Under the Vines

Its a comedy full of drama and I lurve it. Well, though I don't really know the actors but they are doing the job well. And it's the land of the middle earth.... sure it is beautiful.

This lighthearted series is a character-driven romantic comedy set in a fictional town in southern New Zealand's beautiful Otago wine country, offering up quirky characters living in a wine region with its own 'law of the land' and 'rules of the road' for the self-indulgent Brit lawyer (Charles Edwards) and Aussie socialite (Rebecca Gibney), each denying their own eccentric mid-life challenges, to navigate.

Of course, inheriting the vineyard of the late Stanley Oakley does not meet the two outsiders' expectations nor does it fix their personal issues - rather compounding and exasperating them instead - adjusting to being its reluctant joint 'sole-owners' is the new journey they find themselves on. Each cast members' character arc provide for some unexpected surprises, both humorous and touching.

Similar but different from its predecessors like Northern Exposure to 800 Words series, Under the Vines' difference is in the romance of the vines with its enveloping surroundings and night skies make for an easy-going and satisfying weekly tasting.

First of all, I would not describe this show as a comedy; it's more of a lighthearted drama. The premise - a buttoned-down lawyer from London and a pampered party girl from Sidney forced to work together to keep a venture (in this case a vineyard) they jointly inherited from going under, is not new. And I think we all know where this is going.

The acting is competent, the main characters are interesting and likable - which is important if we are to become invested in their success - and the minor characters are quirky in a relatable way. There's a bit of "Green Acres" going on here - including a talking pig - along with a few very real, very contemporary underpinnings, like the emerging New Zealand wine industry. And speaking of New Zealand, the settings are gorgeous.

The one drawback is the lack of any real comedy. I am a huge fan of New Zealand humor, so it's not as if it's there but I just don't get it; the show is falling short of the mark. There are no LOL moments, and only a very occasional snigger or two. This isn't necessarily a bad thing - as a light drama, the show is quite good, but since it was billed as a comedy, it can't fail to disappoint on that score.

Bottom line - if you like the light romantic dramas shown on the Hallmark channel, you'll like this. But if you were expecting What We Do in the Shadows, you'll come away scratching your head.

To all those negative nancies on IMDb; chill bro. It's a bit of fun. It's like wine. Sometimes sickly sweet, sometimes dry. But always fruity. Don't expect Academy Awards, more a secret fantasy where we'd all like to own a winery. He acting is good. The cast excellent. And it's fun. End of. Just enjoy.

I was unsure at first but as the episodes moved along, this series really grew on me. It has heart and is very endearing. I enjoyed all of the characters. I think a second series will be great. I do hope the two main characters do not get together romantically. I think they would make better friends. I watched this marathon style and enjoyed it to bits!