Betas

:

Season 1
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
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Critic Reviews

  1. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    Nov 20, 2013
    80
    It's a little wild and woolly and more serialized; it's also more addictive [than "Alpha House"].
  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Nov 20, 2013
    80
    It helps enormously that Dinicol and Soni find the right mix of vulnerability and awkwardness in the leading roles. The show also captures a general atmosphere of Silicon Valley as a youthful place not far removed from absorbing the Harry Potter books.
  3. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: David Wiegand
    Nov 20, 2013
    75
    It's full to overflowing with clever and sometimes very funny geek-speak.
  5. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Mike Hale
    Nov 20, 2013
    70
    Things could go either way. If Mr. Endicott, Mr. Stoddard and their colleagues can exercise more consistent quality control, there might be another round of financing in their future.
  6. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Erik Adams
    Nov 27, 2013
    67
    Betas’ aspirational spirit can be invigorating, but it’s yet to find a unique perspective on the setting that was the winningest part of its pilot.
  7. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Melissa Maerz
    Nov 20, 2013
    67
    If Betas keeps up with millennial cleverness, it's also sometimes a little too on-the-nose.
  8. San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times
    Reviewed by: Chuck Barney
    Nov 22, 2013
    60
    The show crackles with witty (and jargony) banter and mostly succeeds at making its tech world fun and engaging -- something Randi Zuckerberg's "Start-Up: Silicon Valley" reality series too often failed to do. But the problem with Betas is that it's an uneven endeavor that's just good enough to make you wish it were better.
  9. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    Nov 22, 2013
    50
    Betas brims with raunch, perhaps in the belief that it is key to hooking younger viewers.­

Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Best TV Season of 2013
63
#63 Most Shared TV Season of 2013

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 24
  3. Negative: 4 out of 24
  1. damien102
    Dec 14, 2013
    3
    I had hoped this show would improve after the pilot, which was a little shaky. But no. In fact, it actually got worse. The characters areI had hoped this show would improve after the pilot, which was a little shaky. But no. In fact, it actually got worse. The characters are completely unlikeable. Imagine Entourage without the charm (which is really saying something). I was hard pressed to care in the slightest what happens to any of them.

    The writers of Betas seem to think comedy stems from having their characters say the most crude and insensitive things possible with nonchalant bravado as quickly as possible. They also seem to think that strong female characters are simply female characters who are just as misogynistic as their male counterparts.

    And it's not that I "don't get it" I am firmly in the target demographic. I understand all the geeky references about startups and MySpace etc. I really wanted to like this show because it's a great concept. It's just a shame it's SO charmless. Think Entourage with Aspergers.    … Full Review »
  2. Kienne
    Jan 4, 2014
    7
    After watching Betas first season ...and though I am NOT (perhaps) in the "target demographic" (older female) I find this show to beAfter watching Betas first season ...and though I am NOT (perhaps) in the "target demographic" (older female) I find this show to be disarmingly touching.

    The characters are fleshing out and the journey they are on, seems to me to be closer to being ones of parallel Don Quixotes...I am curious how these separate paths will converge.

    I want to see more.    … Full Review »
  3. ACCritic
    Nov 23, 2013
    7
    The pilot was surprisingly promising. An underdog story, but the underdogs are app programmers in a world of it-geeks. So, there is noThe pilot was surprisingly promising. An underdog story, but the underdogs are app programmers in a world of it-geeks. So, there is no traditional juxtaposition of geeks versus jocks. I really want their app to succeed; that's all that matters at this point (that's a hook, which Alpha House lacks). There were story-lines tangential to the main one that I was much less interested in, but this is just a beginning. Hopefully, the show will find its focus and heart through the humor as it develops.… Full Review »
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