The BBC One adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel left a lot of viewers scratching their heads, branding the show "boring" and a "waste of an hour and a half".
Benedict Cumberbatch starred in the drama which focused on the life of a children's book author whose life was thrown into turmoil after the disappearance of his young daughter in a supermarket in a suspected abduction.
And while that may sound like an easy, if depressing, piece of TV, the show took the lead from McEwan's book and played around with time and perspective in ways that left viewers very confused and angry, which they took out on Twitter.
Watching Child in Time. I've gone from horrified to confused to bored in a very short space of time. When's MOTD2 on?
— Duleep Allirajah (@DuleepOffside) September 24, 2017
There are many words to describe a child in time, compelling and riveting are not two of them. I think I'm going to have to give up. #bored.
— Rocksey (@rocksey) September 24, 2017
There better be a car chase at some point...bored to tears #TheChildInTime
— Nigel Richards (@RichardsNigel) September 24, 2017
#ChildInTime sorry @BBCOne I tried, I really did. But I'm done. What else is on?
— Claire Organ (@Clairelouo) September 24, 2017
What even happened in the child in time? I feel I wasted an hour and a half 🤷â€Â?♀ï¸Â?
— Kate Godwin (@Kateee93) September 24, 2017
The child in time has me confused? The story line is all over the place
— Emily Houghton (@emmhoughton) September 24, 2017
Am I the only one that thinks The Child In Time is absolute shit
— John Walton (@Johnboy710) September 24, 2017
The scariest thing about The Child in Time is the fact that Ben just walked into a classroom and there was literally no protection at all
— elizabeth (@spodergwen) September 24, 2017
Hi @BBCOne. You need to have a long, hard look at yourselves because The Child In Time was utter garbage. I'll never get those 90 mins back.
— Daniel Joseph (@djturner93) September 24, 2017
I don't know if anyone is watching 'The Child In Time' on BBC 1 but I am and I have absolutely no fucking idea what is going on in it âÂ?“
— Jake Ridding (@j4keridding) September 24, 2017
I’m sure there’s a great meaning behind The Child in Time but all I got was “The answer to losing a child?â€Â? “Have another one.â€Â?
— Jo Moran (@j0moran) September 24, 2017
Me, watching The Child In Time, trying to figure it out pic.twitter.com/UiSAh44QIZ
— Alice Richardson (@thoughtalice) September 24, 2017
The child in time.. anyone else bored?
— Becci (@BombayBeardBabe) September 24, 2017
I swear I have absolutely no idea what is going on in The Child In Time... pic.twitter.com/9wAnhIdQJX
— Jaye (@Jaye_Moseley) September 24, 2017
So if you missed it, don't feel too bad. And if you managed to catch it, you have our sympathies.