Rosehaven

By many standards, Australians are a bit quirky, and among Australians, Tasmanians are even more quirky. This assessment is from someone who lived there for 5 years and loved the place and the people. Nowhere have I seen this quirkiness captured better than in this series. The characterizations are so good that they are sometimes painful, but you get pain when you get so close to the truth. If you like the first episode, then stay with it because it gets better.

I love the quirky humor and banter in this show. Here in the US, it's available on Sundance. If you don't get the channel, this show alone is worth the subscription price. Everyone I've recommended it too has loved it too.

Lyrical setting. Quirky direction and relationship between key actors, Celia Pacquola, Luke McGregor and Kris McQuade.

A welcome respite from the ubiquitous edgier comedy that too often relies on shock and awe to gather followers. In Rosehaven, actors' lines are put out there without blazing neon lights telling viewers how to react.

More and more viewers seem to be seeking location interest and this one gives you heaps. Tasmania has some beautiful and frequent changes of scenery within a short distance and the series has taken advantage of that.

Plot looks promising although the characters have carried the show so far.

Well promoted by the ABC which isn't always the case in comedy.

I was never even going to bother with Rosehaven. My immediate thoughts were that it would be another poor Australian comedy, so why bother. I could not have been more wrong. It is easily on par with another ABC comedy yardstick, Utopia, but it is much more. Set in a fictional Tasmanian town with glorious scenery and a charming cast of quirky characters, it is difficult not to love this show. Emma and Daniel, the purely platonic couple that are the main characters, absolutely shine. Dan's mother, Barbara, is easily my new favourite TV mum. Apart from the pilot, the plot is a little thin at times, but the show is character driven and exceeds all expectations. I was fortunate to the watch the first series of eight episodes over two nights but I have watched the second series every week since it started and it's nearly over. Therein lies my only disappointment - not enough episodes. So I encourage you to sit back and watch possibly the most heart-warming little gem of a comedy that I have seen for quite some time.

A gorgeous episodic series that allows you to dip in and out at leisure. Beautiful landscape and sweet settings that are real. It reminds me of Seinfeld as a show about nothing but with a delicate and delightful Australian sensibility. A truly feel good series that is easy to watch before going to bed because it leaves you feeling happy and content.