Clickbait is a series I always had on my Netflix watchlist. I never got to it, till this week. Before Singapore, a last minute pre travel binge.
The series landed on Netflix deep in a lockdown, so I have no idea why in August 2021 I never watched the eight park miniseries.
So what is Clickbait? Over eight episodes, it explores the dark side of social media. In one thread of the story, a father goes missing, only to appear in a viral video holding a sign saying that he will die if the video receives five million views.
My main issue with the show was it was set in Oakland, California, but was mostly filmed in Melbourne. That comes with Australian looking streets and Australian actors with some (at times) bad American accents.
It has an interesting and diverse cast. Starring locals and international stars like, Zoe Kazan, Betty Gabriel, Adrian Grenier, Phoenix Raei, Abraham Lim, Jessie Collins, Ian Meadows, Daniel Henshall, Motell Foster, Jaylin Fletcher and Cameron Engels.
The show also had those 2020/2021 setbacks, with principal photography beginning in December 2019. Production on the series was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then in November 2020, the series resumed filming in Melbourne.
So I won't do my usual spoiler warning, as this series is old AF. However if like me you slept on this. Don't read ahead. Just know, it starts strong, but sadly ends a little flat. Just being honest, sorry Netflix.
In episode, The Answer, Ethan realizes that Kai was on his computer and saw the location that Alison sent. Kai knocks on the door of the catfish and Dawn answers. Kai believes that the location he found was an elaborate prank by Ethan and accepts Dawn and her husband Ed's invitation to come in before they drive him home. After learning how Kai found them, the two leave him in the dining room and Ed retrieves a gun.
In a flashback, 2 years ago, when Nick first began working at the college, he asked Dawn for help setting up his computer. During this process, she learned all of his usernames and passwords. Dawn also discovers messages from Mandy Harrison on a dating profile Nick made.
That same night, Dawn uses Nick's password to login to his dating profile, and she begins to impersonate him. She then begins to set up multiple profiles using Nick's photos and is discovered by Ed who storms out. Sarah Burton repeatedly messages to ask why she is being ignored. Annoyed, Dawn goads her into committing suicide after Sarah threatened to do so.
Ed and Dawn pretend to drive Kai home as Sophie and Pia arrive at the now empty house and learn that Dawn was the catfish. Realising something is amiss, Kai attempts to contact his family, only for Dawn to throw his phone out of the car. They bring him to a ranch nearby and keep him inside a trailer. There, Kai learns that after Simon released Nick, he came to confront Dawn about using Nick's pictures to catfish women and drive Sarah to suicide.
While Dawn attempts to deny doing so, Nick points out that Dawn is the only person he had told about Sophie's affair and she had access to his computer. Nick attempts to bring Dawn to police, but Ed kills him. Kai escapes the trailer but is almost shot by Ed.
Ed and Dawn chase him and he attempts to hide in a stable. Roshan and other police arrive and search the ranch. Hearing Sophie call out for him, Kai comes out of hiding but runs into Ed. Roshan and the police find Dawn and arrest her, while Ed holds Kai at gunpoint. Dawn convinces Ed to let Kai go, but Ed refuses to be arrested and forces police to shoot him.
Sophie puts Nick's pictures back up. At Nick's funeral, Roshan tells Pia that Tara has decided to press charges against Matt. Sophie stands at the entrance of the funeral feeling overwhelmed but Pia reassures her that they will support each other.
Honestly, I was gripped in episode one and two, however with a twist, the series kinda lost me a bit. That said I am glad to have finally watched this Aussie made, but US influenced series. Off to Singapore I go tomorrow. Let's see if I can catch up on Silo whilst away.
New shows starting for everyone to get around. On Disney+ Reasonable Doubt and Only Murders in the Building return. Whilst on Apple TV+, I have been giving Bad Monkey a go. Just as I take off (sadly) the finale of The Twelve will stream on Binge. Season Two has been a big change of scene from Sydney to regional WA. Also on Binge Industry has been making headlines for new cast members and some sneaky nudity in the third season.
Honestly, yes seeing Joel Kim Booster fully nude was hot, but season three of Industry is a big improvement. I think the UK based series may land a fourth season.
See you soon!
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