Secrets & Lies

I'm quite partial to Aussie drama. I like the accent, they're usually a little quirky, less predictable than the standard American or British stuff. The scenery always look great and there's usually a tanned hunk featuring in the storyline. This certainly doesnt disappoint on that score, the lead actor is very easy on the eyes! I think his entire wardrobe consisted of shorts and a bath towel but who's complaining.

The acting was mainly good, particularly the lead actor and the detective. The script was decent enough and moved along at a reasonable pace. It was just about the right length, there wasnt much 'filler'. It kept my interest all the way through. I didn't guess the ending correctly so it was a surprise. All in all its worth a watch.

This Aus/ Nz production is outstanding.

A father ( Henderson) finds a neighbouring child dead and finds himself the prime suspect. Lots of storylines and backdrops are fleshed out well within the small community, as well as the police procedural - but the mystery is always at the forefront. The main strength of this show is the almost relentless suspense and twists and turns. This will keep you guessing till the very end. The only nitpick is the reason for the kill was a touch weak, and the support actors are not Hollywood quality- but still do a ok job. Overall an excellent production. Recommended viewing for sure.

I Just accidently found this while wandering around youtube and I thought it read as a nice lil' 2 part thriller to end my night with. Oops, sorry that was a run-on sentence. This had my heart stopping more than once and cannae believe I had never heard of this mini-series. This is one of the best more or less modern thrillers I have ever watched. All of the characters are believable and very well portrayed. I loathed the police in this series, especiall the lead DI. Some have been almost as good through to the end; however, this was quite surprising and kept me guessing the entire time. Have an evening set aside to binge. Oh yes, and it was six episodes, not a mere two.

Okay, I think the title of the review pretty much sums up my thoughts of this show. But I doubt I can get away with only that, so.... Martin Henderson was great. The story was brilliant, the pacing was perfect. And, the ending was phenomenal. Watch this one, and definitely skip the American remake.

Set in a suburban Australian neighborhood, this one-off series follows the story of family man Ben Gundelach, a painter (as in 'paint the basement') whose life spirals into a s**t-storm of suspicion, lies and vigilantism after finding the body of a young, neighborhood boy in the woods on his morning jog.

At its core a real whodunit-type story, the plot development serves us a platter of red-herrings in Ben's quest to prove his innocence by discovering the truth, all the while having to deal with characters such as the Suspicious Detective, the Annoying Wife, the Bitchy Teen Daughter, the Womanizing Best-Mate, the vulnerable Victim's Mother across-the-street, and a host of possible-suspect neighbors. The story does a good job of keeping viewers intrigued, with frequent plot twists, layered characters and will- he-snap, won't-he-snap moments.The cast of C-list actors all fulfill their roles (some better than others), and as the story progresses we catch glimpses of who they all really are. A few small inconsistencies can be noticed by the keen-eyed viewer, but can be overlooked as most most details fall into place with the concluding episode.

So, if you like whodunits, don't mind Aussie accents, can overlook some fairly stock-characters, and have some free time on your hands, by all means give this series a watch. It's shortcomings are made up for by an interesting story that keeps you guessing, enough tense moments to punctuate the talky-scenes, and a final twist that, while some may find unsatisfactory, certainly comes as a surprise. As a whodunit, it ticks almost all the boxes.Lets hope its American counterpart, soon to be released, will keep some of the same atmosphere!

NR