Rake

Once again the USA is remaking another brilliant show, this time from Australia. Why they'd feel the need to remake a show in English, and replace the cast with B-listers (at best) is beyond me, however being a massive fan of the original series, I figured I would give this a shot.

The overlying plot is basically the same - a smarmy lawyer getting up to shenanigans, and getting himself into situations that are borderline criminal.

However, with shows like this it is impossible NOT to compare them to the original, and this version falls far, far short. The jokes are delivered in a more sitcom fashion, and rather than having little funny bits amongst the drama, they are forced upon and delivered like one-liners. The characters are hard to relate to, and become dislikeable very quickly, especially Cleaver (sorry, I mean Keegan) who has a likability in the Australian version.

I, in all good conscience, cannot recommend this to anyone. If you want a gritty drama with occasional humour, I highly suggest you watch the original series, which is in its 3rd season currently.

This, I suspect will go the way of so many remakes, and end up failing miserably.

Right now, I give it a seven. But it may be better in the future.

I was told that the original is an Australia TV show. And many fans come here to say many things bad about this new re-make... (That's why there should be only "crazy-fan," but no "fan.")

How bad this re-make to be doesn't interest me at all. All I can see is that finally there is a TV show about to challenge the mainstream lifestyle in a civilize way.

There is no mentally unmature teenager who become hero for no reason. Deane is not a nerd, behavior not like Dr.House, career being kind successful, good looking, good talking skill, and a friendly attitude. But everything else in your life are DOA.

That kind of honest is great!! "Hey, you mess up everything and every chance in your life, not because you have to save the world or because you are so lonely and special. You just mess up. Live with that."

Seven, and can be better.

When a show is really good just show it, do not make a p1ss poor attempt to remake it. This goes for any show but when it's also in the same language it really is incomprehensible why they'd bother!

I knew this was going to be a poor imitation of the original, I was right.

I've only watched the first episode but that's enough for me.

It is a closer copy than I'd have thought would be acceptable for US audiences, though it is watered down, not as dark or as funny as the original but that is to be expected, that sadly is the way of the world when it comes to US remakes of anything.

I realize you probably can't expect people to learn about NSW state politics and the machinations inside our political parties but without that undercurrent the remake is pretty weak, so the translation to LA doesn't work.

So my advice is skip it, find the original and watch a magnificent funny dark satire of the law, crime and politics.

Of course YMMV.

This version **** out of 10

The Original ******** out of 10

Most of the criticisms of this show are based on comparisons to the Aussie version. Not having seen that one, I can just say that I am really enjoying this series. Why do I like it? Keegan Deane is an attorney who takes on some unusual cases, to say the least, yet his personal life is a mess. He is a compulsive gambler, alcoholic, and all around narcissist. He has a loan shark on his tail constantly, has no car, money or place to live...well, you get it. Yet, we manage to like him. Greg Kinnear is great in this role.

I especially like the unique spin they put on some of Keegan's cases, such as the beard-cutting Amish and the cannibalism case. Tara Summers is great as his assistant, and I like that they don't employ the sexual tension angle, which in my opinion is way too overused. My main criticism of the show is that the editing is often choppy.

Rake is compelling, fresh, energetic and funny. It seems that fans of the Aussie version want it to fail, but I hope it doesn't. I look forward to watching it!