Genius Game: A Dull and Unentertaining Quiz Show
Britain’s love affair with gameshows shows no signs of waning, with ITV recently announcing the launch of a new channel dedicated to the genre. However, not all quiz shows are created equal, and Genius Game, which premiered on ITV1 on April 30, is a prime example of a show that fails to deliver.
According to a review by The Guardian, Genius Game is a lacklustre quiz show that feels like a chore to watch. The show, hosted by David Tennant via Zoom, is based on a South Korean series and features a group of contestants with high IQs competing in puzzles and games based on strategy and social manipulation. The contestants, including Bodalia, an NHS doctor and touring DJ, entrepreneur Bex, and comedian Ken Cheng, seem to have been cast for their charisma as much as their intelligence.
The Guardian notes that "Genius Game should be good" but ultimately falls flat. The show’s format, which involves contestants competing in complex puzzles and games, has potential, but the execution is poor. The review states that the show is "dire – the TV equivalent of walking into a party halfway through an extremely convoluted game you never quite catch up with, and which is unthinkably dull to boot."
One of the main issues with Genius Game is its convoluted explanations, which make it difficult for viewers to follow. The show’s puzzles and games are often unclear, leaving contestants and viewers alike scratching their heads. As The Guardian puts it, "it’s all explained so poorly that Genius Game often feels like watching the Mitchell and Webb sketch where a quiz host shouts ‘Numberwang!’ at random."
The show’s attempts at drama also fall flat, with one contestant, Paul, being reduced to a patsy for another contestant’s scheming and being locked away in a big cage in a way that feels undignified. The Guardian notes that "where it does try to do ‘drama’, it ends up looking more like a guide to committing elder abuse."
In contrast to other nerdy gameshows like Only Connect and University Challenge, Genius Game fails to deliver on entertainment value. As The Guardian states, "it doesn’t take a genius to see that this one falls flat." The show’s lack of wit and high-stakes backstabbing, compared to shows like The Traitors, makes it a dull watch.
The Guardian also notes that the show’s finale, featuring a giant noughts and crosses board, is unable to salvage the show’s overall lacklustre performance. The review concludes that viewers would be better off watching a classic episode of The Chase or a show featuring Ant and Dec.
According to The Guardian, "Genius Game is a show that answers a question no one was asking – namely, what if we had more light entertainment shows that felt like being back in GCSE maths?" With its dull format and poor execution, it’s clear that Genius Game is not the answer.
The Guardian’s review of Genius Game is clear in its assessment: this is a quiz show that fails to deliver on its promise. With its complex puzzles and lack of entertainment value, it’s a show that is best avoided.
As David Tennant, the show’s host, joins via Zoom, it seems that even he may have been aware that the show wasn’t worth the effort of a three-hour round trip from London to Maidstone in Kent, where it was filmed.
The Guardian’s article on Genius Game serves as a scathing review of a show that fails to live up to its potential. With its dull format and poor execution, it’s clear that Genius Game is not a show that will be winning any awards anytime soon.
Genius Game may have had potential, but as The Guardian’s review makes clear, it’s a show that is best left on the cutting room floor.
Source: The Guardian
