranger who enters a family's life, has instead left its audience baffled and complaining of a convoluted and nonsensical plot. The backlash was instant and ferocious, playing out in real-time across social media platforms.
A Torrent of Criticism on Social Media
Disappointed licence fee holders did not hold back on X (formerly Twitter), with one viewer summarising the national mood by writing: "Well that was 60 minutes of my life I won't get back. What a load of absolute tripe." The sentiment was overwhelmingly echoed across the platform.
Another frustrated fan questioned the show's logic, posting: "So the family find a strange man in their house who claims their son sent him... and their first thought isn't to call the police? Righto. #TheGuest." This core plot point became a major sticking point for many, who found the premise utterly unbelievable.
From Confusion to Outright Mockery
As the episode progressed, the confusion only deepened, leading many to simply give up. "I haven't got a clue what's going on in #TheGuest. Is it me?" asked one perplexed viewer. This was swiftly followed by another who declared: "Switching over. This is ridiculous."
The criticism wasn't limited to the plot alone. The dialogue and character motivations also came under fire, with audiences struggling to connect with or even understand the actions of the family at the centre of the strange tale.
A Rocky Start for a New Primetime Hope
The scathing reaction presents a significant challenge for the BBC, which had likely hoped for 'The Guest' to become a flagship autumn drama. The public's willingness to publicly condemn the show so vehemently underscores a broader expectation for quality programming from the national broadcaster.
With viewers threatening to abandon the series after just one episode, the pressure is now on for the subsequent episodes to provide clarity and justification for the bizarre opening instalment. Whether the show can win back the trust of an already alienated audience remains to be seen.
