Summer Love

Funny, thought provoking and real. This is a a witty yet deep and well-written combination. Amazing writers have given this a deep feel to honest life-lessons many of us can relate to and learn from. It's a perfect mini series to binge or watch over time as each episode can stand alone or you can enjoy the little linkages (damn you Bluetooth)... and the backdrop of the lovely property on the great ocean road is really well put together.

Who should watch: if you appreciate Australian written drama/comedies, if you're after substance over CGI, and if you'd like something that might just open up conversations and reflection (along with entertainment of course) then this is for you.

Summer Love is a warm and charming TV show that captures the essence of fleeting romance and the nostalgia of summer days. Each episode offers a unique story, with different characters experiencing love and connection in their own ways. The show's strength lies in its ability to evoke a sense of place and time, making you feel like you're right there with the characters in their sun-soaked moments. While some stories resonate more than others, the overall tone is light, heartfelt, and easy to enjoy. It's a series that's perfect for a relaxed viewing experience, bringing a bit of summer warmth to your screen no matter the season.

This series had all the hallmarks of something to really look forward to but it has been such a mixed bag.

The idea of various guests at a fabulous holiday home had huge scope for comedic human interest stories and given that it is on the ABC and the track record of Grist Mill, we were expecting something like Upper Middle Bogan - such a fabulous series.

However: Episode 1 was so promising - good acting, funny and relatable to most people.

Episode 2 was so bad - like a Year 7 play, we turned off mid-way through.

Episode 3 about the cultural clash was funny and entertaining, as was episode 4 with Robyn and Wayne.

Episode 5 was soft porn in disguise, catering to a very niche audience. Again we turned off mid-way and as a result, I await the rest of the series with nervous trepidation.

Firstly it is interesting armchair travelling to locations on Victoria's Great Ocean Road. I really enjoyed episode one. It was funny and engaging. It highlighted and interesting modern dilemma and was acted well. Episode two was also an interesting topic that could have been so well done but the acting and dialogue were excruciatingly bad. It was so over the top it was embarrassing. There was zero chemistry between the leading actors. It was like watching an amateur theatre production. You can be subtle and nuanced, I like to think the audience will still get the point. I will try episode three and see if it redeems itself and alter my review accordingly.

The series begins strongly in episode 1 thanks to great acting on a relatable topic and some terrific photography that takes advantage of the Victorian coast. The episode accurately showcases how once similar lives can go down very different paths and the trials and tribulations that come with that. All that great work, however, is almost brought undone by almost comical (not in a good way) over-acting that wouldn't look out of place on a Studio 10 infomercial and a complete lack of chemistry between the two leads in episode 2. It made the series suddenly feel amateurish and the episode was completely unwatchable.

Hopefully the series can be salvaged going forward, as it's an interesting concept that is clearly capable of attracting a talented cast as seen in E1, but how episode 2 got anyone's tick of approval to be aired is beyond me.