Netflix steps back into the Australian drama space with new thriller Clickbait, but is it worth clicking on?
When the series opens, we are treated to a family dinner at the Brewer house. It is here that we meet Nick Brewer (Adrian Grainer, Entourage), a loving father to Ethan (Cameron Engels) and Kai (Jaylin Fletcher), husband to Sophie (Betty Gabriel), and brother to Pia (Zoe Kazan). They have a mostly enjoyable night to celebrate the family matriarch Andrea (Elizabeth Alexander). But their perfect world crumbles when nurse Pia is helping patient Vince (Jack Walton), who shows her a video that has appeared online of a badly beaten Nick holding a card that says “I abuse women. At 5 million hits, I die.” If this a threat or confession? Or both?
Pia interrupts Sophie’s classes at school and the two set off to find Nick and uncover the truth. Enter the police in the form of Roshan (Phoenix Raei), an officer trying to make his mark against his brash colleague Zach De Lucca (Steve Mouzakias).
As the series unfolds, there are questions raised and the Brewer family may not be as perfect as they appear at first glance. Where is Nick, will he be okay, and what other secrets are hidden? You will just have to wait and see…
Creators Tony Arys (The Slap) and Christian White Relic have created a compelling mystery series told through different points of view episodically as the series progresses. The narrative technique allows for the cast to shine and show different sides of their characters.
Casting-wise there’s a lot to love here: Adrian gives Nick many different shades as the series unfolds in a compelling performance, meanwhile Betty and Sophie give some mesmorising performances in their episodes.
Clickbait is certainly not clickbait, so log into Netflix and devour a compelling series which is one of the most thrilling TV miniseries of the year that may just change how you use social media.
5 Stars
Clickbait drops Wednesday on Netflix.
