What if, during your daily aimless scroll through social media, you stumbled upon a video of a man with anxious eyes and blood running down his forehead? Following the direction of a silent figure behind the camera, he holds up two signs. The first sign reads, “I Abuse Women,” and the second, “At 5 Million Views I Die.”

You might believe the video to be fake and watch it a few more times. As the viewer count climbs, you might even share it with a friend or two to get their opinion.

Now, imagine the man in the photo is your husband. Imagine he’s your dad, your brother or even your son. Would that make you think twice before sharing it?

In what appears to be a long-winded commentary on the impact of all things social media, Netflix’s newest, rising star, “Clickbait,” touches base on the numerous aspects of the internet and how it can be used for both good and evil. The series was released on Aug. 25, 2021, and has been a hit on the streaming platform since.

Social commentary aside, this eight-episode series begins by introducing its key players and even tip-toes around some unexplained tension between main characters Pia (played by Zoe Kazan) and Sophie Brewer (played by Betty Gabriel). Despite this lack of explanation, character growth is something that creators Tony Ayres and Christian White did well. 

As the video hits 5 million views, you get a first-hand look at how each character behaves when they’ve reached their lowest point. This is where the growth becomes apparent. Not one character in the series stays stagnant, and by the time you finish the series, you will have an opinion on each one. 

Contrasting personalities also allow different perspectives and reactions that will keep you on your toes, like with Sophie and Pia. 

Ayres and White beautifully cultivated the rocky relationship between Sophie, wife of Nick, and Pia, his sister. Rifts in this relationship were apparent from the first scene in the series. The creators’ utilization of this rift to promote growth, not only in each character but in the relationship of the two strong-willed but very different women, made the series much more interesting to watch. It also gives you something to root for in an abundance of bad news. 

Character growth is a large part of this series, but the most enthralling aspect is you never know who the “bad guy” is. With all the effort that the creators put into each character, it only makes sense. The various avenues and plotlines you follow them through make you question every character, even Nick himself. When the truth is revealed, it will sneak up on you in a way that will force you to pick your jaw up off the floor. It’s that good. 

This well-written series is worth watching if you’re looking for a nail-biter to keep you on the edge of your seat and completely tuned in for all eight episodes. Aside from an unfavorable portrayal of the news media, the series checked all the boxes that a person who loves a good thrill would want. 

“Clickbait” is available to stream on Netflix.