Critics have savaged new Netflix series Building The Band, describing it as “spectacularly misjudged,” “painfully unfunny,” and “a chaotic mess,” but many agreed on one thing: Liam Payne is “the best thing” about it.
The reality series, which landed on the streaming platform today (July 9), was filmed before Payne’s shock death last October aged 31, when he fell from the third floor of a hotel balcony in Argentina. It features the former One Direction star in a key mentoring role.
His contribution - kept in with the support of his family - has been widely praised for its warmth and authenticity, offering one of the few standout moments in a show many reviewers have otherwise called derivative.
Hosted by Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean, with Nicole Scherzinger as lead judge and joined by Kelly Rowland and Payne, the 10-part competition sees aspiring singers attempt to build bands from scratch without input from music executives or producers.
Most damning was The i Paper, which questioned the show’s very existence in the wake of Payne’s death. It raised concerns about how such talent formats affect young performers’ mental health and whether enough protections are in place.
“Obviously, the flashy trailer displays no awareness of the grim irony that were it not for programmes just like this that promise desperate, hopeful singers a future of success and stardom, Payne might still be alive,” it writes.
The Telegraph was also not won over, declaring the show “an insincere singing contest” and criticising its format as a mashup of The X Factor, The Circle and Love Is Blind.
Still, it highlighted Payne’s appearance in episode seven as the emotional high point.
“He judges the acts with kindness and constructive criticism,” the review by the publication read, adding that an Australian contestant’s heartfelt story about seeing One Direction as a child visibly moves him. “It’s right that the producers, backed by the family, decided to keep his contribution in. But it’s also pretty sad.”
The Guardian, meanwhile, offered a more reserved three-star verdict.
While calling the series “fine, watchable, well-crafted,” the paper criticised early episodes for feeling “drawn out and repetitive.” It also questioned the concept’s relevance in today’s music scene.
“I did wonder why Building the Band would focus on groups in an era dominated by solo artists, but perhaps it’s less about music and more about creating spectacle,” the reviewer wrote.
The Standard’s own Saskia Kemsley was the kindest, awarding the show four stars.
Kemsley praised Building the Band for tapping into the legacy of early 2000s TV juggernauts like The X Factor, the show that helped launch Payne’s career.
“For lifelong One Direction fans, Payne’s presence is bittersweet – but he’s a grounded, respectful presence here, and the series handles his legacy with care,” the review reads.
She continued: “Like clockwork, tensions flare. Those who falter often lash out, giving the show its requisite dose of drama. But Building the Band isn’t just about meltdowns. It’s also a showcase for powerful mentorship, and few moments are more affecting than Payne’s.”
