BBC viewers fume 'I pay for this' over channel's 'confusing' and 'annoying' new drama: 'Rubbish - I'm out!'
Rebekah Staton in The Following Events Are Based On A Pack Of Lies as Alice
BBC
Billed as a "deliciously dark tale of two very different women and a conman", anticipation levels for the new BBC drama The Following Events Are Based On A Pack Of Lies was relatively high prior to its premiere.
In Fabric's Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Sex Education's Alistair Petrie, and Raised by Wolves star Rebekah Staton lead the cast as Cheryl, Rob, and Alice respectively and all appeared in the show's debut episode on Tuesday night.
However, despite only one episode airing on the Beeb, a number of viewers have been left less than impressed with the drama.
Much of the criticism is aimed at the show's convoluted plot but other complaints have been lodged against the show's picture quality and other effects.
A number of license fee payers' outrage came on Twitter, with one fan raging: "I don't know why people are saying #TheFollowingEventsAreBasedOnAPackOfLies is hard to follow. It isn't. But it IS rubbish. So I'm out."
While a second argued: "I was really intrigued by the premise of #TheFollowingEventsAreBasedOnAPackOfLies, but 15 minutes in and I haven’t got a clue what’s going on, so it’s time to switch over."
Marianne Jean-Baptiste in The Following Events Are Based On A Pack Of Lies as Cheryl
BBC
Elsewhere, a third hit out at the picture quality as they fumed: "Gave episode 1 a go. Not going to bother with any more. Among myriad other things, the lens blur effect is really annoying. #TheFollowingEventsAreBasedonaPackofLies."
And another took aim at the Beeb: "Am I in the minority but I wish the BBC would make a drama that easy to follow and I understand what is going on!
"First it was Woman in the Wall and now The Following Events are based on a pack of Lies. I pay for this! #thewomaninthewall #thefollowingeventsarebasedonapackoflies."
However, there was some support for the BBC's latest drama offering, with one Twitter user arguing: "Not completely convinced by #TheFollowingEventsAreBasedOnAPackOfLies @bbcstudios just yet but there's plenty to enjoy.
"Great cast. Well written. Fab settings. Sprightly soundtrack. Not sure about the CinemaScope or some of the extraneous humour but I'll watch more.
While a second defended: "I'm already hooked on #TheFollowingEventsAreBasedOnAPackOfLies but I have engagements for the next few Tuesdays, so it's a binge watch for me!"
The BBC released a short description of the series before it aired to set the stage for the drama.
Its synopsis reads: "This is a story about lies and artifice, about our weakness for self-deception, and about the rapid ascent of the modern fraudster.
"It is the story of an unexpected friendship between two very different women and the power they’ll discover when they raise their voices in joyous rage.
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Alastair Petrie in the new drama
BBC
"As they finally find the courage and self-belief to take charge, the con is on to try and take a sociopathic predator down."
Petrie is the man who takes on the role of conman Rob who masks himself as a successful and eccentric eco-conscious entrepreneur.
Meanwhile, Jean-Baptiste's Cheryl is a grieving author who lives alone with her poodle, Goblin, and Staton's Alice is an underappreciated PA who lives a modest home life with her son and partner.
While the first episode aired on Tuesday evening, the broadcaster has made the entire series available to binge online.