Before

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.

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!

The first episode had my hopes but now after watching episodes 2 and 3 I have to give up. There is so much repetition of the same few things it gets boring really quickly. It's like watching one episode over and over again.

The main lead guy seems to have been written like the most stereotypical emotionally stunted psychiatrist who prioritises patients over his own family. We've seen this too many times already. He wallows around passively and I felt worried for his patients as he is not really that smart or empathetic.

The boy actor does a really good job as psychologically tormented kid, it's just a shame this series is not up to his bar.

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.