I'm hooked on ITV's ‘most expensive flop' - even if I don't fully get it

Metro

21-05-2025

Everything David Tennant touches usually turns to gold.
Since becoming a household name as The Doctor in Doctor Who, he's been inescapable – from Broadchurch, to Rivals and even presenting the Baftas. Unless you're Kemi Badenoch, the 54-year-old Scottish actor cannot put a foot wrong.
That is, until ITV's The Genius Game – a new game show that has been branded the channel's 'most expensive flop'. But for me, of all the highlights of Tennant's career, this is actually the time I've enjoyed him the most.
No one else might be enthralled, but we're four episodes in and there hasn't been another show since The Traitors where I am counting down the days to get my fix.
The premise is… well, it's actually quite complicated – and that's where much of the criticism lies.
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The reality series first launched in South Korea, running for four seasons between 2013 and 2015. Contestants were usually celebrities who would compete in various challenges to test their strategic and social skills.
In its first British adaptation (which I fear will only last for one series on the basis of its grim critical response and abysmal viewing figures) a group of self-proclaimed geniuses are pitted against each other in Squid Game-esque challenges that could only be played by some of the brightest minds Britain has to offer.
Contestants include a philosophical poker player, a crime writer, a forensic scientist, and a doctor.
Each episode, they play a game footed equally in strategy and manipulation. At the end of each game, one player is declared the loser and enters the death match, where they select a rival of their choice to play another game, which will decide who gets eliminated.
The winner of the challenge receives the Token of Life, which grants them immunity from said death match, as well as garnets (worth £1,000 each).
Throughout the series, they want to acquire as many garnets as possible, with the eventual player with the most garnets taking home a prize of up to £50,000.
Their intelligence is tested more than in any other show – there's no specialist subject and general knowledge will get you absolutely nowhere.
But I must say, I've had to rewind Tennant explaining the rules each episode more times than I'm willing to admit.
This is because there are games where, no matter how many times I watch the rules, I still don't understand them. And while I can see why that is off-putting for viewers who like to have some grasp of what they're watching, I'm into it.
The rules come secondary to the gameplay, which – as a diehard fan of The Traitors and almost every series that has since been launched in its wake where manipulation and deceit is key – The Genius Game is one of the more interesting.
My biggest gripe with The Traitors is actually remedied in The Genius Game. In The Traitors, the finalists are usually there because they have been fairly useless throughout the series, unable to spot the villains in their midst.
In The Genius Game, it is the best players and master manipulators who come out on top. Granted, if you're too good at the game, you become a target – but everyone is essentially a traitor and they're all very good at it.
They are essentially not just the best brains in Britain, they're the best game players too. As a reality TV fiend, it's a total revelation watching a series where every single contestant is an incredibly strong link with tactics and logic very few of us could understand.
In Layman's terms, when I watch football I don't want a bunch of amateurs you'd find at any five-aside tournament. You want the top players, the best of the best. The Genius Game is essentially The Premier League of reality game show contestants.
That said, there are clear problems that need fixing.
Tennant is hardly present at all. We're four episodes in and he's yet to meet the contestants face-to-face, only communicating via pre-recorded videos.
That means it lacks the type of enthusiasm a host like Claudia Winkleman brings to The Traitors, which played a much bigger part of its success than she gets credit for.
I personally don't enjoy The Genius Game any less for not totally understanding the game, but I can see the cause for concern that other viewers share and I'm stunned ITV didn't think that would be an issue either.
The challenges have been branded 'impossible' and, subsequently, The Genius Game's initial plan to air twice a week at 9pm on ITV was scrapped to just one night a week after the viewing figures tanked. More Trending
But too hard doesn't have to mean unwatchable. University Challenge viewers can hardly answer a question, but it doesn't make it less enjoyable to watch – this is because the rules are still simple.
Regardless, I'm totally addicted to 'ITV's most expensive flop'.
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I can't imagine it will ever last longer than another series but I would urge everyone to give it a chance. And who knows, with a few tweaks, it could live up to its own title and be a true stroke of genius.
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