Viewers were left seriously unimpressed by the debut episode of new BBC cop drama Virdee, with many forced to switch off minutes into the programme.
The new series, broadcast on Monday evening, covers inter-community tensions and organised crime in a gritty Bradford setting.
The show is adapted from the novels of British-Asian crime writer A A Dhand and stars former X Factor contestant Staz Nair as the titular Harry Virdee.
In Monday’s episode, viewers were introduced to the character and his struggles at home, which were prompted by strife between the British Muslim and Sikh communities.
Protagonist Virdee, a Sikh, is married to Saima, a Muslim, which leads to them both being disowned by their respective families.
Hard as nails cop Virdee was tasked with tracking down a missing teenager while dealing with warring drug gangs in the city.
The new show stars former X Factor contestant Staz Nair as the titular Harry Virdee
BBC
The character was seen balancing a very fine line between cop and criminal as he cooperated with gangsters to help solve crimes.
The episode culminated in Virdee’s intolerant father having a heart attack after a fight with his son, and a young woman involved in the drugs trade being murdered.
Despite all the ingredients for a new take on a classic grizzly cop drama, viewers were left less than impressed and shared their fury on X.
Moments into the first episode, some were immediately put off by the show’s “nauseating” camera work.
The show covers both community tensions and gritty crime in Bradford
BBC
“I still feel sick from the camera work it was so jumpy i could actually be sick! #virdee,” one wrote.
Another asked: “What’s with the dodgy camera angles on #Virdee it’s making me want to vom…”
“Bye #Virdee Dreadful, head up their own backside, camera work,” a third viewer slammed with another adding the show had “lost me”.
Another flaw was the show’s apparently unintelligible dialogue which had one declare “back to Netflix!”
“Oh no, I really wanted to like #Virdee but it has a lot of problems, starting with the mumbled dialogue,” one slammed
A second complained: “Bit of a mumble fest this. Like the Walking Dead. Is it the new trend to have to have the sound up full to hear what they’re saying? #virdee”
“Can’t catch everything they’re saying. #virdee,” a third wrote.
A foruth declared: “Born and bred Bradford and I’ve had subtitles on from the start. #Virdee.”
The show generally also failed to impress, with one viewer declaring: “That’s enough. Dreadful.”
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Viewers were unimpressed with Virdee’s debut episode
BBC
“Watched ten minutes of #Virdee I’m sorry but it but it’s dire,” another slammed. (sic)
Despite the complaints, others were keen to share their enthusiasm for the new series.
“Enjoyed #Virdee Good start and the potential to get better,” one wrote.
Another declared: “Well worth the long wait! Loved #Virdee and the city looked beautiful.”
“That was brilliant. Loved everything about it,” a third glowed.
