Optics

There are some comedies so bad that you feel sorry for the people involved. No private investment would have come within a 100 miles of this shocker. The industry in Australia is so small that the writers and performers could rely on their friends giving it good reviews in the expected places but - like a children's eisteddfod - the only people watching will be the cast and their families. I think they are aiming for farce but its hard to tell. Charles Firth is just appalling but its not his fault. Did the director actually give any direction? Or just say "go" and "cut". If production standards were lower it could have succeeded as car-crash entertainment - Plan 9 From Outer-space style. But it even fails at that.

This is 'comedy' made by po-faced public servants that have studied comedy as one would the distant history of a foreign culture.

The writing and acting of Optics is as incompetent as the character Ian in the show.

It is a good concept. And the PR industry provides plenty of opportunities for comedy; clearly the farcical issues, people and business the PR industry deal with is ripe for a satirical comedy show. And the difference between traditional PR approaches compared to PR in the new social media world provides plenty of comedic tension that could be exploited.

But unfortunately it is very badly executed and a missed opportunity. The comedy and jokes are clumsy and mostly the set-ups are stupid and boring. The actors playing the main characters have no comic timing or rapport and are just bad.

It is a pity this wasn't done by working dog team who would have taken the opportunity this provides and created something g actually funny.

Expect some reviewers to be as blind to the world of Nicole and Greta as Ian is. Ian doesn't realise the world has moved on. But - and this makes this series loveable -it doesn't rely on boring tropes. Nicole and Greta soon learn that they need to call on Ian's experience when they find themselves out of their depth. Over time they form a grudging respect for each other.

Nicole and Greta are perfect, their dialogue, their fashion, their relationship. So good. Their faces when Meredith has forgotten her wallet and phone and they ask how she got coffee on the way to work 🤣

Love the references to the captains lounge, prayer rooms, and other Aussie political hot potatoes.

There's also a gradual realisation of the difference between the two generations. One is so tolerant of corruption that it's just business and usual. The other is constantly blindsided by it, and has to find a way to navigate the moral dilemmas. Can't wait for the second series.

I don't understand all the negative reviews. Maybe because the two female leads speak so fast and use a lot of PR jargon, making it somewhat difficult to comprehend. I believe it is part of the theme to have these characters speak as if they're in their own little world. Their thought processes are fast and displayed in front of the bamboozled clients. Otherwise, the series is well scripted and the acting is great. Charles Firth is excellent as the disgruntled former boss. He's ably supported by the office receptionist and his clueless PR assistant. My wife and I enjoy watching this series immensely.

I have long been a fan of the work of the Chaser team, and this has to be up there as some of their best material yet.

The three central characters of Ian, Nicole and Greta are multifaceted and hilarious. The writing is brilliant and each actor brought out the best in every line. 3 days later and my husband and I are still quoting one line to each other (no spoilers) that crack us both up time and time again. It's been a long time since a show has been able to do that.

My husband and I ended up watching the first season all in one night thanks to iView. Now to wait for more episodes to be released...