The Slap

The original Australian version of this series was brilliant. It worked in Australia, too, as most Aussies *would* slap that child---a horrid, spoiled, undisciplined little brat whose parents---most especially the idiot mother---needed a slap more than the child. But I'm not sure how America will react: will be interesting to watch, as the country were at the forefront of the "never slap a child" nonsense. The mixture of personalities and reactions in the series is good, but while initially you want to see particular characters dealt with harshly, as the stories unfold you see their more vulnerable sides and find yourself supporting them. Only exceptional direction and writing can do that, and this has both. The Aussie series had brilliant actors too, particularly the mother played by Melissa George in both the Aussie series and this one. She really did capture the self-righteous mother routine.

Honestly, I was horribly turned off by the hyped up advertising. The first episode was horrible. It seems to be the current trend to pump up and try to trigger reactions vs. produce quality art for first episodes and beginning and ending season episodes. I've learned to ignore what I call the Stupid Factor of Studio Pandering.

Why the 7? Because each progressive episodes is improving to a quality worth taking the time for. In particular, Uma Thurman's episode Anouk while predictable, IMO was satisfying; And I am enjoying the treatment and evolution of this mini-series. Not to mention I'm enjoying the highlighting of each of these major actors chops!

The two-dimensional treatment of the first episode is fraying into something more... But I don't know if it will be enough.

So i remember watching the Australian version of the show in 2011 and it was fine then ,, this US version though has got a more regularity and the story is a bit more organized.

8 episodes with the same titles as the original and it would seem the same but unlike the US version the Australian just gave a whole story about each character with missing the connections or sometimes with no sense at all ,, seems like after 4 years they'v become more experienced .

Anyway,, so the Idea of a child slapping and in my perspective a child spoiling and in between that there's a whole relationships drama is really well put and nice to be brought up on TV like this.

The story of the slap ended fast in the Australian version i think in the 5th or 4th episode so here its like they're trying to be more thorough and built up a whole season on the trial and the slap story and i think one more season will bring up the other stories that have been mentioned in the AU version.

The cast is good,, i really liked casting Zachary Quinto he's awesome and they also brought Melissa George as "Rosie" and funny she was also in the Aus version as rosie so here she made it even better ;)

Overall the story is nice,, the plot is complex somehow many ideas branches out of it ,, i think it needs more than 8 episode but if it would be really the same story i know i think probably a second season should wrap it up perfectly unless they change something about the story of Richie to make it simpler... who knows ;)

While the title (and premise) of the series do come off as comical, The Slap is daring to take Network TV viewers to a place where we question our choices and our way of thinking. One small decision can spiral into a massive event that drastically changes everyone's lives around us. We have no idea what personal issues another person may be dealing with, or how we may affect them.

What each episode of this compelling miniseries forces us to do is confront a different controversial issue in today's society, and decide what we believe is right. Some people may argue that these characters are cliché and melodramatic. But the truth is, we all know people exactly like them, and we are guaranteed to confront some of these issues within our own lives. When these events occur, there's no predicting how another person will behave. The Slap is a guidebook to show how we should react, when others don't know how. We need to set the example, to prevent the disasters which happen in this series.

Society still has a long way to go. But by watching this series, we may gain some insight into being better people and caring neighbors.

This series may not have been as compelling or dramatic as the original, but it did bring a fresh take on an event that brought very different outcomes.

Having just watched the Australian version of "The Slap," I was interested in seeing how the US version would compare. It was quite a disappointment.

The Australian version was cast much better & key story elements were developed much better as well (for example the tension and chaos building up to the slap was perfect in the Au version, but completely unbelievable in the US version).

Regarding Casting: Jonathan LaPaglia, who plays Hector in the Au version is a much better fit. Also Alex Dimitriades as Hector's Cousin Harry in the Au version is a much better fit as the sort of short tempered hot- head.

There are many great actors in the US version- but they are unfortunately either cast in the wrong role (in a few cases) or do not work for this series at all (most cases). Thomas Sadoski is a talented actor, but is an example of miscasting. He could have been a decent fit as Hector, but not the correct fit for the role of Gary. Peter Sarsgaard and Zachary Quinto are also talented actors, but do not work for this series at all.

I guess I have to also question the directing. The entire initial episode was completely rushed, disjointed, and simply not believable. (Case in point- the tension between Quinto & Sarsgaard seemed almost joking rather than heated). I think both are good actors, so the problem is likely one that falls to casting or directing?

There are many other problems I could mention but suffice it to say- If you are at all interested in this series, skip the US version and watch the AU version..... Or at the very least, watch the first episode of each and see if you agree (It will only take 1 episode of each to make up your mind).