Gold Diggers

It's quite surprising to have read the negative reviews around here from the old fuddy duddies. I'm not even sure how that's spelled, but it's what they are. Perhaps they need to pull the stick out of where it doesn't shine, or insert another one next to it, because this show is an unexpected hit with me.

Which I can tell you, is suprising, as I'm not into gold rush era times, or much of Australian made shows at all any more, but finally one's come along that's actually just having some fun and not wreaking desperately of trying to do everything for a stinking Logi award.

Sure, it's not historical either, which I've seen too many complain about in reviews. To that I say "So what"? It's a comedy series, not a documentary. These people have no problems suspending belief for a house caught in a tornado and dropped in a non-existant place where murder is fine, or a Nanny who leaves the impression where kids try to jump off high places with an umbrella and find out the hard way that fairy tales are only magical on screen, but God forbid these ladies do a comedy set in the gold rush years with a more modern pop culture dialogue for fun rather than a done to death premise.

I haven't really caught the lead actresses names yet, so they nay not be household names yet, lol, but they're chemistry together as the Brewer sisters is great.

They've come to a small town secretly being on the run as wanted criminals in Sydney for a murder they may or may not have committed.

They settle down and turn the town upside down by being themselves that either offend the locals or they absolutly love them.

Each episode theh get into some sort of mischief or have some plan to find a lover, get someone back or achieve something or other. They are hilarious together and parody the time period as feminist women in their own DILLIGAF way.

Hopefully, the fuddy duddies don't ruin a second season happening, the shows great and that's coming from someone not really into these things at all.

Also, great to see Heather Mitchel (Ashka from Spellbinder) back on telly. Her brief appearances where great, hilarious, something I haven't seen her play before.

If you like other UK comedies like Plebs, or US shows like Miracle Workers, this feels like the closest we've come to a home grown Australian version of these modern period comedies. Episodes are short and sweet and easy to chew through. It's fantastic to see some brilliant up and coming female and indigenous talent getting the airtime they deserve. It's not a deep and heavy storyline, but it does exactly what it says on the tin. Gold Diggers jumps straight in from episode 1 and sets you up for what to expect throughout. There are some great under-the-radar quick lines which had us laughing enough to require a rewind to hear what we missed. Looking forward to the rest of the season and hopefully seasons to come.

Gold Diggers is a bit of a disappointment TBH. Seemed like an interesting premise with a lot of potential and good casting (I was drawn in after seeing Danielle Walker on Taskmaster) Initially it seems as if a fair bit of money and talent has been thrown at the design, sets, effects etc., and the idea of C21st attitudes in an historical context, especially a chaotic Wild West-type one, can lend itself to hilarity and social commentary. The scripts however feel very much like a white fella is playing at being 'right on' and so the humour falls very flat and the characters don't feel right for then or now or as people really - in fact the only roles that so far has been somewhat funny and human is the creepy exploitative rich white guy and the dopey slightly less creepy copper - huuummmm interesting.

It looks like the creator/writer had other people (intersectional women) contribute to scripts but suspect he didn't really listen/learn/take lived experience on board/accept that talent - maybe a learning experience for all involved.

Think I will keep watching, it may improve, and its not baaaaddd just a little childish and cliched (reviewers here are a reflection of the triggered in the current weird culture wars and the odd obvious production plant so hopefully a less biased review will be useful to others)

Perplexed by some of these reviews. Maybe everyone reviewing is just old and likes their comedy traditional? I also enjoy Utopia and Fisk too. But they are not trying anything new. I love that Gold Diggers is such a smart contemporary conversation about feminism and race in an 1800's setting and best of all its so funny!. Series hits its stride in Ep 3 with the bushranger soft boi's. Danielle Walker and Claire Lovering are a hoot and have perfect chemistry. And some great secondary roles by Megan Wilding and Eddie Perfect. This is surprising, fresh comedy that is irreverent, unconventional and sometimes smutty but always funny!

The reviewers who are offended by this series "authenticity" really crack me up. They probably watch Sky and Fox news and think everyrhing they say is factual.

This is such a funny romp in the Goldfields and behind the slapstick etc does touch on quite a few issues of colonial racism, misogyny etc. As I said in the title it's not meant to be taken seriously.

If you like shows like Plebs, Kath and Kim or Upper middle bogan then this should be right up your alley. Life is too full of serious stuff to worry about whether or not this series is factual or not. Take it as it is and just laugh at the satirical nature of the characters and the times.