The Sounds

Started off ok, well directed and acted by all apart from the lead actress, she is not good at all. Plods on halfway and no exacting ending. Basically a long winded single episode of any American, Australian, British soap that's shown on an afternoon, it'll keep grandma quiet as the writing is at that level. 4 stars for the NZ scenery.

Started off a little slow but that is to be expected. Got really good in the middle. Found the story about Zoe and drugs to be a little boring. Was really excited to see how episode 8 would be, but found it to be a little soft. It did have some moving scenes with Pania and Ru which were very well done. Lot's of unanswered questions and if there is no season 2 then all this would have been just a cheap teaser.

My wife and I are hooked on this show, which is story-telling at its finest. The characters are deep, varied, and believable. The unique plot just keeps getting thicker and thicker and thicker and thicker (4 "thickers" for the 4 episodes we've watched so far). The suspense is gripping, and I am constantly squirming in my seat; you won't know what's going to happen next. Most of the acting is excellent - especially the Maori. The directing and cinematography are great and never distracting. Many characters you will care about, and all kinds of interesting things happen to them. Lastly, this series gets double-extra credit for what it doesn't have: no political agendas, no car chases, no explosions, no sirens, no torture, no shakey-camera, no over-cutting-of-scenes, no all-star cast, no formula characters nor formula plot. And yet, your heart will be pounding more than any movie that has all these tropes.

After episode 8 we are left hanging. This show get very good around episode 6.

I enjoyed this series of 8 episodes a great deal. Maybe it's because I am a New Zealander and appreciate the storyline better than others. I thought the acting, particularly the lead characters, was very realistic and it held my attention until the end of Season 1. I hope the ending, which left unanswered questions means another season at least to wrap up the storyline. I don't like shows that leave you hanging, with lots of loose ends. Well worth watching in my opinion and the series was beautifully shot in one of the most majestic locations in the country of New Zealand's South Island.