ITV1's new game show "Genius Game," hosted by actor David Tennant in a character known as The Creator, has aired its first episode, drawing attention for its complex and confusing format. The show, which is adapted from a South Korean television hit, revolves around contestants completing various challenges to collect plastic cubes called "zircons," each reportedly worth £1,000. However, the rules and objectives of the game appear difficult to decipher, even for seasoned viewers.
The first episode featured a singular main game repeated several times over the course of an hour. Contestants were engaged in tasks such as deciding whether to raid one of three bank vaults, with the risk that if too many players targeted the same vault, they would all receive nothing and face penalties in subsequent rounds. Strategies also included ganging up on opponents to prevent them from securing zircons. Players could trade or lose these cubes, especially when eliminated from the game, adding layers of strategic complexity.
David Tennant's presence on the show is primarily through pre-recorded video segments rather than active on-set hosting. His character, The Creator, explains the rules, though his delivery has been described as dry and uninvolving. The set design mirrors the iconic Tardis from Tennant's "Doctor Who" series, complete with panelled walls and staircases leading nowhere, but instead of a spaceship console, there is a cage where players attempt to imprison each other to prevent the collection of zircons.
One contestant named Paul was selected as the first participant to be eliminated after the initial rounds, sparking reactions from both players and viewers due to the somewhat cold and impersonal nature of the competition.
According to critic Christopher Stevens writing for the Daily Mail, the show is overly convoluted and lacks clarity, making it challenging for both contestants and the audience to fully understand the stakes and objectives. Stevens commented, "It takes a particular sort of genius to decode the rules of ITV's insanely convoluted brain-twister," and remarked on the show's reliance on a format originating in South Korea, suggesting that it either demands "supernatural intelligence" or an "abnormally high boredom threshold."
Overall, the series appears to combine elements of strategy, puzzle-solving, and social dynamics, though the opaque rules and the limited role of the host may impact viewer engagement. The Daily Mail is reporting on the initial reception and complexity of "Genius Game" as it debuts on ITV1.
Source: Noah Wire Services