Yahoo News The State continues to be a harrowing watch
Channel 4's hard-hitting drama The State continued tonight (August 22) with its third episode, and as you would expect, viewers have plenty of opinions on it.
Like with previous episodes, people praised the series as being important for showing us the horrors of the world of ISIS, and what goes through the minds of those who are wrapped up in that world.
Similarly to last night's episode, the show is definitely a hugely uncomfortable watch, with scenes of women and young girls being bought as slaves or for sex.
On a storytelling level, viewers seemed to enjoy the pacing of tonight's episode more, but criticised the lack of subtitles and some of the characterisation:
#TheState proving interesting but characters feel too westernised for me and their motivation not that clear.
- Newsfox (@theNewsfox) August 22, 2017
Ok subtitles maybe #thestate pic.twitter.com/0Pnjmc5BK2
- h. (@_hariett) August 22, 2017
This woman is on a hype in #TheState seriously reckless behaviour
- David Fiasco (@david_fiasco) August 22, 2017
What a plot hole. As if the first thing to say would be "are you gay" #thestate
- Jenny Illmann (@JennyIllmann) August 22, 2017
#thestate subtitles would be slightly helpful. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with Arabic or Urdu.
- Liam (@LiamP_100) August 22, 2017
Is it just me or is the pushy doctor in #thestate #channel4 extremely irritating and unlikeable (beyond the fact she's obviously mad) ?
- The other me (@lalavie444) August 22, 2017
#thestate last night was tedious but tonight's looking more interesting- brutal but important drama from channel 4
- Simon Woolley (@simonewoolley) August 22, 2017
#thestate is great, but we all want to know what leads them to join ISIS not what they do when they get there 🤦🏽♂️
- Lorenzo O'neil (@lorenzoofficial) August 22, 2017
One did come up with a very good point regarding the subtitles (which makes complete sense to us):
For those complaining about lack of subtitling, I think that's meant to give you a sense of isolation of non-Arabic speakers #thestate
- Ian (@ian_Naarfolk) August 22, 2017
As mentioned above, the vast majority of the Twitter conversation was about the events depicted in the show, which made viewers uncomfortable knowing that this sort of thing happens in the real world.
Despite being difficult to watch, people at home were full of praise for Channel 4 for not shying away from it:
Channel 4 single handedly doing more to tackle radicalisation than any politician last 20 years. #thestate
- Paul Ryan (@pjryan51) August 22, 2017
Does anyone still think #thestate is glorifying ISIS? No? Good.
- Darren Jalland (@larbertred) August 22, 2017
I think the worse thing about #thestate is that all this horribe crap happens in reality and it makes me sick.
- Shaheena (@shxhxxnx) August 22, 2017
My heart is just destroyed again. The scene with the mother and her daughter desperate to stay together. My god. I feel sick. #TheState
- Rebecca Davison (@_RebeccaDavison) August 22, 2017
Hope those who have been criticising #thestate as ISIS propaganda are still watching.
Shocking, intelligent drama from @Channel4 @kosmoSFL- Laurence Anholt 👁👃🏾👁 (@LaurenceAnholt) August 22, 2017
Bloody well done @Channel4 for #thestate - it's a brutal triumph
- Annie Taylor (@annie_t1981) August 22, 2017
. @Sam_otto thank you for bringing this show - warts and all #thestate
- Shy (@shytunes) August 22, 2017
Fuck me The State Channel 4 was always the place 4 cutting edge drama and it hasn't failed on this. Hard watch, but well worth it #thestate
- Dean Gordon (@mightybuffalo74) August 22, 2017
The State concludes on Channel 4 tomorrow night (August 23) at 9pm.
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