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.

I have to agree with a lot of the negative comments as well as some positives. Primarily Billy Chrystal has the chops to pull this non-comedic character off which was refreshing to see in episodes 1&2. As far as story line and repetition, that's where you start scratching your head with episode 3 and presumably 4 as character development continues and plot is laid out.

A renowned psychiatrist later in life (Eli's character is ridiculously Ok boomer) is dealing with the death of his wife who apparently died by suicide in the hallway bathtub while fighting cancer. Eli's world is bleak and out of nowhere a kid shows up clearly in distress but nobody knows why other than it's very creepy. Lo & behold Eli is a child psychiatrist and is asked to take his case. I didn't have a problem with this, it was interesting enough to get my attention. By episode 3 that setup & interest has been squandered on super cliche tropes & highly repetitive suspense and supernatural clues. As someone mentioned Eli is kind of bad at his job and doesn't seem to care much about anyone's feelings but his own which ties into the way his boomer character is written along with the women & the corny black best friend character that's shown smoking a joint in his fancy university office. Really? Black friend who listens to jazz and is into drugs who solely exists as the confessional for the main character who shows zero emotional intelligence towards literally everyone he encounters except the court case worker with whom he appears perfectly normal for the sake of convincing her has to continue treating the kid. As someone who has worked in the mental health field and with psychiatrists I can attest to the fact that most psych MDs are painfully self righteous but wow you don't immediately call the cops on a kid when you have a vast professional network at your disposal. Clues about how Noah is connected to wife's suicide are so trite & repetitive to the point where you stop caring if she killed herself if Eli had anything to do with it or why. I will keep watching when I need downtime and don't wanna think but a wasted opportunity for Chrystal's acting chops and natural command of the small screen with a meh script that frankly had the writers getting lazy early on.

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.

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.

"Before" started with an intriguing premise and solid performances, especially from Billy Crystal, but by Episode 3, the pacing falters. The episode feels bogged down by an overuse of nightmare sequences-almost every other scene-making the narrative feel repetitive and slow. While the dream-like visuals are striking, they fail to move the story forward or add meaningful depth to the characters. The series leans heavily on familiar psychological thriller tropes, which undermines its potential to feel fresh or innovative. Despite occasional moments of tension, the plot struggles to build momentum, leaving viewers more confused than compelled. "Before" seems to prioritize atmosphere over substance, which ultimately detracts from its intriguing core mystery. While the performances remain strong, particularly from Crystal, the repetitive structure and lack of narrative drive may leave viewers disengaged. By Episode 3, the show's promise begins to feel like a missed opportunity.