ITV's new spy thriller Betrayal, starring Shaun Evans, aims to offer a grounded take on the genre, but its execution feels dated and relies on tired tropes. The series follows MI5 officer John as he navigates a crumbling marriage alongside a potential terror threat, but the portrayal of his wife Claire, played by Romola Garai, is particularly problematic.
The show quickly establishes John and Claire's marital strife through marriage counselling sessions, where Claire expresses frustration over John's secrecy and his absence from home, which hampers her career. John, however, views her concerns as nagging and resents her desire for him to leave the service. The series also hints at John's past infidelity, which has eroded Claire's trust.
While the premise is not inherently outdated, the execution leans heavily on the 'nagging wife' trope, with Claire given little depth beyond her roles as mother and wife. Scenes such as John's wish to invite his mother for Christmas are presented in a one-sided manner, making Claire seem unnecessarily harsh and unsympathetic.
The show seems to encourage viewers to side with John, despite his flaws, by framing his work as vital to national security. However, without allowing the audience to understand Claire's perspective or struggles, her grievances feel trivialised. This approach recalls the unwarranted hatred directed at Anna Gunn's Skyler White in Breaking Bad, but in Betrayal, the justification for John's actions is even weaker.
Ultimately, Betrayal fails to deliver on its intriguing idea, offering a spy drama that feels stuck in a bygone era. The series may struggle to engage modern audiences who expect more nuanced characterisation and less reliance on outdated gender dynamics.
