Secret City

I'm an American who resides in Arizona, but have found such a connection to the excellent acting and portrayals that Australian and British programming provides. This program is no exception. The characters are indeed excellent and the actors are so believable against the backdrop of a properly paced thriller, that is not engulfed in over the top special effects.

The first season of this espionage based thriller was excellent,but the 2nd season was not as good.

Nevertheless a very good series to watch.

This series has wonderful acting, great locations, and a deliciously complicated script that may put off some people. What may be best about the series is that you can never tell when a major character is going to be bumped off, or who did it. That's so unusual on TV (or in films) that a writer and cast brave enough to do this has to be saluted. It's also great that they were able to come up with two very different scripts for the two seasons. They both involve the reporter as the central character and there are a few hold-overs, but the scripts are very different making the show even more entertaining. I can only hope they have a third season. This type of quality TV is very rare.

If you expect political intrigue as in "House of Cards", treason, espionage, as in "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy", dark hints on the geopolitical evolution of the world (USA, China, and the rest of the world), then this is the show to watch. Ah, and a it has the realism that is somewhat lacking (lately) in "Homeland". Also, it has some intellectual references, as well, which is rarely seen in the nowadays cinema (be it TV, even!). A good cast. Anna Torv is convincing, and her complex character reminds me of Claire Dane's "Carrie Mathison". Even smaller roles are played wonderfully by each of the actors.

As it happens, I've recently seen some new Australian movies and now, this show. And all I can say is: Bravo!. I am grateful to all the Australian cinema.

I just hope the show will continue with (at least) one more season. We, the public, deserve it!

Secret City is the kind of drama that the has the feel of the old school House of Cards but with a modern veneer. Set predominantly in the capital of Canberra, among rising tensions between the Australian and Chinese Governments a determined and stubborn reporter, Harriet Dunkley searches for the truth when a friend is murdered. In the process she stumbles on a complex plot involving the highest level of her own Government and with multiple factions involved.

Secret City is a well thought out complex drama, the type of which can be all too rare on television. With a stellar cast of some of Australia's finest actors its a superb show with first rate performances, characterisation and script writing. The legendary Jacki Weaver brings her appropriate feisty talents to a scheming senator with her fingers in more than one pie up while Underbelly veteran Dan Wyllie plays the politician trying to do the one thing while people come at him from all sides. The supporting cast are more fun to watch than the lead, played by Anna Tov. (Stubborn journo's not exactly being characters we haven't seen a dozen times before) The plot twists and turns and covers more than one contemporary issue which makes it all the more relevant today. Its got high production values and the core story travels well overseas making it have a far greater international appeal than many other series from down under. For those who like their political dramas, what it lacks in the dark comical tones of the spacey version of House of Cards, it more than makes up for with high wound tension and three dimensional characters, for the most part at least. Recommended.