The Messenger

I blindly walked into this series with no expectations. I finished this series and am all the better for it. Tears and laughs, joy and pain, love and heartache, it all happened, and as unexpected as they were, they were the result of the believability of the situations, presented in a somewhat unbelievable way.

If you want to escape over budgeted flicks with eye popping CGI and effects, if you want to dive into a corner of the world with real probelms that's all hidden behind a curtain of mystery and wonder, check out this series.

The acting is great, the plot is fun and touching in a way that is rarely seen in television today. And best of all, finish it and your heart will be lighter, your smile bigger, and your step into life outside the screen will be just a little bit better for it.

There are moments in The Messenger that are some of the most beautiful and heartfelt I have seen on television. I am talking about the young actors who play the four friends, each undergoing unresolved crises in their lives. The interplay between them is wonderful to watch, wrenching at times. None more so than William McKenna who plays the titular role and nails his character with a gifted array of non-verbal communication, a glance here, an anguished look there. He is never less than compelling to watch and surely great things lie ahead of him.

The series is a nice change from the usual fare and it is good to see quality Australian drama. Production values are top notch and cinematographer Geoff Hall evokes a period feel even though the story is rooted in the present.

The episodes unfold slowly and there is a dip in momentum about half-way through, but stay with it as the final episodes resolve into a satisfyingly warm conclusion that will stay with you for a long time.

For me the acting, cast, direction, and production values are all fine, it's the script that is the problem. I've watched 5 episodes so far and I'm really struggling to get much further, it's becoming repetitive and less interesting as it goes on. As soon as I heard Cowboy Junkies Sweet Jane being played around episode 2 or 3 they really lost me, it just reminded me how cliche the show was. That was an edgy song for mainstream movies in the 2000's, it's just really unimaginative in the 2020's. And that is what the whole script lacks, imagination. The writers needed to go on some kind of Thai full moon party retreat or Peruvian assisted mediation camp. I'm sorry guys, love seeing Lithgow, but the show is boring me to tears.

I love this cast. A stunning bunch of Australian actors - bringing to life a script that has nuance, power, and love. It's fanciful, kind, and surprising. It's a relief to sit with characters who aim to succeed with thought and gentility- without always getting it right. A show to sink into.

This show peels away at noise, and tries to remind you what it's like to feel. To close your eyes and remember your best relationships. To remember how to want to seize the best things. And weed the garden of crap things.

If you want The Fast and The Furious... this isn't it. But maybe if you want a break from it, this is for you. If you squint, you can see yourself in every nicely drawn character here. Loved it.

Loving this series so far. Fantastic cast. The 4 main young characters are so good and they have such chemistry onscreen, some great young actors. Also some older familiar actors are terrific too. Should be getting higher reviews. Such an interesting story line and loving the mystery and drama with a twist of comedy thrown in. Perfect balance.

I haven't come to the end yet so I'm hoping for either a good end or a second series. I've heard there's a book which I have not read.

Keep making more Aussie series please! We have such talent here! Not forgetting our fellow New Zealanders awesome actors here too!!