Before complete season guide: how to watch & what to know

Jacobi Jupe and Billy Crystal in Before (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Billy Crystal has made us laugh throughout his entire career, but now he is hoping to make us shiver as he stars in a new thriller coming to Apple TV Plus as part of the fall TV 2024 lineup, Before.

In addition to starring in the series, Crystal is an executive producer on Before alongside Oscar winner Eric Roth (Forrest Gump) and series creator Sarah Thorp (Damien). It's a very different type of role for Crystal, who has stuck mostly to comedy or very light drama throughout his career.

If you are intrigued by the show, here is everything that you need to know about Before.

Before next episode

All episodes of Before are now streaming on Apple TV Plus. In order to watch, you must have a subscription to Apple TV Plus.

Before cast

Crystal stars in the series as Eli, the child psychiatrist at the center of the story. Crystal, a winner of six Primetime Emmy awards, is best known for his comedy routines, his appearances on Saturday Night Live, hosting stints at the Oscars and classic movies like The Princess Pride, When Harry Met Sally…, City Slickers, Analyze This and Monsters Inc. Most recently he was the star of his own Broadway show Mr. Saturday Night and has returned to voice his Monsters Inc. character Mike Wazowski in the Disney Plus animated series Monsters at Work.

Joining Crystal in the series are Judith Light (Transparent), Jacobi Jupe (Peter Pan & Wendy), Rosie Perez (The Flight Attendant), Maria Dizzia (Orange Is the New Black) and Ava Lalezarzadeh (In the Garden of Tulips).

Light is playing Eli's wife in the series, while Jupe plays the troubled young boy that Eli begins to treat.

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Judith Light and Billy Crystal in Before — (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Before plot

The synopsis for Before sees Eli, a child psychiatrist that recently lost his wife, encounter a troubled young boy, Noah, who seems to have haunting connections to Eli's past. As Eli attempts to help Noah, their mysterious bond deepens.

Before episodes

Here is the official synopsis for the Before episodes that have been released so far:

Before episode 1, "The Imposter"
"Dr. Eli Adler is a child psychiatrist haunted by his wife Lynn’s death. One day, eight-year-old Noah shows up with inexplicable knowledge of Eli's life."

Before episode 2, "The Scientist"
"After Noah’s school outburst, Eli becomes more involved in his treatment, uncovering eerie drawings and chilling parallels to his own trauma."

Before episode 3, "The Liar"
"Battling his demons and unresolved grief over Lynn’s death, Eli grapples with his connection to Noah but reaches a breakthrough."

Before episode 4, "Symbols and Signs"
"Unsettling connections between Lynn’s secret project and Noah’s drawings are discovered. Eli is forced to confront his skepticism."

Before episode 5, "Folie à Deux"
"Noah’s condition escalates at the hospital, leaving Denise desperate for answers. Eli finds recordings of Lynn’s ex, Benjamin."

Before episode 6, "Fever Dream"
"In a tense meeting, Eli explains his unorthodox method of treating Noah."

Before episode 7, "The Power of Belief"
"To prevent Noah’s transfer, Eli conducts a risky therapy session — and makes a startling revelation."

Before episode 8, "When We Dead Awaken"
"When Eli discovers photos of a mysterious farmhouse, he sets out to find it."

Before episode 9, "And the Darkness Was Called Night"
"Denise pleads for Eli’s insight into Noah’s condition. Eli aims to solve the puzzle of his connection with Noah."

Before episode 10, "Before"
"Eli races against time to save Noah."