Crownies

It's early days, but this series (which the ABC seems to have made a lengthy commitment to) has started fairly well. Whether you enjoy it or not will probably depend on how interesting you find competitive, habitually successful young people who approach almost everything in terms of words and arguments.

Standout performances come from Andrea Demetriades, Jeanette Cronin, Ella Scott Lynch and the fantastic Marta Dusseldorp. Aside from a few dodgy extras, all the cast are good. And with any luck as the series goes on, the writers will trust them (and the audience) with dialogue and character developments that are a bit more three-dimensional.

The more recent "Janet King" miniseries featured a compelling & suspenseful storyline. "Crownies,' also called "the early episodes of Janet King' recently started on Acorn, so we expected more of the same in hour-long episodes. Wrong!

Judging by Episode 1 - and we don't care to watch anymore - this is your show if you enjoy CONSTANT, never-ending smarmy references to sex sex sex. Tiresome and juvenile. Dil**s & sex toys, oral sex, young women fondling male crotches and dressing up like sleazy hookers for a "Christmas Party," smirking young men - the writers have the mentality of precocious, horny teenagers who think all this wink-wink onslaught of crudity is terribly clever and attention-grabbing. Obviously to some people it is, but not my cup of tea. I would think Marta Dusseldorp would've been embarrassed to be involved with such silliness.

Oh my lord, someone get me a bucket, I have watched whirlwind TV episodes before, but nothing like this, jeez!! Five minutes in I was asking why I was watching the show, then at 8 minutes it had a reprieve with a promising storyline, only for that to be shelved so it could explore people and characters, why?!? This has an 11 episode run, why show me in 30 minutes every character (of which there are many for a small show) without any just cause or reason, except because it wants to.

Pilot episodes should be succinct, they should be small and if an appearance is necessary, it should be seconds not minutes (unless a lead of course) with impact, if it can wait till a later episode, then even better. They should punch there weight, it should be gripping and to the point, it should have a promising storyline, with a let down, then a recovery....Textbook script!! This does none of that, it settles in the first 10 minutes on exploring what the place is and what they do, major error!! I know what a lawyers office does, I have seen many shows and even been in a few!! Not shows, but Lawyer offices!! This is just wrong, I hate to slate Australians, but of all the TV shows I have seen recently, this is typical, there is no decent storyline, it feels like they have taken a storyline, then added there own story around it, very disappointing and not a show I would watch to the end or recommend.

Avoid this show and see it done properly, watch 'suits', great acting, good comedy and strong scripts, you could even say textbook!! If your looking for more comedy, try 'The Defenders'!

I never noticed but last few years Australia and New Zealand make some very good drama's too many list but never been disappointed yet.

Oh dear. I turned to this when I ran out of Silk episodes to stream. I thought it might be an Aussie version. Was I wrong. Barely into the first episode I asked myself why was I putting myself through this dross. I held on thinking it'll get better anytime now. Currently in E3 (or is it 4?) I don't think I'll see what apparently is mercifully the only season to the end. Neighbours re-written for hornier 21 year olds playing lawyers. Maybe I came to it from Sherlock, Foyle's War and Vera with expectations that were much too high, but seeing as it has been cancelled, probably not. One star because I didn't realize one could give zero.