Re di cuori

I'm in two minds about this 10 stars all the way for the hospital drama and penny relationship but his sad loser family are the most annoying characters I've ever seen on tv I'm another one who fast forwards ajax indeed if it wasn't for the magic of fast forward it don't think I would watch the show at all,the only surprise is Hugh who's supposed to be the obnoxious one is actually the nicest most rounded member of his family

I'm enjoying this so far. I like the laconic dialogue and depiction of small town lifestyle.

However, I'm waiting for the usual Aussie malaise, the gradual descent into cliché driven soap. I'm hoping this time, Charlie doesn't allow herself to be seduced by Hugh, Matt doesn't die to make way for Hugh, Hugh doesn't have sex 'to make a baby' with Charley - he's a surgeon, let him supply his sperm the clinical way for a change.

How about a stable if quirky family situation that doesn't deteriorate into the usual melodramatic BS... There's plenty of material in the outback lifestyle to keep the series going for years if they do it right.

I see that this show is called something different in Europe than it is here in the USA but I don't know why. It's a fantastic alternative to those tired of reality tv and zombie shows. This little gem is wonderful and full of heart, romance, excitement and dramedy too. The cast is top-notch and the only weak character in my opinion is Ajax but he gets better. I found him incredibly tedious and obnoxious series one but he greatly stepped up his game series two. I would recommend this show to anyone who has a heart or who has ever breathed in air.

I had the luxury of watching all 5 seasons in a period of a month or two (thanks to Acorn) and although I really enjoyed the series at the start, I was disappointed to see it deteriorate over time.

The last two seasons were particularly sad - sad to see such intelligent and ethical characters like Penny go over to the dark side. Of course one character that didn't change was Hugh, but that was fine since he started out as a self-centered, albeit charming, jerk (with some redeeming qualities.) Charlie also devolved into a shrew when they brought the actress back after her pregnancy hiatus (how ironic was that?) Hailey and Ajax never did go downhill since they started out there in the first place (at least the Christian Hailey didn't lecture about God as often as I feared. But really -- low morals for a supposedly devout Christian). And I was hoping Meryl would get her comeuppance - what a terrible person she was portrayed as. The final episode sort of regained the feeling of the early seasons, but perhaps they kept the series going a little longer than was necessary, although it looks like it was a windfall for cast and crew.

My thoughts about some of the cast and their characters (Cast likeability 1-5); (Character arc over time in show: 1-5) 5 is best rating.

Rodger Corser (5) Hugh Knight (5 - 4) Nicole da Silva (5) Charlie (5 - 3) Ryan Johnson (5) Matt Knight (5 - 4) Tina Bursill (4) Meryl Knight (3 - 1) Hayley McElhinney (5) Penny (5 - 3) Chloe Bayliss (3) Hayley (3 - 2) Matt Castley (2) Ajax (2 - 1) Belinda Bromilow (5) Betty (5 - 4) Charles Wu (5) Ken (5 - 4) Patrick Wilson (4) Rod Eagle (3 - 3) Winta McGrath (4) Floyd (4 - 3) Steve Bisley (5) Jim Knight (5 - 3) Brittany Clark (5) Mia (5 - 4) Miranda Tapsell (4) April (4 - 3) Uli Latukefu (5) Darren (4 - 3) Shalom Brune-Franklin (5) Aoife (5 - 5) Kate Jenkinson (4) Tara - (3 - 3) Dustin Clare (5) Jarrod (5 - 5) Chantelle Jamieson (5) Sharna (4 - 4) Annabel Wolfe (3) Ivy (2 - 1) Vince Colosimo (3) Carlito (2 - 2) Angus McLaren (5) Toke (5 -5) John Waters (3) Michael (3 - 2) Lincoln Younes (4) Tom (4 - 3)

I liked Hugh, his coworkers and his mother Meryl right from the start. I eventually warmed up to the rest of the cast with the exception of Ajax. Ajax is completely unlikable, by the third season I was fast-forwarding any scene with that annoying man/child in it and nearly gave up on the show altogether because of him.