The Audience

Series two, episode one
The deeply peculiar yet strangely compelling reality show returns and the wisdom of the crowd is tested to breaking point this week. Tonight, the 50 random strangers are following Jane Mason as she grapples with a life-changing decision. Jane is 42 and single. She also suffers from a degenerative condition. Should she adopt a child? God knows how you even begin to answer that question. Jane is clearly successful, determined and in many ways, remarkable.

But what are her exact motivations? What emotional baggage is leading her down this road? And how can the group divine answers to any of these questions when she’s initially defensive going on testy? Clearly, things aren’t that simple – eventually this becomes thoroughly involving and doesn’t require any of the emotionally manipulative tricks with which it’s garnished and heightened. Still, the human story is easily strong enough to survive the gimmicks in the end.