Water Rats - Die Hafencops

Whenever I watch an "action-series", I always end up thinking;-Is this the way it really is? Is this how it happens? Well, probably not, but it`s entertaining, so I keep watching. "Water Rats", however is different. The events are "real", the characters are "real". I think it`s quite easy to identify yourself with the everyday problems the detectives have to deal with. I`d watch "Water Rats" rather than "NYPD Blue" anyday. I love it! It`s just GREAT!!

I missed the first 2 seasons, but I got to see the re-runs of the first 2 and the rest of the TV series until it was finished. I found it quite a good show with strong storyline formats. It gave me an idea of what the Sydney Water Police does on a daily basis. (Of course, some a bit over dramatic with personal issues and the sorts, still overall great!) It was saddening when a main character was murdered 2 years before it was taken off the air. Upon the death of Goldie, I watched the ratings plummet a bit as Water Rats fumbled without Goldie/Catherine McClements. Dee Smart did her best to fill in the huge shoes McClements left behind, but it wasn't enough to keep it buoyed any longer.

I must say, I loved this show - it was very much an Australian show of its time. Everything from its stories that would always build up to end-of-season climaxes to the dodgy eighties-alike guitar music, let's not forget any 'love' scenes with Colin Friels where the turned blue... But if you have to admire some great stories and some excellent performances from Colin Friels, Catherine McClements and later on Steve Bisley in the leads roles of Frank Holloway, Rachel Goldstein and Jack Christie respectively. In Ireland it is currently being repeated and is bringing back a lot of good memories and I just hope it gets released on DVD other here soon.

• Leigh O'Gorman

"Water Rats" has been one of my small guilty viewing pleasures these past few years. It plays at 1500 hrs each weekday, a time I am rarely home. I don't tape it, prefering to accidentally stumble across it on the few occasions I might be home in the afternoon. Aside from the great characters and the magnificent Sydney harbour, what I most enjoy is the view, hopefully reflective of the lives of Australians, of the city, the lives of the people, and the similarity to what I imagine many Canadian lives are like. Well, without the amazing amount of crime they seem to have. This has been a very satisfying show to occasionally glimpse. Like many, the sudden passing of the Rachel Goldstein character a couple of years ago was a challenge to this soap opera patron's emotional equilibrium. As a final note, I would like to suggest that this show would do well in Canuck prime time.

When it first came out it was quite an intriguing concept - a police drama that centered on a special group of police, namely the Sydney Water Police, which added a breath of fresh air to most of the other police dramas out there. Unfortunately as time has worn on the novelty wore off and they began to go for more and more standard police stories. Here's where the problem lies. Whilst it's great to see the 'Rats' not entirely dependant on Sydney Harbour for their storylines the producers have come up with the ridiculous idea that they must regularly have a cutback to the harbour for at least 5 minutes of every second episode as if to try and validate the 'Water Rats' tag. I wouldn't have minded if it was a rare kind of thing but it's all too regular for no real reason.

If the producers are serious about keeping the series going for a few more years yet then please, either: a) Don't be afraid to stay on land if need be. b) Get another name for the series so you don't feel tied to the harbour all the time or c) Just stick to the water and be done with it.

Having 5 minute throwbacks to the water every second episode for no reason other than to remind the audience why the series is called 'Water Rats' is quite annoying.