Exposure

Coming from the country, I usually approach Aussie-made shows with a bit of cultural cringe, but this pleasantly surprised me. The miniseries managed to captivate me from the start. Its ability to delve into some pretty dark and messed-up themes really kept me glued to the screen.

It doesn't shy away from the harsh realities it portrays. The storyline is gripping, with characters that feel real and situations that are both unsettling and compelling. Despite its intense moments, the series never loses its authenticity, which is refreshing.

Visually, I'd say it captures the essence of small town Australia really well, from its stunning landscapes to the gritty urban scenes. The cinematography is striking and adds to the immersive experience of the show.

I have to say this exceeded my expectations. It's a testament to Australian storytelling, offering a blend of challenging narratives and captivating drama. If you're looking for a series that pushes boundaries and keeps you on the edge of your seat, "Exposure" is definitely worth watching.

Whilst Exposure is set within the unique and idiosyncratic back drop of Port Kembla, it speaks to a universal feeling. The feeling of putting male validation and attention above what we know is more important. As well as the impact and weight of female friendships, while you're navigating the soul crushing realisation of how the world perceives you.

Maybe you haven't changed the foundation of who you are for a man, or felt a sting of jealousy for a friend who would give their life for yours. You might struggle to understand or differentiate between power and pretence in this show.

I think it is nice for a show to expect their audiences to look deeper than what they may see on screen, challenge them to feel. Seeing a young female artist with a camera. Young people explore drinking and drug culture, having sex without feeling. It might be easy for some to pass it off as hollow - but this show is far from it. I challenge you to let yourself be affected by it - let the random recollection anxiety from your past in - remember what it was like to have the weight of the world on your shoulders.... then remember how far you have come.

We watch Australian dramas with the hope of supporting them. And I'm sure that the cast & crew of Exposure believe in this project.

But unfortunately, we found Exposure such a hard thing to sit through. We got three episodes in and had to call it quits. Almost nothing happens. And it's hard to care about anything that does happen.

We're given no reason to care or be interested in any of the characters. A young woman who sleeps with lots of men but also harbours resentment towards them should be a great place to mine material and really explore that - but what we see onscreen is just a series of dry, meandering scenes.

The camera lingers way too long on scenes of nothing. Like, just walking off a train and up a street takes forever. With "unearned" music accompanying the scene. The first conversation between the main character and her mother seems manufactured, to try to insert conflict that feels unearned.

The scene of the main character taking pictures she won a comp for is the only scene I could point to as having any impact. I felt like it should have been the first scene of the first episode of the entire series. And let everything feed off that. When she won the comp, she could have felt proud of herself, but then later hated herself for taking that picture. I wanted to see that kind of inner conflict, leading into hidden layers as the story unfolds. But I didn't get that.

There is nothing wrong with the acting of the characters - I just wish they had something to do. And I wish the story made us care. It wasn't the show for us - adults in their early 30s. Might resonate more with others.

"Exposure," the 2024 mini-series directed by Bonnie Moir gets an 8 out of 10 from me. This captivating gripping story delves deep into the complexities of human relationships and keeps you hooked from start to finish. The dialogue is very realistic and feels like how people actually talk to each other making the characters believable and relatable. The acting is top-notch, the cinematography absolutely striking and Moir's direction is incredibly solid bringing an immersive feel to each chapter. Overall, "Exposure" is an engaging and thought provoking series that is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys well-crafted dramas.

What a superb new Australian series. Utterly outstanding. So bold and strong in voice and tone. Incredibly written by Lucy Coleman - an on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller and a deeply examined character study. Can't wait to see what Coleman does next! What a talent to watch! Alice Englert delivers an eviscerating performance. Wonderful direction from Bonnie Moir. Such a brazen female character at its core. I felt deeply moved by this portrayal of the female experience. If you are looking original and charged TV, this is the show for you. I watched almost all of it in one sitting and will likely watch it again in the future.