Barons

Barons beautifully paints a picture of a very specifically Australian Surf culture as it emerged in the 70's. The way this is shot and presented gives an immersive and sensuous window into that time, drenched in sun and film light leaks. The story and settings are well put together, but the casting choices are the real standout, with Sean Keenan, Ben O'Toole, Jillian Nguyen and the rest of the ensemble blending together beautifully to give a sense of the dynamics shifting between them, but also wonderfully portraying the period in which it is set.

Loved this show to bits. I wondered if Barons would be able to make it feel real, make it feel like the 70s without lapsing into nostalgia, and they do it extremely well. It feels utterly real. And it looks beautiful without ever feeling like that beauty is a TV construct. And that sense of fun and reality is also through every performance - there are some real standouts, but everyone hits such a high bar. Full disclosure here - I'm a screenwriter, and I'd love to work on the show. But I'm also a former surfer who grew up during this era, so I'm a tough audience. I had so much fun watching, and was so involved. Watch it - you'll love it too.

I really wanted to like this series but alas I'm once again disappointed in an Aussie drama. Great concept with the potential to be binge worthy but with a predictable script, cringey acting (some awful American accents) and some dumb sub plots this is just not worth watching. I've never made it through an episode of Home and Away or Neighbors and considering the quality is on par I'm amazed I actually got through the series. Equally amazing is the amount of 10 star reviews. Some people are easily pleased!

Quite reminiscent of time gone by. I only realised after watching the 1st episode that it's loosely based on the beginnings of these surf companies. Lots of potential, I just hope it doesn't go the way of indulgent melodrama.

This has a wonderful cast. Some future Aussie stars I'm sure. Hunter Page-Lochard stands out in particular. The pacing of the series is slightly off at times and there are a few ropey American accents however what makes make up for it in other ways is the lush cinematography (makes me want to head to a warm beach asap) and the details in the seventies throwback costuming is very good also. The recent Daisy Jones and The Six adaption could've learnt a lot from this in terms of 70's vibes with feeling included. The series is not very long so it's a relatively easy watch if you want something that's easy to get into. I give it 7 out of 10.