Before

Before starring Billy Crystal is a disappointment, failing to deliver on its potential despite its talented lead. The film tries to blend heartfelt drama with humor, but its execution feels flat and predictable. Crystal, usually a magnetic presence, feels miscast here, struggling to inject life into a character that never quite resonates. The plot, centered around love, regret, and second chances, comes off as clichéd, relying on tired tropes rather than exploring new emotional territory. The pacing is sluggish, dragging through scenes that lack both depth and genuine feeling. Even the dialogue, which should be the show's strong suit, often falls into awkward or forced moments, undermining any sincerity. Ultimately, Before feels like a missed opportunity-a film with potential that never quite realizes it.

The series begins with a slow pace, but it gradually gains momentum after a few episodes. It prompts you to reflect on mental health, only to evolve into something far more intricate. The incorporation of paranormal elements adds an intriguing layer that exceeds initial expectations. However, I found the repetitive focus on the child's physical symptoms somewhat excessive, leading to wasted screen time. That said, as the season progresses, the paranormal plotlines begin to coalesce, enhancing the overall narrative. I'm currently on episode 7, and I can confidently say that I would not have continued watching if it hadn't introduced more unique elements beyond just mental health.

Many have already said it, but I have to say it, too. This is a tendancy in series on streaming services, most likely due to financial reasons like needing to pay top talent a certain amount, so produce too many episodes.

Billy Crystal is absolutely excellent in the series and all the actors are good. So is the story while the curiosity lasts. But eventually, you're like "ok, we get it!" and want to see the end. Probably after episode 2. I will not put in spoilers, as I see no point in describing the action. There's too little to describe. The whole thing begins repeating after episode two and we long for the end, put us out of our misery!

This started with such promise but just faded away Into repetitive hyperbole. It made no sense to release it weekly, I actually think it might have been higher scored as a binge release. The characters are good enough and Crystal is really good, however to repeat the same story arc without getting any further has been a frustrating 10 weeks. The young boy Jacobi Jupe does well and will deservedly do even better off the back of it. To be honest I'm still not totally sure what the ending was I think I'd kind of lost interest by then. Review is 63 characters short so I have cats named alf, sue and Bella. All the best.

There's a good story here, with compelling characters, story arcs, and themes. The supernatural elements were done fantastically, as is the tragic elements of the series. But the slow burning story and ending deserved a tighter edit, that, honestly needed no more than three to four episodes. Is it good? Yes! But it would have been much better as a three or four night event mini series. Some stories only need just a few episodes, and this is one of them. Still, if you like mysterious supernatural films or shows, you will enjoy this one. One more thing, the mystery behind his wife's death was played out way too long. Not going to spoil it, but once you find out what happened, you are like, "why'd this take so long to get to?" Also, the terrible character of Crystal's self absorbed and angry character's daughter was written annoyingly bad. She was written in a way solely to move the story forward, instead of being an organic and believable character that you can identify with or be empathetic toward.