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Original poster

Netflix "Seeing is Believing" Peak Middle class tv

60 replies

Indiependant · 01/01/2026 11:14

10 mins in & every middle.class tv cliche in the book. The rambunctious breakfast scene. The student age child who "spends most.of their time at bars". A husband with a Northern Irish accent to give him an edge. Female doctor mother. Father in finance. Daughter at private school. May as well be sponsored by Gail's Bakery

OP posts:
StandFirm · 01/01/2026 20:00

Those Harlan Coben adaptations are always set in a nondescript US/UK setting (British accents and school uniforms but houses only affordable to multimillionaires here, with the large kitchens and front lawns already mentioned). I think it's done deliberately to appeal to both audiences.

FKAT · 01/01/2026 19:47

I saw Inter Alia at the National Theatre last year and it was exactly this genre. But because it was on at the THE-ATT-ER and had a Latin title it got 5 star reviews despite the fact it was the same as every other Netflix/ITV High End thriller drama.

soupyspoon · 01/01/2026 19:31

Whereismyjoiedevivre · 01/01/2026 19:22

And do they always head straight for the fridge after work to pour a massive glass of wine? Never ever lager.

Big (lazy) MC signifier.

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No, its never White Lightening is it?

skippy67 · 01/01/2026 19:23

Whosthetabbynow · 01/01/2026 11:16

Did someone grab a slice of toast from someone else’s plate as they shrugged their jacket on and headed out the door?

😅🤣

Whereismyjoiedevivre · 01/01/2026 19:22

Whosthetabbynow · 01/01/2026 11:16

Did someone grab a slice of toast from someone else’s plate as they shrugged their jacket on and headed out the door?

And do they always head straight for the fridge after work to pour a massive glass of wine? Never ever lager.

Big (lazy) MC signifier.

Elmrosie · 01/01/2026 19:18

DarkEyedSailor · 01/01/2026 17:57

Is Richard Armitage in it?
Is there a house with a big white porch and a large bush, probably a rhododendron, that someone can hide behind whilst either being up to no good or whilst looking for someone who is probably already dead?

It’s James Nesbitt’s turn this year, Richard Armitage has this year off.

tattime · 01/01/2026 19:11

earlgreyismyjam · 01/01/2026 18:29

Adding this to my watch list right now 😆 is there also some kind of exercise scene as well? Yoga or open water swimmig??

Running!

in clothes that nobody would run in (hoodie & gilet!)

earlgreyismyjam · 01/01/2026 18:29

Adding this to my watch list right now 😆 is there also some kind of exercise scene as well? Yoga or open water swimmig??

ExquisiteSocialSkills · 01/01/2026 18:04

I meant pull focus!

ExquisiteSocialSkills · 01/01/2026 18:01

Is the kitchen so big that they have to shift focus when two people are talking and one goes to get something out of the massive refrigerator?

RedRiverShore6 · 01/01/2026 17:57

Seeing is believing is the title of the first episode of Run Away, watching it now, it doesn't disappoint

DarkEyedSailor · 01/01/2026 17:57

Is Richard Armitage in it?
Is there a house with a big white porch and a large bush, probably a rhododendron, that someone can hide behind whilst either being up to no good or whilst looking for someone who is probably already dead?

soupyspoon · 01/01/2026 17:46

Dark woodwork?

Original poster
Indiependant · 01/01/2026 17:43

FKAT · 01/01/2026 16:33

Is the red wine in goldfish bowl glasses and is it supped at dinner parties after which the hosts have a marriage-ending row?

Is there a colour saturated drone shot of suburban landscapes - lawns, pools, shiny cars etc?

Absolutely! Brilliant observations.
Multiple references to picking the kids up. Teenage daughters as word weary and wise as the average 45 year old. Central European helpers/carers usually called Olga. Everyone knows and is friends with their next door neighbour. The Dad will have a close friend who is either black or has a strong but comprehensible northern accent whom they will have safe but laddish banter with about squash. PAs at work invariably tell their workaholic female bosses to go home, in a maternal/patronising manner.

OP posts:
FKAT · 01/01/2026 16:33

Is the red wine in goldfish bowl glasses and is it supped at dinner parties after which the hosts have a marriage-ending row?

Is there a colour saturated drone shot of suburban landscapes - lawns, pools, shiny cars etc?

LittleBitofBread · 01/01/2026 15:20

Not really the point, but why is Gail’s always held up as the ne plus ultra of middle-classness? There are other chain bakery/cafés that seem pretty similar to me (Pain Quotidien, Paul, Ole & Steen) but which don’t seem to have this label attached.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 01/01/2026 15:13

Sofa in the kitchen?

Cute, rough-coated dog of medium size?

Lots of family photos on the walls?

Otherwise I'm not watching.

canklesmctacotits · 01/01/2026 15:10

Yes, there has to be wine in a tall-stemmed wine glass on a marble island in massive kitchen with bifold doors. People need to break open such wine the second they walk through the door, and drink the first sip like it instantly soothes the pain of work stress. Ideally there will be a laptop open on such marble island.

Whosthetabbynow · 01/01/2026 15:02

FreedomForFree · 01/01/2026 14:54

If it's the Harlen Coben one I think the OP might not be in England, it's called Run Away here at least the description is exactly the same as what I've been watching.

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Ah. Fantastic. Run Away is on Netflix. Thanks xx

FreedomForFree · 01/01/2026 14:54

Whosthetabbynow · 01/01/2026 14:19

I can’t find it on Netflix! Seeing is Believing?

If it's the Harlen Coben one I think the OP might not be in England, it's called Run Away here at least the description is exactly the same as what I've been watching.

Whosthetabbynow · 01/01/2026 14:19

I can’t find it on Netflix! Seeing is Believing?

Original poster
Indiependant · 01/01/2026 14:16

BoredZelda · 01/01/2026 14:04

Thanks for the recommendation, I shall add it to my watchlist.

Is there property porn in it too?

Well there's another middle class Dad in a study with greenery behind. Large kitchen island with glasses of red wine, miniature trees in planters, so yes guess so

OP posts:
BoredZelda · 01/01/2026 14:04

Thanks for the recommendation, I shall add it to my watchlist.

Is there property porn in it too?

Original poster
Indiependant · 01/01/2026 14:01

Yep all rhe above boxes ticked. Its a Harlan Coben indeed. The nice middle class couple being caught up in nefariousness trope clearly has deep seams.
The sexually attractive BAME DS in the police, the anxiety/dramatic energy soundtrack, the middle class young woman with predilection for criminal or criminal adjacent boyfriends. It just needs an art teacher at the private school to have an affair with a sexy Dad to get a full house

OP posts:
Whosthetabbynow · 01/01/2026 12:08

Dollybantree · 01/01/2026 11:46

🤣🤣🤣

If it’s a Harlan Coben they’re always quite predictable and cheesy. Paint by numbers tv.

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But I bloody love them 🤣