Old School

It has been a long time since I have actually enjoyed an Australian TV series, or movie for that matter. I watched the first episode expecting not much, but I liked it a lot and got hooked. Good buildup, good action and a few laughs. Sam Neill (ex cop) and Bryan Brown (ex criminal?) are a great 'odd couple' both trying to track down money from a bank robbery some 12 years earlier. The writers have done a pretty good job, developing each character with good guys, bad guys, some you're not too sure about and a few twists for good measure. Sure, it's slightly over the top but not overdone as to insult the viewer. Considering it is an ABC show, it's not cheaply made. It has good editing, nicely shot in and around Sydney and the action is well done. Hopefully another series is made. The show made me feel happy, so job done!

Not clever. Unfunny writing. Tried to be Odd Couple, failed. Not clever. Unfunny writing. Tried to be Odd Couple, failed.

You know when you have a mate that thinks they're funny, but they're not at all? I feel like the writers of this show fall into that category. Good acting from Sam Neill but I can tell he was wincing when he had to do these "haha funny fart jokes" and all the rest of this tripe.

You know when you have a mate that thinks they're funny, but they're not at all? I feel like the writers of this show fall into that category. Good acting from Sam Neill but I can tell he was wincing when he had to do these "haha funny fart jokes" and all the rest of this tripe.

After watching the first two episodes I thought this might be just another tryhard that I'd soon give up on, but then the episodes began to get stronger, perhaps because of a throughline developing, and now I feel it has grown legs.

The interplay between the two main characters is working and the performances of the two young supporting actors, Hannah Mangan Lawrence and Mark Coles Smith, are convincing.

Well worth watching for a light-hearted drama piece from the same mould as New Tricks.

ABC drama has been getting much better in recent years. Let's hope the current government's austerity measures don't affect this side of the ABC's business.

Firstly, let me start by saying I am huge fans of both Bryan Brown and Sam Neil. I was also very excited about an Aussie TV series staring a couple of our best (yes, Sam Neil is considered Aussie) actors filmed in my home town of Sydney and about time to, however I have found this series to be lacking on all fronts! Whoever takes responsibility for writing the script for this series should be flogged then tarred and feathered! I will never understand how both Bryan and Sam agreed to follow this pathetic script writing, they deserve better than this! What a shame!! I believe this series had great potential, particularly considering the fantastic Aussie cast accompanying both stars.

Any TV show that can boast two of the Antipodes' greatest actors has to be taken seriously. Both Brian Brown and Sam Neill have had long careers with credits to die for. This cops-and-robbers drama has the same formula as the English series "New Tricks" in that retired persons are involved in solving crimes that currently serving officers have failed to solve. The twist in "Old School" is that one of the duo is a "crim". The plot has many layers, promising to take many turns before a resolution is forthcoming. The supporting cast is strong, with the exception of Hannah Mangan Lawrence whose acting standard could only just be tolerated in "Bed of Roses" but, at 22, is really performing like someone who has been seconded from the local high school play. The writing is particularly strong in the first episode but it remains to be seen if that standard can be maintained, a failing in a number of Australian series in recent years. Judging by the scores given on this site so far, it seems that I am not the only one to regard this series as a winner.