This evening, ABC is unveiling their new romantic drama, Betrayal. Is it a good companion series for Revenge? Will it become a hit, a moderate success, or will it be quickly cancelled? Is it worth watching?
Betrayal revolves around professional photographer Sara (Hannah Ware) and top attorney Jack (Stuart Townsend) who, despite being married to other people, have a torrid affair. Things become even more complicated when Sara’s husband and Jack end up on the opposite sides of a murder trial. The rest of the cast includes Henry Thomas, Chris Johnson, Wendy Moniz, Braeden Lemasters, Elizabeth McLaughlin, and James Cromwell.
Sound interesting? Here’s what some of the critics are saying:
NY Times: “It would help if Mr. Townsend and Ms. Ware had chemistry, but they’re basically generic-looking actors playing out an unsurprising dynamic.”
LA Times: “If only we cared. Even a little. Ware is lovely, but Sara is nothing more than a dress-up doll. Just as fetching in tank tops as that little red dress, possessing a cool and convenient warehouse studio, she is utterly unbelievable as photographer, mother or wife. She is certainly unbelievable as a woman carried away by passion; she and Townsend’s lack of chemistry threatens to form antimatter every time they look at each other.”
Salt Lake Tribune: “After watching the pilot episode of ABC’s Betrayal (Sunday, 9 p.m., Ch. 4), two questions immediately popped to mind. First, could that possibly have been as boring as I thought? Answer: Yes. And, second, what were ABC executives thinking when they picked this up as a series? Answer: I have absolutely no idea.”
Newsday: “Sorry, but to a large extent, Betrayal is all about TMI. The entire pilot is needed to set up the convoluted pretzel of a premise, but it also gives away a huge plot point in the opening seconds. That’s not only a risky move but a confusing one for the obvious reason that we don’t even know who Sara is at this point, let alone why anyone would want to shoot the poor woman. But this message is at least delivered: Betrayal is as much a mystery as romantic drama. Does Betrayal work on either level? So far, not really.”
Variety: “Barring an unexpected turn for the better, the show seems destined to generate more unintended giggles than heat (the ads should really say “ABC’s funniest new series!”). Because while TV has plenty of room for guilty pleasures, they should really be more satisfying than this.”
Washington Post: “So far, there’s not much here you don’t see coming from many miles away, and there’s barely enough chemistry between Ware and Townsend to make things bubble. If Betrayal wants to stick around, it better have some real surprises in store.”
USA Today: “Sex, treachery, murder: Betrayal is a show with everything – except decent writing, believable characters, and anything else that would provide a reason to watch.”
NY Post: “Can anyone act here? The answer is yes. Before Betrayal, Ware’s most notable role was as Kelsey Grammer’s drug-addicted daughter in the defunct Starz series Boss. In a TV season where some seriously lazy casting is hindering the new shows, she’s a breath of fresh air: she’s subtle, assured and has an ethereal allure. How did she get a job on ABC, known for its cavalcade of wavy-haired bimbos? The Dublin-born Townsend, who joins the list of foreign-born actors with a mastery of the American accent, manages to be available, passionate and furtive all at the same time. If anyone’s capable of Betrayal on this promising new drama, it’s Jack McAllister.”
What do you think? Are you planning to watch Betrayal? If you’ve already seen it, will you watch again? Would you recommend it?
The second show is so absurd that I couldn’t watch anymore after the mother, with teenagers in the house, decides to give her husband a ******** in the living room during the day while the kids are home. Really? Really?
Just about one of the most unbelievable things I have ever seen.
Done.
This show hooked me on the second one.. And I really Love the husband, he’s somewhat power hungry, manipulative and soo lusty handsome.. I really prefer hime over the others.. And when he tells her he knows she’s been seeing someone else I want to see what happens. I loved him on Against the Walls, series..
I love the show…..hope it gets more popular.
I LOVE this show! It’s only one episode; the critics and ABC need to give it a chance!
my thoughts exactly !!
as I said I love the show…..I wrote to abc yesterday; there is a form to fill in…go to the bottom of the site..to contact us…..and go from there. Hope a lot of you write.
I liked the show, but ABC is notorius for giving shows with low ratings a quick hook before the show can establish itself.
Give it a chance……I liked it. Good cast….and like the story line.
Loved the show sure hope they do not cancel it
amen!!!!!!!!
I thot the show was soooo great! love the cast. its a tv show. its not reality. great cast and great first episode
totally agree with you. Seems there are several of us who like it……if Mistresses can get a second season…..then Betrayal should get at least a season !!!! we can only hope.
Wow the reviews are the total opposite of my opinion. I hope I am not the only one who fell in love with this show! It sucked me in! I can’t wait for the next episode!
I loved the show….hope it continues !! love the cast.
I will watch this show – I found it captivating and refreshing
I agree !!!!!!!!!
I may be in the minority…but I do like Betrayal. The cast is very good…esp Hannah
Ware. I think it is a great fit for Sunday night…..a nice way to end a weekend… and
I don’t need more football at night..after it is on allllllll day. ..aarrrghh !!!!!!
I’ll pass unless you can tell me the poor betrayed husband comes out ok and not some sappy sad unknowing then evenly left out fool. for it to be a series called betrayal I just don’t see that happening.
I may be a voice of one…but…I like Betrayal. It is a nice fit for a Sunday eve on tv..
enough football…..not more at night. I like the cast…and the story thus far. It is based
on a Dutch tv show…Overspel.
I have waited 5 years for amazing stuart townsend to get a gig again–wer’e not watching adultery we are watching a great lover make love to a beautiful woman–
I think the show might be good. I mean it’s only been on 1 episode so I don’t really think it’s enough to know whether it’s going to be really good or not. It pisses me off when shows get cancelled before they have even really started and it’s crazy how a lot of good shows get cancelled but then the stupid reality crap stays on.
Maybe if ABC could pick up Copper from BBCA I would have a better outlook on all these new shows. Copper is set in mid 1800’s and is the beginnings of CSI. It had history, science and drama set in the Civil War period in New York City. Please consider something like this. All the characters were played by top notch actors. Thank you. DeAnna
Yes, DeAnna! I completely agree! I’m on an anti-BBCA roll now that they cancelled “Copper” & “The White Queen”, both terrific shows. Just because they didn’t pull in ratings like “Downton Abbey”, doesn’t mean that they deserved to be cancelled! The quality of network TV shows has deteriorated so much over the last few years that there are only a handful of good shows worth watching. I no longer get excited over the new and mid-season TV shows. It’s the same old thing…poor comedies, vampires, zombies, lame soaps, poor acting and writing. Give us back those historical dramas!