Clickbait

Clickbait is aptly named. It grabs your attention with a sensational premise and keeps stringing you along with tantalising twists. The show begins with a bang, immediately immersing viewers in its central mystery, and its episodic cliffhangers do just enough to make you want to hit “Next Episode.” However, while it has all the makings of an addictive thriller, Clickbait struggles to maintain momentum, often veering between engaging and frustrating.
‍

Clickbait opens with a shocking video going viral: a man named Nick Brewer (Adrian Grenier) appears battered and holds a sign claiming he will die if the video reaches five million views. What follows is a suspenseful race against time as Nick’s family, including his sister Pia (Zoe Kazan) and wife Sophie (Betty Gabriel), scramble to uncover the truth behind the video and Nick’s mysterious abduction. As the story unravels, it reveals a tangled web of secrets, lies, and online deception, each episode offering a different perspective on the events leading up to the viral video.

The series has an interesting concept and a story brimming with potential. The multi-perspective storytelling introduces layers of intrigue, offering small twists and new revelations that keep the plot moving. Yet, this same structure contributes to uneven pacing, with some episodes feeling slow and melodramatic while others manage to be genuinely thrilling. The constant attempts to shock the audience with curveballs—while initially effective—eventually lose their edge, making the twists feel more like a gimmick than meaningful story progression.
‍

The acting across the board is serviceable but far from exceptional. Adrian Grenier’s performance as Nick is passable, though he doesn’t get much screen time. Zoe Kazan and Betty Gabriel carry much of the emotional weight but can only do so much with characters that often feel underdeveloped or unlikable. Unfortunately, this lack of relatability makes it harder to invest in the story, particularly when the narrative demands a significant emotional connection to the Brewer family.

Believability is another hurdle. At times, Clickbait dives so far into the ridiculous that it risks alienating its audience. The show stretches plausibility, with certain plot points and character decisions coming across as contrived. For those who enjoy tightly woven, grounded narratives, this may prove too frustrating. However, if you can suspend disbelief, the series does manage to deliver decent entertainment, thanks to its core mystery and binge-worthy structure.
‍

Where Clickbait excels is its ability to leave you curious at the end of every episode. While the execution isn’t always neat, the writing is cleverly designed to keep you hooked, even if you find yourself rolling your eyes at times. The series is undoubtedly flawed but still has enough intrigue to pull viewers along for the ride.