Cleverman

With well paced plot, full of suspense and mystery, as well as a fantastic young and relatively unknown cast, Cleverman promises to be one of the best shows of its genre to come out of Australia for a long time. Drawing on indigenous culture and lore, the social issues prevalent in Cleverman are obviously representative of current issues facing Indigenous communities, with the premiere along touching on high levels of incarceration and the loss of culture. The political allusions also reflect the Australian governments attitude to asylum seekers in recent years. The action scenes are fast paced and dynamic, and the show does not shy away from sex and nudity. The drama is realistic and raw, and is portrayed very well. Overall a very impressive premiere, and i will definitely be back for more

I'm amazed at how divisive this program is with some people saying it's absolute rubbish and some singing its praise.

The truth is in the middle. It's not war and peace or any sort of deep moral analysis of a racist society. it's simply a story to entertain, you know, a TV series.

so if you watch it with an open mind you could well enjoy it. the characters aren't 3d with solid personalities but neither are they in Home and Away or Neighbours.

remember tho it is science fiction which isn't everyone's cup of tea but if you accept a little mythology it's really not bad.

To the reviewer who said that the premise is dated because this type of racism is no longer a big issue: you need to watch the news, read the news, talk to anyone of racial minority - it absolutely does exist.

Violent oppression is a problem in many places all over the world - systematic violent oppression like is shown in the very first episode. The attitudes of the boys on the bus or the cops' fear: this happens in "First World" countries every day. And where we've evolved beyond violence, there still exists systematic oppression in many forms from micro-aggressions all the way up to human trafficking and modern-day slavery and murder.

There is a sci-fi/fantasy twist to this story, but the story it tells is not in any way dated. If you think race and color no longer exist, you're part of the problem. The point is to see it and not have it make a difference in your behaviors and attitudes toward those of a different race.

And I love the Aboriginal angle to this story as well since they need their stories told as much as everyone else. Also, Indigenous populations' stories are often told from perspectives other than their own and we need to ask for more told by the population themselves. Let networks know that just because one show doesn't work out, it's the storytelling not the subject matter that is less than.

What to say about Cleverman? Its not exactly an entirely new concept but what it does, it does well.

Certainly its a brave and very relevant series, given the sometimes awful treatment of Aboriginal communities, at the hands of Federal and State authorities, in Australia. It can also, in one sense, be viewed as a unapologetic commentary on the plight of asylum seekers, in Australia's contentious detention centers.

Looking beyond these factors how does Cleverman stack up as entertainment? Its a thoughtful series and its pacing, may not hook hardcore sword and sandals fantasy fans. Indeed, its fair to say this series is probably going to appeal most to viewers who enjoy slow burn fantasy dramas, where things take time to develop and secrets are revealed by degree.

The acting is of a mostly good, if not exceptional, standard too. There are some well known Aussie actors who have taken up roles in this series, who sit alongside fresh faces I have not come across before.

In summary, whilst Cleverman is not for me (I'm more of a sci fi/futurist buff) I can see it appealing, in particular, to fans of the fantasy genre. Especially those looking for a refreshingly different departure from your standard US/UK fare. Seven out of ten from me.

The tense atmosphere, the talented diverse cast, and the fascinating plot all worked for me, so I'll definitely keep watching this. One of the best things of this show is it explores the rich Aboriginal culture, mythology and history in Australia, something I feel is largely untold so far in mainstream media, and thus has much to contribute to the world.

And yes, there are many parallels in the experiences of Australian Aboriginal communities, the asylum seekers in offshore detention camps, and the "subhumans" in the show, which makes it feel somewhat all too real at times. The social issues and the politics explored in this show makes Cleverman one of our more important shows.

Even if you don't care for all the stuff I mentioned so far, the show performs very strongly as a superhero series with a dark and gritty atmosphere. The acting is solid, the shots are gorgeous, and the mystery is gripping. I highly recommend this to everyone who enjoys a serious drama.

Oh, also, Cleverman is already renewed for a second season.