Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent years??

Discussion in 'TV & Media' started by PlainSimpleJoel, Apr 16, 2008.

  1. PlainSimpleJoel

    PlainSimpleJoel Fleet Admiral Premium Member

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    So tonight, is Wednesday night, and that means it's the night for Underbelly. Over the last few weeks, there has always been something which has left me stunned. Not sure what will happen tonight, but I feel something will happen.

    Also, how do people think it's rates against other Australian dramas, as I can't remember an Australian drama, that has made me interested in watching it, as most of dramas suck (eg Neighbours, Home & Away, etc)
     
  2. Orac Zen

    Orac Zen Mischief Manager Super Moderator

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    Re: Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent yea

    It's by a vast distance the best Australian show in years.

    Usually our "dramas" are cringeworthy, particularly on commercial TV - drivel like All Saints and the completely ludicrous Blue Heelers (a small town in rural Victoria coming across as the centre of all crime on the planet), and pathetic soapy crap like Neighbours and Home and Away are just embarrassing and present our capacity to produce watchable television in a very poor light. Underbelly is extraordinary for one simple reason: Unless the viewer has been living under a rock (or in another country) for the past decade or so s/he basically knows everything that is going to happen in this show...and yet when those things do happen, the impact is stunning. It's utterly compelling in a way few, if any, Australian shows have ever been.

    I very, very rarely find myself agreeing with critics but this is one show where they're spot-on. Hopefully Underbelly will make its way overseas and demonstrate that Australia can produce top-shelf television. :bolian:

    Edit: Info about the show.
     
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2008
  3. Darth Picardous

    Darth Picardous Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    Re: Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent yea

    Well we have to wait until that stupid trial ends until we can see it on TV-officially.
     
  4. firehawk12

    firehawk12 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Re: Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent yea

    How does it compare to the only other Australian drama that I'm aware of, McLeod's Daughters?
     
  5. Orac Zen

    Orac Zen Mischief Manager Super Moderator

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    Re: Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent yea

    McLeod's Daughters isn't a drama. :lol: It's a soapy fantasy that bears no resemblance whatsoever to the real world it claims to be set in.

    Basically, there's no comparison whatsoever.
     
  6. PlainSimpleJoel

    PlainSimpleJoel Fleet Admiral Premium Member

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    Re: Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent yea

    I could never understand the popularity behind McLeod's Daughters. It was more like a soap, in a rural setting.
     
  7. firehawk12

    firehawk12 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Re: Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent yea

    Four sisters... on a farm... with funny accents! What's not to like? ;)
     
  8. Mitty

    Mitty Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Re: Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent yea

    Yep, sadly I'm in Melbourne. But that hasn't stopped me travelling up to Tocumwal to see the entire 13 episodes in my TARDIS ;)

    It's great, but technical problems aplenty, from modern day trams somehow magically appearing in scenes set in 1999 and buildings in the background that weren't even built back then.

    But apart from that it was pretty good. A guy a work with was an extra in some of the Purana office scenes.
     
  9. firehawk12

    firehawk12 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Re: Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent yea

    Oh, so wait, this is just a dramatisation of a real story?
     
  10. Candlelight

    Candlelight Admiral Admiral

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    Re: Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent yea

    It's certainly one of the Australian dramas in recent years.

    Yeah, I missed a word out, big whoop, wanna fight about it?
     
  11. Darth Picardous

    Darth Picardous Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    Re: Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent yea

    Tocumwal eh? I was there last week and asked how Underbelly was going to a few locals, and they said they don't get to see it either due to the broadcatser being in Cobram!!!!! An everyone else only has the first 10 episodes on DVD, dont know where the last 3 have gone.
     
  12. PlainSimpleJoel

    PlainSimpleJoel Fleet Admiral Premium Member

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    Re: Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent yea

    Absolutely ... that is why some names can't be mentioned on the show like Mr T and Mr L. I saw the other day a book that Judith Moran (Jason's mother) wrote.
     
  13. StarMan

    StarMan Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Re: Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent yea

    Nothing beats FIRE. ;)
     
  14. NCC1701

    NCC1701 Commodore Commodore

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    Re: Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent yea

    I haven't seen Underbelly, but it was cancelled because of low viewership after 3 episodes here. Fox, is that you?
     
  15. firehawk12

    firehawk12 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Re: Underbelly - is it one of the best Australian dramas in recent yea

    Wikipedia says they brought it back after fan outcry in NZ.? :lol: