Channel 5 viewers make demand as they ‘switch off’ minutes into new drama The Game: ‘Shake things up!’
A new Channel 5 drama made its screen debut on Monday, with the four-part thriller not seeming to get off to a great start according to viewers.
The Game, starring Jason Watkins, Robson Green and Sunetra Sarker, follows retired detective Huw (Watkins) as he obsesses over a case he failed to solve.
A programme synopsis shared with the Radio Times reads: “Former detective Huw settles into retirement alongside his wife Alice, but never far from his mind is the case he failed to solve—that of the Ripton Stalker.
“When new neighbour Patrick moves in and uses the phrase that the stalker used to taunt Huw with in letters, he’s determined he’s finally got his man.”
The opening episode saw Huw instantly becoming suspicious of his new neighbour while his wife begged him “not to go down the same road” he’d previously endured.
The first instalment made clear Huw’s obsession had, in the past, sparked huge problems within his family.
However, he remained adamant that Patrick is the killer, with Green’s character behaving strangely throughout the episode.
Unfortunately, not all who tuned in were riveted by the plot, with many complaining about the “slow” nature of the drama and some demanding for Channel 5 to go down a different route.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Channel 5 viewers ‘switch off’ from new drama The Au Pair over ‘totally unbelievable’ plot: ‘Patronising!’Channel 5 The Feud viewers ‘switch off’ minutes into new drama as they spot ‘stupid’ distractionAmanda Owen, 50, fans demand answers after ‘disturbing’ son Reuben Owen, 21, update: ‘Explain!’
Others admitted just minutes in they had decided to change the channel. Taking to X, several viewers expressed the same frustrations.
“Slightly wooden this drama #thegame,” one wrote simply, while another theorised: Channel 5 drama team seem to be obsessed with paranoid neighbours and ‘voyeurism’.
“We had the partner swapping one a while back… then the magpies one with Jill Halfpenny the other week…”
Suggesting an alternative, they added: “Now an ex-cop with a thorn in his side. How about a new idea? Shake things up. #TheGame.”
“I’ll probably watch another episode in the hope it gets better as it’s very slow! #TheGame,” a third commented.
“And a helpline for anyone else bored by this s***e so far… #TheGame,” another quipped, with one admitting: “Nope, I’ve turned it over #TheGame.”
“#thegame I might go back if I read a review which shows this first episode’s got better. So far it’s been a real bore with the only likeable character being killed off,” someone else noted.
There were some positive reviews though, with one seeming to have high hopes for the drama as they penned: “Ok so far. Let’s hope it’s better than the usual c5 dramas and a bit different #TheGame.”
Another enthused: “Really enjoyed #TheGame on Channel 5. Tense, twisty and thrilling. Robson Green still has it.” (sic)
Green continues to star in ITV’s Grantchester, which concluded its latest series earlier this year.
Speaking in January to GB News and other media, the actor opened up about his role on the series and the only thing that would make him consider moving on from it.
When asked in the press Q&A if he’d ever leave the drama, he confessed: “I would only leave if the standard of writing capitulated.”
“And it hasn’t because Daisy [Coulam] is at the helm and Emma [Kingsman-Lloyd] at the helm, and they were there right from the start with Al [Weaver] and Tessa [Peake-Jones] and Kacey [Ainsworth].”