Last Man Standing

This one has been hyped to buggery so I was certainly keen to catch an episode. So far it strikes me as a bit of a soapie about uber-cool shallow Melbourne types hanging out in bars and sleeping around. So far... so Secret Life of Us. It's very well cast, but the writing doesn't always hit the mark. Scenarios sometimes feel a bit contrived, and (maybe its just me but..) its not really as funny as you may think from the promos - more soap than comedy really. Here's hoping the internal monologue voice-over fad dies pretty damn soon - is it just me or does listening to a protagonist agonize over his/her issues sound like Bjork in an eggbeater? (I'm not just talking about this series.) At the moment, it feels a bit like it's been done before and done better. But maybe given time the show might have something new to say. Not so much my thing, but preferable to the asinine intellectual vacuum of Big Brother. Whatever happens it certainly should get a chance to hit its stride, doesn't deserve the "Cooks" treatment - ie. given two weeks to succeed and then relegated to the graveyard shift.

While the similarities of this TV series to "The Secret Life of Us" are not lost, this series brings together a strong cast and witty script. The story lines are plausible, for those of us who have travelled down the road of searching for the ideal woman/man. Each character is likable and realistic; each faces a struggle to complete their lives with a long term relationship. And the settings seem real too.

The time slot given to it in Australia is not great, but my wife and I still ensure we watch it. I am encouraging others to do so too. If you come across it in your country, watch it. You may not laugh, but you'll certainly grin a lot.

This show hits very close to home. The writing is outstanding, with very realistic themes and dialogue. The story line is unpredictable and guaranteed to entertain. But the problem with the show is that it targets a very small niche of TV watchers, and that might be the reason why it failed. I simply couldn't watch this with my girlfriend, who didn't like it all that much, and had to resort to taping it and watching it by myself. Also, the show has a very slow start before it reaches its full potential, and I can imagine some watchers may have given up before they could see the best of this. Yet, I believe that this is one of the best shows to come out of Australia for a long time. Its appeal may not be as broad as the secret life of us, but it definitely hits a target. Also, it's much better than many me-too TV shows coming out of the States these days. In conclusion, I love this show, and would strongly recommend it.

Other reviewers have remarked on the various quality aspects of Aussie TV show Last Man Standing and I'll not regurgitate what others have already written much better than I can. I agree with most, although there are a couple of reviewers who got little out of the show. I got plenty out of it and I was glad to catch up with it. I don't why I missed it 2005 but its relevance seems to continue into 2019.

Leading men Rodger Corser and Matt Passmore have continued to act in TV shows with success, while character actor Travis McMahon enhances anything he's associated with. Kiwi actress Miriama Smith appeared in series 3 of successful New Zealand production 800 Words, and she to is an asset to any show she appears in.

When you read the synopsis of Last Man Standing, you could be forgiven for dismissing it as purely low-level male self-delusion, but it is not that. The reason I believe it succeeds is because it is mainly written by talented Aussie Marieke Hardy (grand daughter of Frank Hardy) and she ensures that the female side of the various plot machinations is represented and balanced. Yes there is much drinking and man cave activities, plus trying to seduce various women into bed. But the female contingent pursues its own agenda and is not merely a herd of vacuous sex objects available on demand. The journey through life is not gender one-sided and the triumphs and pitfalls are equally distributed.

Yes it is a soapie about those in their late twenties living in inner Melbourne; but it is all quality and the pace never slackens. Only one series was made, and this disappointed many. But there are times where one series of quality is better than three series where two are not up to the mark and the production as a whole suffers because of it. It is worth a look.

Last Man Standing gives a modern twist to the Sex and the City model. Instead of the players being American women in their late thirties / early forties, this show turns the premise back on itself and takes an in-depth look at three twenty-something Australian males and how they cope with life, love and the great unknown: women. Three great main characters (Adam, Bruno & Cameron) stumble and fumble their way through life.

On one hand, they've got things sorted out. They've all got steady jobs, great friendships, and an active social life. But on the other hand, there's Cameron's ex-wife Zoe, who Adam may or may not be interested in, and the boys certainly seem to struggle to find that elusive 'perfect woman' ...

Last Man Standing takes us into the minds of the typical Aussie male, taking a light-hearted look at the trials and tribulations of getting your love-life in order in a new, uncharted world where, more often than not, women are the sexual predators.

With sharp writing and great acting, Last Man Standing will hopefully find the audience it deserves before it's rudely shafted to a poor timeslot.