New Gold Mountain

A story of loyalties and lust, how both can be turned against you, and how each can betray the other. Loyalty to family, brotherhood or regime, and lust for sex, riches, or fame. The series is slow to start but the intrigue builds from one episode to the next and the final episodes are gripping. I have some misgivings about the direction of Leonie Whyman in her role as the character Hettie, a woman of indigenous heritage who speaks in truncated sentences as though she is not well-versed in the language, yet Whyman delivers Hettie's script with a well-spoken accent - the words and the accent don't match. There is also the predictable, mollifying finale.

Enjoying the show and like seeing Australian history from a non white man point of view. It's a slow burn but keeping us intrigued. Acting is good and beautiful landscape.

Women did not say s h i t in 1855 and men did not say s t u f f and probably not F bombs either

Why can't anyone write an authentic script?

Happens all the time.

Apart from this quibble am liking the series, I refuse to watch anything without subs now so not a problem at all for me. Like the lead guy, he's doing a fine job.

Was looking forward to watching this series and stuck with it, but only just.

The script, and subsequently the spoken language, feels like it was written for high school students. In fact, it could easily have been developed to supplement the Australian history component of the Australian Curriculum.

Not enough mystery and not enough explanation of the Chinese culture of the time. Although it was interesting that the PC brigade hadn't put their stamp all over it with the language used to describe the different cultures in the story. Some of the Australians were far too over the top and much of the swearing felt like a 15yo was at the core of the written dialog.

Knowing the series was filmed at Sovereign Hill should have meant authenticity. Unfortunately being filmed somewhere that is basically a theme park of sorts, visited by many Australians, made the series feel like it was filmed "at Sovereign Hill", meaning it felt like it was on a film set rather than natural.

Hopefully Australian productions will continue but with a bit more thought about the intended audience.

Those who hated this would've benefited from watching the 'Making of' 16 minute feature first. This is a revisionist Western. They liken themselves to Deadwood, but it feels more like Hell on Wheels. If you're streaming, I recommend it for all viewers. It has no plot spoilers.

This production was cognizant (aware) of avoiding the Colonist view of the Chinese experience. It has all the things I enjoy in modern Westerns: diversity, strong roles for women, and it's Australian drama. From police procedurals to historical dramas like this, I prefer the quality of Australian and New Zealand productions.

The subtitles for Cantonese are few. So far, no pertinent information is only expressed in Cantonese. If you have reading challenges, please don't let this stop you.

Pardon my crudeness, but handsome Asian men and seeing Brainwave from the Star Girl series in a featured role make this worth watching at least ep 1 to decide for yourself.