Apple TV+'s New Show Is a Mystery Gem With a 2000s Vibe We All Missed

The first two episodes of Before have been released on Apple TV+, and the show has become one of the top ten most watched TV projects on the platform. First of all, Billy Crystal draws attention to the project. The actor not only stars, but also executive produces the series.

The last time Crystal appeared on screen was three years ago – in his own dramedy Here Today. One could get the impression that the actor is retiring, but no. It is worth noting that despite his age, the actor is in excellent shape. Before is worth watching at least for the sake of Crystal, who is the main power of the show.

What Is Before About?

Child psychologist Eli has helped hundreds of difficult boys and girls over the past few decades. Recently, his wife Lynn, who was suffering from cancer, committed suicide.

Eli is ready to retire, but a frightened child, Noah, knocks on the door of the house. The boy sees terrible hallucinations, screams and does not speak. Eli takes on the difficult case, believing it to be the last patient of his career. It soon turns out that Lynn may have known Noah and even wrote a book about the child.

Before Is a Dynamic Project with Many Mysteries

Compared to its more leisurely competitors, Before boasts a dynamic plot. The show has half-hour episodes that inevitably end on a cliffhanger.

Both Eli and Noah experience frightening hallucinations and dreams. In his dreams, the psychologist finds himself in an abandoned swimming pool every night: either the specialist himself jumps off the diving board onto the tiles, or someone pushes the doctor. In addition, the ghost of his wife regularly materializes in front of the husband.

Noah keeps thinking that water is dripping from the ceiling onto the floor and that the room will soon be flooded. And the young patient often falls into a trance and does not respond to the doctor's words.

It becomes particularly interesting when Eli finds sketches of Lynn's future and never-written book, in which Noah and the boy's hallucinations are written on the pages. It seems that the husband was not fully aware of what his wife was doing.

Before Doesn't Try to Impress, but Does Its Job Brilliantly

Before does not impress with a sophisticated artistic language, a memorable soundtrack or a brisk editing. It is a rather conservative series with a 2000s vibe that relies mainly on a mysterious story.

With each episode, mysterious patterns and coincidences accumulate, so the writers should just tie up all the storylines in the finale. And you want to get to the conclusion of Before as quickly as possible, which is already a great achievement for modern television and streaming.

It is unlikely that the series with Billy Crystal will make it to the best of the year lists. It is a conventional project, which does not try to surprise with technical tricks, but keeps the audience in suspense. Viewers with a thirst for mystery will definitely be satisfied.