The Twelve

Well it was a long and painful wait, with some cringeworthy bits but overall the outcome was worth it. Quite satisfying on a few accounts. Would not like to be on a murder trial after watching this!

I am enjoying this series though it is a bit drawn out. There is some good acting - Sam Neil, Kate Mulvany and a few others.

I find it hard to connect with a lot of the characters. Largely because they make such obviously bad decisions so often and try to cover up their tracks most of the time. It gets a bit predictable.

There have been quite a few twists and turns, most of which are implied an episode or so before they are revealed, making them less impactful when we find out.

It has a classic Australian feel to it, though I would love to see some Aussie drama that has characters that represent a smarter, more self aware side of the Australian psyche.

After watching the first season of the show you would be remised if all you got from the first season was confusion and 'ah what just happened?'. Well the first season was poorly written and it does show in the side plots and the confusing murder trial narrative, in a case that should of had it's jurors kicked off the jury for many reasons.. I thought "oh this can't get much worse.." and it did. I wanted someone to apologise to Sam Neill for the first season.

When I heard it had been renewed for a second season, I wasn't too thrilled after all Foxtel was heading into life without a leader in Brian Walsh, but when I seen the cast list and the fact the show had been moved from one state to another it gave me hope again.

I will say the second season is much better then the first, with one episode in particular with a very surprising twist I don't think anyone saw coming..

So.. If you want, skip season one, season two is way better then one. Enjoy!

Loved some of the actors in this story. About two episodes too long. Really enjoyed the jurors stories but the weakness, for me, was the crime itself. They spent so long building it up that it felt quite flat when it finally reached its conclusion. Thought the impact of the trial on the jurors is a relevant and interesting angle that they could have focused on more and less about whodunnit.

Great chemistry between Marta and Sam. And overall enjoyable but not perfect viewing. Quality Australian drama.

And whoever styled the art dealer should be shot - such a cliche. Those scarves were ridiculous.

I don't know if this show has taken on too much. I like the snapshot of modern Australia but the episodes are too long and drawn out and achieve nothing to build on the character arcs or carry the plot. At the moment they're exploring about six story lines featuring trouble women who battle BPD, complex trauma, PTSD, DV & alcoholism. On the other side they're tackling misogynists, addiction, racism and abusive / over protective fathers. This is all centred around a murder trial contrast against a historic murder by a guy that was maybe wrongly accused? Despite being so plot heavy the show makes absolutely no comment on Australia's the justice system, the entire centre of the show - Crazy right? I think this would have been better off as a two hour movie we are seven episodes in and have achieved absolutely nothing in terms of character development or wherever the hell this story is going.