BBC drama, The Jetty, has already left viewers with a divided opinion after struggling to keep up with the storyline and highlighting dialogue issues – but now many more have found something else to complain about.
The drama – starring Jenna Coleman – focusses on Detective Ember Manning (played by Coleman) as she is forced to reevaluate her life after an arson attack at a boat house sparks off a series of events that drudge up the past.
The synopsis for Tuesday night’s episode read: “Still reeling from her shocking discovery, Ember is desperate to find out what Riz knows about the Amy Knightly case. They begin to share information and Ember tells Riz her suspicions about the identity of Miranda’s abuser.
“Ember is horrified when she’s told that the lake is to be searched for Amy’s remains. When Riz stops returning Ember’s calls, Ember suspects that it’s because she has uncovered the terrible truth about what happened to Amy. Crime drama, starring Jenna Coleman and Weruche Opia.”
Whilst some viewers have enjoyed the series, some were left uncomfortable and branded one scene “distasteful” after witnessing a horse being pleasured by a character.
Partway through the episode, Amy (played by Bo Bragason) took her new friend Caitlin to her home and explained that her family was on the brink of bankruptcy.
Amy took Caitlin into her barn to see her horse
BBC
She went on to explain that they would soon be shooting their horse named Kingpin for the insurance money.
In a move that showed her sadistic sense of humour, Amy then leaned down and began to arouse the horse, using her hand for a few seconds before laughing and exiting the barn.
The scene was enough to “turn stomachs” as one shocked viewer shared on X: “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 to turn off. No likeable characters,” another noted.
Amy leant down and touched the horse inappropriately
BBC
“#Thejetty is weird, but I’m worried about that poor lonely horse, tied up in a dump and being sexually abused,” a third commented.
And someone else penned: “That horse scene I have no words what just happened #TheJetty.”
Whilst fans were left squirming at their screens, others were left confused and struggled to follow the storyline after the first episode hinted that the drama was split into different periods.
It became clear that rebellious teenager Amy is the girl who had disappeared decades before, who present-day Ember is looking into.
Fans only worked out the connection towards the end of the newest instalment, leading some to blast the “hard to follow” flow of the programme, as one angry viewer said: “#TheJetty flashbacks need to time-stamped if you’re padding out a program with them and can’t be bothered providing a quality soundtrack.”
Others complained about the constant “mumbling” and revealed they were “struggling” to follow the narrative and direction of the opening episode.
Caitlin stood in shock whilst Amy laughed at the situation
BBC
Coleman recently opened up about her new role in the series and said: “Ember has a great relationship with her daughter Hannah, played by Ruby Stokes, that we tried to create as a bit of a sisterly friendship.
“Ember had her daughter when she was a teenager, so they’re not too far apart in age and there’s a lovely, really interesting dynamic there. I loved filming those scenes with him.
“She’s quite challenging of Hitch and calls him out all the time, so there’s this constant banter and back-and-forth between them. Ember gives him a lot of tough love.
“Her relationship with her deceased husband is interesting, and a key focus of the show, as Ember spends the series reframing her relationship with him, putting a new lens on it in retrospect.”