I'll be honest, I went into this not expecting much. No scratch that, I was expecting to be disappointed, another thinly veiled attempt at recreating a style of show best left to others. I was wrong, oh so wrong. Secret City is a nuanced, understated and never clichéd blend of political intrigue and personal demons with a satisfyingly Australian flavour. It eschews the over the top melodramatic candy that would've been so easy to stuff down the throats of viewers in an attempt to keep them satiated in favour of a slower, more tantalising meal built layer upon layer leaving the viewer oh so much more satisfied by the end.
It's not just the political intrigue that keeps you on the hook, refreshingly up to date and relevant, mirroring the current position Australia finds itself, historically aligned with the U.S. whilst looking to China to boost trade and economic activity. But the complete multi-faceted nature of the characters. Their motivations are understandable and sympathetic and oftentimes it's their less likable qualities that push and motivate them into traditional protagonist actions.
The portrayal of intelligence gathering and cyber-security is spot on, Secret City even highlights the ability of agencies to use mobile phones as listening and tracking devices even while they're off, an idea that has yet to permeate the public consciousness despite the overwhelming evidence that this is happening in our own world. But herein lies the strength of Secret City, it's not fiction, it's real. Most of what it portrays is not far off from what is happening within the underbelly of Canberra right here and now. Against this backdrop of reality, it sets up an engaging and thoughtful story with a slew of disconcertingly empathetic characters.
Just shut up and watch it already.
