Miriam Margolyes: Almost Australian

This show is awful. It's just some grouchy old lady who is mean to people she meets , criticizes things and people she doesn't understand; and thinks she's funny when she really just has a naive and predictably canned world outlook. She acts as though she's above everyone. No one needed to see her sit on the toilet. Overall this is boring, frustrating and disappointing. It's a shame she didn't do a better job discovering Australia with an open mind. I am not sure why anyone would think her identity politics schtick is funny. I never write reviews but was prompted to by how incredibly self absorbed and out of touch she was. She is downright rude to strangers she meets along the way. Sad.

Why they would have a female curmudgeon such as this woman take an amazing adventure across Australia I will never understand !?! This is an incredibly bitter woman who seems to take little pleasure in anything much outside her own comfort and this is possibly the worst travel documentary I could think of watching. There are many sad parts of any culture which need light shed on them, but this is a woman actively seeking the bitterness and contempt that seems to excite her very being. Shame on you Netflix for wasting your money on this series. I never paid this actor much attention in Harry Potter, but now I am just irritated that a woman of professed detest of children made money in a movie aimed at children...well, I think says a lot for her credibility....if I could give a minus review I would. -5.

I love Miriam. But - this is not great. Setting out to capture Australia she really missed the mark. From rural NSW to Melbourne, Bondi, Alice, Darwin, and to finish on the Gold Coast (one of the worst places in the world!, made for Japanese tourists).

I was really disappointed. This ISN'T the true Australia- well.... She had some little gems mixed in but most of it was crap. A few Ockers here and there, farmers dealing with drought. Obviously this was filmed and distributed before Lidia Thorpe went totally feral, dragging the Aboriginal flag through mud recently when police tried to arrest her for breaching the peace, or her arrest outside a Sydney strip club, or her swearing in Parliament. They're changing Parilimentary process because of Lidia's behaviour so the can be dismissed instantly for undignified, disgusting behaviour. I also thought it was a bit weird for an old lesbian to be perving at her teenage daughter on the tranpoline. She literally missed half the country!!! This is in no way anywhere close to a true representation of Australia. The token remote Aboriginals was quite exploitative. The violence in the Alice was totally missed out. The alcohol problem in the Territory wasn't mentioned. She/the producers picked bits of Australia that showed a tiny part of our country and not very well at that. It's a great shame, as I expected better from such an intelligent woman. Please don't think this is a true representation of Australia, it really isn't. 🙄

Miriam the adventurer! In her mid 70s, she's full of life, curiosity, get up & go, all while remaining mellow and non judgmental. I felt again in my early 20s when my bestie & I would rent camper trucks and head out to a new locale. Hop along for a tour of the great down under. Miriam's POV is so comfortable as she spends time with lifelong residents Dow under offering a unique deeper dive into lifestyles and celebratory events of local Aussies the viewer would likely never see if visiting as a tourist. Offering 3 episodes, the first asks "What's the Australian Dream?". My favorite was the second episode when Miriam truly mixes it up with all walks of life from successful ranchers to a local drag show. Third episode of this in depth 1 month exploration asks what is "Australian Lucky" can you own Australian Lucky as both a "Have" & a "Have Not"? Looking forward to her next Aussie adventure. .

Miriam Margolyes: Almost Australian is a charming series about connection, culture, and country. Miriam is a delightfully no-nonsense woman who does not shy away from sharing her opinions. This personality type is understandably not universally-appealing but I find her authenticity extremely refreshing. Miriam has the moxie of a New Yorker and the refined speech of a Proper British Lady. In short, I was charmed. The stories of the people Miriam connects with on her travels are the heart of this docu-travel series. The audience travels with her as she forges meaningful bonds with various communities. She interviews many people from many different walks of life and always keeps and open mind and kind heart. The message is simple, maybe even at times reductive. However, this is an easy bump to navigate through the 3 episodes because of the level of genuine connection and engagement Miriam is engaging with the real people she meets along her journey. Finally, I was having a bad day today and watching this series helped make it just a little bit better. Overall score 8/10, highly recommend.