Try to find a review of Betrayal online and you won’t find a single positive one. It seems like every critic on the planet is jumping on the hate bandwagon – ripping the show apart for its terrible acting, atrocious music, and bland storytelling. Well, consider me the exception to the rule, because I thought this was an engaging pilot brimming with excellent chemistry, impeccable editing, and some of the best music I’ve heard all year.
ABC has found enormous success over the past two years with Revenge and Scandal, and they’ve wisely decided to continue that trend with Betrayal (yes, the one-word name is pretty stupid). But if you look past the admittedly insipid title, you’ll find an intriguing little production that blends a simple premise (a married man and a married woman begin a complicated love affair) and a murder plot, into one highly entertaining guilty pleasure.
As Sara and Jack, both Hannah Ware and Stuart Townsend are first-rate. Their chemistry is electric, and every glance is packed with a ton of nuance and emotion. The whole show rests on their shoulders, and they do a great job with the material. Their supporting cast includes the uber-talented and menacing James Cromwell (fresh off a terrifying turn on American Horror Story and a recent Emmy win), in addition to Alias alum Merrin Dungey (whom I’ve missed greatly).
It’s also worth noting that Betrayal‘s musical score is outstanding. Every scene is imbued with a wonderfully ethereal-like score that acts a perfect compliment to the show’s mysterious and romantic tone. In addition, the two songs I’ve listed below are downright gorgeous, so be sure to give them a listen.
Honestly speaking, Betrayal probably won’t last the season. There’s a ton of bad buzz surrounding the show, and the pilot didn’t pull in good numbers for ABC. However, I found myself quite captivated by the show, and since it’s been promoted as a limited-run series, we’ll probably get a satisfying ending if we stick with it for a while.
But please, stop it with the in media res openings. It was totally unnecessary, particularly since the mystery was reused in the pilot’s cliffhanger.
Must-Download Tunes
Show Me Love by Epic Pop (featured in the promo)
Feel For Me by Foy Vance
Conclusion
Ignore the critics and give Betrayal a shot. You just might find an absorbing little drama.
Nad Rating
B+
Thank you! Finally! I couldn't agree with you more. This show knows its tone and is unapologetic about it. Stop trying to punish it for not being Scandal or Revenge or Dallas and whatnot. Leave it be dammit.
The only drawback is the guy who plays the murderous son. One of the reviews called his performance insulting. I happen to agree with that.
I'd also like to point out that this show makes the best use of New York scenery and feel in recent memory.
So glad to hear that you enjoyed it too. Too bad it'll be cancelled soon. I do hope the show gets to end its limited 15 episode run so they can tell a complete story. By the way, the pilot was filmed in Chicago and that's where the show is set. Don't worry, I also mistook it for NYC during a few shots 🙂
Well this is embarrassing.
Wow I was just reading the reviews and the critics have been really harsh on this one… I am glad to see I am not the only one who rather enjoyed it and the main characters, Sarah and Jack, have the right chemistry to hopefully make this work.
I am curious to see where the show is gonna be headed because although I quite enjoyed this episode I somehow believe that this would have worked better as a movie plot rather than a series so I really want to see how the writers are going to develop the story.
Hi Tagouga! Glad to see Mario and I aren't the only ones who enjoyed it! You're right about the movie plot, that's why it was ordered as a 15 part limited series. I do hope they get to have those episodes and finish the story off right! Also, download those 2 songs. TOO good!
ABSOLUTELY agree…I really liked it! Hope people don't listen to the critics & give this one a shot!
You should be embarrassed 😛
i don't feel there's enough reason for them to cheat… probably to divorce (if they are not happy), but not to cheat. I didn't buy their relationship. It is not like they we were working together for a long time and fell into it… they had just met. And he doesn't like art either. He just wanted a souvenir of his piece of eye candy.
They do have great chemistry though. Still I can't condone it, so I can't enjoy it!