Well the title is misleading, but for the sake of what is being included in this update, it was appropriate. Basically I'm going to ramble for a little bit about new Australian Crime Drama.
Personally I think that the Writer's Strike in the US was one of the better things to happen. People whinge about how their TV shows were interrupted mid-season etc, but I'm pretty sure I don't care. Life goes on.
However, the strike forced Australia's big three free to air commercial broadcasters [Seven, Ten, Nine/WIN] to wake up to themselves and finally put a number of home-grown series into the works. They claimed these shows have been in pre-production for a while and that the writer's strike was a happy coincidence...but I'm pretty sure that's a lie.
Okay. So we have new television shows that succeed in impressing us and finally steal back some air time from the American imports. I'm not going to list all of the TV shows, because that'll be boring, but I'm going to focus on three Crime focused series.
First up, we have City Homicide, which came out on Channel 7 before the writer's strike came into full swing. It had a polished start, excellent characters and a well-rounded plot typical of British influence. Definite Humour present.
This did come out before the Strike, but I'm including it because the strike probably prolonged the show's life and it certainly paid off.
Next we have Rush. Note the development section. Okay, I had high hopes for this series [mainly because it meant that Channel Ten would be showing something other than the pathetic Law and Order series. Rush isn't as polished as CH, but that is to be expected considering the rollercoaster production it went through. Promising first episode, plenty of action and conflict...but they introduced the worst character I have ever seen.
Now, I love Australia, I really do. Couldn't live anywhere else. My only complaint is that sometimes we, as a nation, rely much too heavily on our stereotypes. Case in point, "Inspector Kerry Vincent." The second she stepped onto the screen, I knew that Rush wouldn't be all it was cracked up to be.
You could say I'm being judgmental or a little harsh...and I would probably agree with you, but there's something about Catherine McClement's portrayal of Inspector Vincent that just scrapes against my very soul. I know she's supposed to be the character that we hate and apparently eventually fall in love with because she's really a good person underneath...but..well...
The first episode of Rush shows Inspector Vincent [Inspector being a position of authority and high respect. Generally held by those that are responsible etc] smashing up her ex-husband's car while screaming at him and his new partner saying that the new partner is a "mole" and varying derogatory remarks and so on.
I know that the target audience is thinking that is hilarious, but it just grates against me. We then see her swan about with a level of arrogance that is supposed to elicit a response from the viewer...but it's just depressing. Surely the script writers could have done something better than this?
Well, not the video I wanted, but a good summary none the less. Rush may have a chance for redemption, but it's just so stupid that they decided to take the "OMG SECS AND TENSION!@!?!@" route. Bah.
Lastly we have The Stip. Yeah. Uh. I don't get it either. FYI: I don't know of anyone that actually refers to the Gold Coast as "The Strip." Seriously, I don't. I lived in Brisbane for the past three or so years and the colloquialisms I heard for the Gold Coast were "The Gold Coast." Oh and in reference to Surfer's Paradise as being "Surfers."
Seriously, "The Strip" ?
Dur.
Oh well, points for actually being set in Queensland. FAIL for trying to make the Gold Coast into Miami instead of relishing in its individuality and uniqueness.
Seriously. What are they thinking? I saw thirty seconds of it one night and my brain hurt.
What's my point here? Well, I think it's along the lines of:
City Homicide: Reasonably intellectual with a definite British influence. Plot is well paced and there's a combination of logical investigation as well as action. Characters are believable and entertaining. The show takes itself seriously, and yet there's humour in it that can be appreciated.
You can view more of the series here on the official site
Summary: OMG PLOT!
Rush: Characters could be better and less two dimensional, but the action sequences are well managed and entertaining. Reasonably good use of plot hooks, but that one character distorts the whole story like a lead weight on a rubber sheet. Channel 10 is definitely letting down the series with their advertising, as well as putting the series on later and later. [Right after NCIS? Pfft, like I'm going to be enthusiastic after Gibbs has been on :3]
Most recent example of advertising stupidity [which I can't find on youtube] shows the Police Tactical Response Unit responding to an armed robbery of a pub. However, the voice over comments on how unusual this is, and asks the viewer what could be so important about this?
ORLY? A Tactical Response Unit [Read: Armed Unit ie baby SWAT] responding to an armed robbery? That's so weird. They should have sent the canteen room staff? Whut?
Okay, you can watch the entire series to date here on Channel 10's official site. Full episodes and behind the scene stuff, unlike Channel 7's efforts.
Summary: Could be better
The Strip: ...I'm sorry. I really haven't looked into it. It's such a mash up job it's like they're deliberately making for an export market. I don't see it lasting long, but TV executives are renowned for keeping stupidity on the air. Okay, I feel bad now. I might try to watch it tomorrow night. I know we need more Australian productions on TV and Channel Nine has been the major player [Even if they did scrap Farscape and mess about with production] for a long time.
Okay. You can view full episodes here on the official website.
Conclusion: There's a lot of influence out there for my own effort, Stoked. I enjoy proper crime shows, and I think it's about time for Australia to stop being slack and to start making our own like we used to. We have some brilliant production companies and some excellent writers out there, and it's great that our Networks finally took a chance.
Hooray for the Writer's Strike!
