ITV Betrayal fans all say the same thing after spotting | UK News

ITV viewers have been left scratching their heads just minutes into the second episode of Betrayal, with many saying the same thing as they noticed what many branded as “glaring” errors in the spy thriller. The four-part drama, which stars Shaun Evans as British MI5 agent John Hughes, returned on ITV this week after a strong debut that had initially received reward from fans. Set in Manchester, the sequence follows John as he juggles a crumbling marriage with the strain of national security, after being pulled into a harmful conspiracy involving an informant who is murdered before he can speak.

But while episode one was widely applauded, episode two rapidly had viewers questioning the realism of the plot — and the supposed competence of its lead spy. Within minutes of the episode airing, fans took to X to spotlight what they felt have been major inconsistencies. One viewer mocked: “Most indiscreet MI5 worker ever”, while another pointed out a rookie mistake, writing: “I think an MI5 guy would know to hide a message on the lock screen.”

Others questioned how the show handled geography and technology. One fan asked: “How quickly did John jog from Stockport to Levenshulme AND not lose signal on those two blokes?”

Another added: “After the two deaths at the start of #Betrayal episode 1, how come no-one ran out after the first shot, and started filming with mobile?”

There have been also complaints about the scale of some motion scenes, with one viewer baffled by a dramatic set-piece: “Shootout at the airport? In broad daylight? And did she crouch behind some explosive barrel?”

Despite the nit-picking, loads of viewers have been eager to level out they’re still sticking with the show — even if they couldn’t ignore the slip-ups.

Several said the errors felt particularly jarring given Betrayal is constructed around intelligence work, covert ops and skilled professionals who ought to know better.

As one fan put it, the errors have been “too obvious to overlook” in a drama that asks viewers to buy into the precision of MI5 life.

Others have been fast to single out Shaun Evans for reward, despite frustrations with the plot. One viewer wrote: “Shaun Evan’s performance in #Betrayal is simply phenomenal. All the little nuances. It doesn’t go unnoticed.”

The sequence has also discovered a strong viewers past social media grumbles, pulling in a respectable 6.7 out of 10 on IMDb. One reviewer, who awarded it seven out of ten, described it as a “well-paced and nicely twisty show”.

But episode two proved more divisive. Some viewers admitted they misplaced endurance altogether, with one complaining: “A boring story that seems to be mainly about the central character’s boring marital problems, I gave up after two thirds of the way through.”

Still, the drama has managed to keep audiences guessing — significantly around Mehreen, performed by Zahra Ahmadi, the MI6 officer introduced in while John stays under inside investigation.

A late twist in episode two has left both John and viewers questioning precisely where her loyalties lie, including another layer of suspicion to an already tense storyline.