Newton's Law

Something's going on here. First Rake and now Newton's Law. These Aussies have a flair for engaging adult entertainment that I don't see stateside. Rake may be my all time best find, but this new legal comedy, led by one of the most charismatic women I've ever seen, is at least as rewarding.

The comedy revolves around a barrister who has one unpredictable teenage daughter, who is separated from her environmentalist husband and just getting back to working in a law office again. Thing is she's so winningly wise she manages to triumph when you would expect anyone to fail. After the first few episodes I was wondering why we can't produce women like this.

If there's anything negative to say about the series it's that the cast have a strange sense of timing that's hard to describe but that's easy to become accustomed to. Our legal series seem a bit neurotic compared to this Aussie offering. I can't wait for the next season and I'm looking to find more of Karvan's work.

Great story lines, great characters and incredibly interesting to see a legal show actually follow legal processes. No more of the fake "I OBJECT" shows, this show empowers women as the main character is showing she isn't just there for looks. Could do without the Husband story line but other than that, it is a really good show.

It is no Janet King, but ABC seem to have found the formula for a show that works.

It's light, fun, quirky, witty as anything and the acting/direction is superb, the script is smart, and there is so much subtlety and fun. I particularly love the chemistry in the various almost-matches - it's just delicious! I was so disappointed to find that my new addiction was scuttled after 8 episodes. More please!

This show might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoy watching it every week.

Written by the women who did 'Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries', 'Newton's Law' is a charming, quirky show with plenty of heart. All the characters are well-meaning, the underdogs always win, any mistakes our heroes make are forgiven, and everything wraps up perfectly in the last 15 minutes. Sure, it's not the most realistic (or best written, if I'm honest) show on TV, but it's a whole lot of fun, and refreshingly angst-free. Not to mention, it manages to slip in a surprising number of important messages about gender equality, multiculturalism, and even gender dysphoria.

Like I said, it's not for everyone. But I've got a soft spot for indulgent, fluffy, light entertainment; and 'Newton's Law' hits the spot.

If not for the even-worse-than-usual procedural inaccuracies in the courtroom scenes, and other legal inaccuracies, I would give Newton's Law 9 stars. The casting is excellent, and the acting top-noch :-)

In Newton's Law, barristers (aka lawyers who go to court ;-) ) ask leading questions (e.g. "Isn't it true that..."), and they testify instead of asking questions (even introducing evidence and testifying about it!!!). Also, witnesses are asked for their opinions about other persons' states of mind; regular, everyday witnesses, not experts.

Since almost every other English-language tv show and movie with courtroom scenes is inaccurate, I've not taken off a bunch of stars. However, I've take off 2 stars, because the courtroom scenes are SOOOO inaccurate, that they are worse than ones in Matlock! (In Matlock, at least the judge orders Matlock to behave in his witness examination/cross, although, then, the judge usually allows the abnormalities ONLY after assurances from Matlock that he has a good reason for his behaviour. Yup, that's b.s., too, but, at least the behaviour's pointed out!)