The Twelve

I must admit I wasn't sold on this but thought why not.

It slowly delves into the personal relationships of the jurors who are over seeing the murder of a young 14 year old girl whose auntie is on trial for the crime.

I'm not usually a Brooke Satchwell fan at all, and I'm actually enjoying her in this.

The relationships are slow winding, and 2 eps it I think it'll be a ripper. I thoroughly enjoyed Mare of Eastown 'feels' a lot like that.

Well it was a long and painful wait, with some cringeworthy bits but overall the outcome was worth it. Quite satisfying on a few accounts. Would not like to be on a murder trial after watching this!

Loved some of the actors in this story. About two episodes too long. Really enjoyed the jurors stories but the weakness, for me, was the crime itself. They spent so long building it up that it felt quite flat when it finally reached its conclusion. Thought the impact of the trial on the jurors is a relevant and interesting angle that they could have focused on more and less about whodunnit.

Great chemistry between Marta and Sam. And overall enjoyable but not perfect viewing. Quality Australian drama.

And whoever styled the art dealer should be shot - such a cliche. Those scarves were ridiculous.

My Rating. 6/10

Streaming on Foxtel

I stuck with this overlong drawn out 10 part series that in my view fails on a number of counts that don't thankfully include the performances of some of Australia's finest actors .

The Twelve is based on a Belgian series of the same name De Twaalf, it will be interesting if I can track the Belgian version down to compare with this Australian version as I wasn't overly impressed by this effort.

The first issue for me is the story plot or " plotlets " subplots if you prefer as there are in my opinion far too many holes which I cant write about as it would include spoilers except to say they are not resolved satisfactorily in the long awaited final tenth instalment.

The focus is more on the stories of the members of the jury and their dysfunctional and rather uninteresting lives than the more interesting characters actually involver in the crime that they are being asked to deliver a verdict on .

Kate Lawson a contemporary Artist played by Kate Mulvany is on trial for the murder of her niece Claire who she obviously loved dearly be it in a bizarre and possesive fashion.

Teenage Clair is a willing subject for her Aunts erotic themed art photography gradually becoming Aunt Kate's muse .

One fateful night Clair disappears with no trace or any body being found prompting suspicion and eventually leading to her Aunt with very minimal evidence becoming the prime suspect in her niece's disappearance and being charged with murder.

Questions to be answered are has Clair really been murdered or did she just run away after a confrontation with her Aunt ? More importantly did her Aunt Kate commit the crime ? That is the question for "The Twelve " members of this jury to answer ?

I'll say one thing if I ever found myself on trial for any crime I would hate to have this 12 dysfunctional group of misfits on my case .

The jury selection process involved in choosing this lot must have malfunctioned that day .

I think that's one of the problems with the script it's far more involved with the carry on of the 12 jurors as they commit every conceivable breech of behaviour possible that would have them thrown our of the Court room.

They are not interesting enough characters to warrant ten long episodes . The Twelve turns into more of a soap opera than a courtroom drama .

I did enjoy the performances though of most of the cast to many to mention but include Sam Neil as Brett Colby QC the Defence Attorney, Marta Düsseldorp as Lucy Bloom QC the Prosecutor, and good supporting actors including Jenni Baird as Diane Lawson , Claire's very odd mother .

The Twelve is entertaining but it's a big time investment over produced and over Directed with 4 Directors and a team of 8 writers that seem to have forgotten to stick to a cohesive script that flows to a satisfactory climax .

I'm reminded of the classic 1957 movie 12 Angry Men starring Henry Fonda about the similar story of a jury in a New York City murder trial that is frustrated by a single member whose skeptical caution forces them to more carefully consider the evidence before jumping to a hasty verdict.

In 96 drama packed minutes that film with one Director Sidney Lumet and one screenplay writer Reginald Rose managed to achieve what this series The Twelve doesn't come anywhere near to in over 430 minutes..

After watching the first season of the show you would be remised if all you got from the first season was confusion and 'ah what just happened?'. Well the first season was poorly written and it does show in the side plots and the confusing murder trial narrative, in a case that should of had it's jurors kicked off the jury for many reasons.. I thought "oh this can't get much worse.." and it did. I wanted someone to apologise to Sam Neill for the first season.

When I heard it had been renewed for a second season, I wasn't too thrilled after all Foxtel was heading into life without a leader in Brian Walsh, but when I seen the cast list and the fact the show had been moved from one state to another it gave me hope again.

I will say the second season is much better then the first, with one episode in particular with a very surprising twist I don't think anyone saw coming..

So.. If you want, skip season one, season two is way better then one. Enjoy!