The BBC has been forced to defend itself against a slew of complaints from viewers over a ‘disgusting’ and ‘unnecessary’ scene in its new crime drama The Jetty.
The gritty series tells the story of Detective Ember Manning (Jenna Coleman) as she investigates a missing person’s case which threatens to unravel her own mysterious past, with House Of The Dragon’s Tom Glynn-Carney playing the show’s villain.
While some fans love the series and have even compared it to Sally Wainwright’s award-winning Happy Valley, others think it missed the mark.
One shocking scene in particular from the pilot episode has caused so much of a stir online that the Beeb released a statement explaining the choice.
The plotline in question sees Amy take a new friend to her home and show her the family horse, Kingpin, who she admits they will soon have to shoot to claim the insurance money, as they are facing financial troubles.
The BBC has been forced to defend itself against a slew of complaints from viewers regarding a scene in its new crime drama The Jetty
The gritty series tells the story of Detective Ember Manning (Jenna Coleman) as she investigates a missing person’s case which threatens to unravel her own mysterious past
A ‘gross’ and shocking scene implied that the character sexually abused the animal for a few seconds, before leaving the barn
A further ‘gross’ and shocking scene implied that the character sexually abused the animal for a few seconds, before leaving the barn.
When the episode aired earlier in July, viewers were left horrified and quickly took to social media to express their concern – with some even claiming it caused them to switch off from the programme:
‘That scene with the horse was just gross #TheJetty.’
‘#TheJetty bl***dy hell. Was there any need for that horse scene. Turned my stomach. I’m ready for turning off. No likeable characters.’
‘I was disgusted too. Just hate that kind of animal exploitation fiction or not.’
‘Turned off too!’
‘Yep. Turned over. That was unnecessarily vile.’
When the episode aired earlier in July, viewers were left horrified and quickly took to social media to express their concern – with some even claiming it caused them to switch off from the programme
The gritty series, which saw Jenna Coleman (pictured) make her debut as a detective, also suffered dozens of complaints from fans over audio issues
‘Totally agree. Could not see the need for that at all.’
‘That scene was disgusting and totally unnecessary.’
‘I found this scene completely offensive and upsetting. Switched off and complained to the BBC.’
‘#thejetty What’s with the horse abuse. So wrong on every level.’
‘#TheJetty that horse scene was pretty pointless and just for shock rather than plot development.’
Now the BBC has responded to the backlash with a statement that explained the scene was ‘intended to be shocking’.
It read: ‘The Jetty is a post-watershed, detective thriller which also explores power imbalances and troubling behaviour in sexual relationships.
‘Amy is a complex character who experiences abusive behaviour but also behaves in an abusive way herself.
One shocking scene in particular from the pilot episode has caused so much of a stir online that the Beeb has released a statement explaining the choice
Just minutes into the opening episode, the BBC suffered dozens of complaints from fans over audio issues
‘The scene is intended to be shocking and establishes how distorted Amy’s own sexual boundaries have become and how transgressive her behaviour is. The act is implied, and not shown on screen.
‘We always aim to make sure that any such scenes are never gratuitous and are filmed and edited in such a way as not to exceed viewer expectations. Information is provided to viewers to make them aware of such content where appropriate.’
But it’s not just the ‘disturbing’ animal abuse storyline that left viewers unhappy – they were also displeased with the sound quality.
Just minutes into the opening episode, the BBC suffered dozens of complaints from fans over audio issues.
Viewers flooded social media with comments to see if fellow watchers were suffering, with some penning: ‘The lighting, the sound, the dialogue and the acting. All terrible. #TheJetty’.
‘Am I the only one finding #TheJetty hard to pick up ? Is it the sound ? The accents ? Are they mumbling ? #BBCOne’,
‘#thejetty is potentially an engaging drama although understanding was marred by the rapid mumbling speaking style. What happened to clear enunciation?’
‘Tried to watch #TheJetty on @BBC – gave up after 25 minutes, can’t make out a word. Mumble, mumble, mumble .. anyone agree, perhaps my hearing’.
Meanwhile, other viewers had nothing but praise for the new series and commented: ‘just watched BBC’s the jetty 10/10 incredible. new instant favourite’
Jenna plays a tough cop and ‘human lie detector’ Detective Ember Manning
Meanwhile, other viewers had nothing but praise for the new series and commented: ‘just watched BBC’s the jetty 10/10 incredible. new instant favourite’,
‘Just binge watched The Jetty, I thought it was very good, no problems at all understanding the dialogue. Would very much recommend it’.
Jenna plays a tough cop and ‘human lie detector’ Detective Ember Manning in The Jetty.
As much a coming-of-age story as a detective thriller, The Jetty asks big questions about sexual morality, identity and memory, in the places that Me Too has left behind.
The offical synopsis reads: ‘When a fire tears through a property in a scenic Lancashire lake town, Detective Ember Manning must work out how it connects to a podcast journalist investigating a missing persons cold case and an illicit relationship between a man in his twenties and two underage girls’.
‘But as Ember gets close to the truth, it threatens to destroy her life – forcing her to re-evaluate everything she thought she knew about her past, present and the town she’s always called home’.
‘As much a coming-of-age story as a detective thriller, The Jetty asks big questions about sexual morality, identity and memory, in the places that Me Too has left behind’.
The series, written and created by Cat Jones, also stars Happy Valley’s Amelia Bullmore, The Terror’s Matthew McNulty and The Witch star Ralph Ineson.
Jenna previously told the BBC of the project: ‘Working with BBC and Firebird Pictures on bringing the complex and enigmatic character of Ember Manning to life has been an incredible experience.
‘I can’t wait for everyone to meet this new heroine and to find out what’s lurking beneath the surface of The Jetty.’
