Channel 5 viewers were left bewildered by the second episode of new drama, The Au Pair.
During its debut episode on Monday, the thriller was deemed “unbelievable,” leading many to “switch off,” but Tuesday’s episode sparked a stronger response.
The programme’s synopsis reads: “Zoe Dalton is a woman who seems to have it all: a successful business, a happy marriage, two beautiful step-children and a stunning house in the idyllic countryside.
“When a mysterious au pair enters Zoe’s home with her own hidden agenda, Zoe is unwittingly propelled on a journey that will unearth a terrible truth and which will threaten to destroy everything she holds dear.”
While Monday’s episode made clear the family’s au pair Sandrine (Ludmilla Makowski) wasn’t who she claimed to be, Tuesday’s instalment saw the plot becoming more bizarre.
At one point, Zoe’s teenage stepdaughter Amber (Margot Pue) started to realise things weren’t adding up about the au pair, and that Sandrine had faked her identity.
After threatening to reveal all to her dad, Sandrine hit Amber over the head, believing her to be dead.
The chaos took place during the teenager’s birthday party, with crowds of people celebrating in the garden, but Sandrine still decided to drag Amber’s lifeless body away in plain sight – on a bike.
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Channel 5’s The Au Pair follows Zoe after she introduces a mysterious au pair to her stepchildren
Channel 5
Just as she was about to dispose of the body, Amber miraculously opened her eyes, which coincided with the rest of family’s realisation that Sandrine was dangerous.
Using a phone tracker, they managed to get to the scene in minutes and drove away with Amber, leaving Sandrine stranded in the road.
It was at this point Sandrine dropped the bombshell on Zoe that she was in fact the daughter she believed to have died at birth.
Despite the plot twists, viewers were baffled by the bizarre decisions and supposed plot holes, such as nobody at the party spotting the au pair leaving on a bike with Amber’s body.
Many likened the scenes to a sketch, with on writing on X: “Didn’t think it was possible but C5 have reached a new low with this tripe. #theaupair.”
“I don’t think I’ve laughed so much at one of these (ahem) dramas… #theaupair,” another admitted.
“What utter drivel #TheAuPair,” another shared, with someone else posting: “Birthday girl being dragged into the garden by the ankles and no one notices… ffs #TheAuPair.”
“Oh please!! So now she drags her body outside where anyone could see her!! #theaupair,” another commented.
Channel 5 The Au Pair viewers compared some scenes to a comedy sketch
Channel 5
“#theaupair now she’s taking the body on a bike with her legs hanging out. Fawlty Towers springs to mind,” one more remarked.
“Did I just see.… #TheAuPair peddling along with the daughter’s legs hanging out of the box at the front??” someone else asked.
“Sandrine cycling off with Amber’s corpse… #theaupair,” another wrote alongside an image of the bike scene from ET.
Despite the backlash, others seem to be enjoying the drama. One viewer displayed a change of pace in the comments, writing: “#TheAuPair Omg I love this show.” (sic)
