Bloom

I watched the entire season in a day, and yes I was hungover. However, it kept my attention the whole time and I got quite invested. The story - a flood devastates a small, country town in rural Australia and 5 people died. A glowing flower grows where they died and when eaten it makes you young. The storyline is driven forward tackling multiple themes and is both original and engrossing. The Acting - Superb! Every character is rounded, fleshed out and totally believable in their roles. The Production - Beautifully shot, a definite Aussie bush feel, a finely crafted production. Enjoyment - I was fully engaged the whole time. Rewatch/Recommend - I would not watch it again as it is at times quite heavy and dark yet I will recommend it. All in all, a stand out Australian production.

We went in to this without any spoilers and enjoyed the whole series over two days. Great established Aussie cast and some new talent too that only made it better. A believable tale with some Supernatural thrown in. With a look. We don't often give a high score like this.

Suspend belief and be transported to an idyllic country town in Victoria, Australia. The town is run down and many of the residents affected by a flood 12 months earlier. Slowly the story evolves to yield a complex web of connection between the main cast. The sci-fi is understated. No clever morphing or over the top blue screen special effects. This is old school film-making where the plot slowly exposes the frailities of the characters and their decisions to revisit their youth. The photography and settings are visually pleasing, the acting great. If you analyse the plot development too much it has a number of holes even if you accept the initial fountain of youth concept. A little too long, it is a commitment but worth the journey. I am not generally a sci-fi viewer, but this one captured me.

You'd think that a series about a plant that supernaturally restores youth to the ailing elderly would have a bit more exhilarating vigor and faster pace, but unfortunately "Bloom" is as sleepy as the quiet Aussie town it's set in. The cast aren't exactly that much likable, either. But the story is quite solid, the drama poignant enough for me and the adept highlighting of the plight of seniors coping with dementia and their caretakers very much noble and laudable. So I would declare the show pretty much redeemed!

I nearly wasn't going to continue with it after episode one, but I pushed through. I'm thankful I did. It wasn't a masterpiece, but a few characters gripped me, others did not. I think it could have been condensed into 4 episodes instead of 6, as a few scenes (the entirety of episode 1) dragged out and were unnecessary to the plot. Overall, I enjoyed it. I'm hoping the upcoming second season will be slightly better, but the story felt finished so I'm intrigued with how they will continue it. Good quarantine/self-isolation entertainment.