The series premiere of new ITV drama Passenger has been met with rather mixed reviews following its debut on Sunday evening.
So much so that while some took to social media to reveal they'd had to binge every episode online, several others had "switched off" the first instalment altogether.
The drama follows former Met detective Riya Ajunwa (played by Wunmi Mosaku) who's itching for her next big case after spending years dealing with petty crimes in the village of Chadder Vale.
The disappearance of Katie Wells (Rowan Robinson) sets the stage for Riya to finally sink her teeth into a tantalising case but things ground to a halt when she reappears 24 hours later.
In the show's premiere, Riya's determination came to the forefront as she refused to believe things were as they as seemed and it teed up a rather intriguing storyline over the course of the series.
However, it appears several first-time viewers won't be hanging around to see what Riya uncovers after deciding to abandon the show due to a number of complaints.
ITV Passenger premiered on Sunday evening
ITV
Social media soon became awash with irked comments from ITV viewers who bemoaned the "confusing" storyline, "terrible" sound and bizarre product design.
Taking to X, one person who failed to stick with the drama moaned: "It was terrible. Scenes were only 30 seconds long. Then another scene. Story was all over the place. Switched off #Passenger."
A second agreed: "#Passenger Don't think I can watch another 5 episodes of not knowing what the plot is supposed to be."
"I don’t think I’d watch another episode of #Passenger. Did anyone like it?" a third asked before a fourth weighed in: "Not sure I can go back to this. Did the production team know what was going off or even what decade it was set? #Passenger hour wasted."
What just happened...? #Passenger pic.twitter.com/hIOjucDTWQ
— ITV (@ITV) March 24, 2024
"#Passenger sadly the sound was terrible so was too much work to try and hear it properly," another said of the sound quality while a sixth hit out: "#Passenger apart from mumbling dialogue, what is it about! I found the programme totally boring. It was like watching paint dry."
However, amid the complaints were several fans who've decided to give the drama the benefit of the doubt and praised Andy Buchan's new show.
One fan praised: "@ITV just watched ep1 of #Passenger it’s like, Twin Peeks meets Fargo meets Happy Valley meets Shameless meets The Fog!
"I’ve absolutely no idea what’s going on (does anyone!) but I’m hooked that’s for sure! Looks like this is going to be a binge watch!#AndrewBuchan #ITVDrama."
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Wunmi Mosaku leads the ITV drama
ITV
And another also defended the show: "#Passenger It's Brilliant. I'm so intrigued why the iron and cars and stuff on set and the game I actually played are all 80s yet modern mobiles etc. It's bonkers, I know there's going be a reason. Loving it." (sic)
The second episode will air on Monday evening and continue each Sunday and Monday going forward.
However, the full series is available to stream on ITV's streaming service ITVX now.
It went head to head with the BBC's Death in Paradise on Sunday evening which had plenty of drama of its own as leading star Ralf Little exited the show.
