Fake

Can an entire show be foreshadowing? Can every single moment be foreshadowing? Can every single thing be framed entirely explicitly as foreshadowing? This show may be going for a world record or something, trying to make every single second, from the very opening shots, be Foreshadowing. Can a show that is entirely foreshadowing also feature the worst performances by two great actors, entirely miscast, with No chemistry, and the most unhappy and miserable sex scene in the history of everything?

Yes. Yes yes yes. All yes.

I have never not enjoyed Asher Keddie, before. I have always respected David Wenham, before. This is trash. I think the writer was trying to make herself look better at having Always Suspected Things, but it makes her a boring anxious character that you can't sympathise with who has No Arc. Crap.

This series about a journalist Birdie (Asher Keddie) who dates a compulsive liar and fantasist Joe (David Wenham) has a great premise but its pace is sluggish. And why all the moody focus on Birdie being devastated, anxious and morose as she reels from yet another betrayal from her deadbeat boyfriend? There needs to be more action. Maybe it would have been better to focus on the search to find fellow victims of Joe, and to find out who he really was. In any case, when Birdie does find out something bad about Joe, she tends to be sad, but then keeps going out with him! After five or six no-shows to family birthdays and weddings, and umpteen cancellations of dates, most people would call it quits, but it defies belief that she would put up with this much rejection and lying. If Birdie had fought back a little more, it would have been a better drama. The series is interesting in that it points out that on dates, we cannot predict who the other person might turn out to be. And that Birdie all too readily believes or forgives her lover's bad behaviour because she fears being alone.

Maybe also it would have helped to see a little of the boyfriend's perspective. How he rationalises being so opaque and stuffing Birdie around.

I had seen this advertised over the last few weeks & was really looking forward to it. Asher Keddie is an amazing actress who really makes you believe the characters she plays. The first episode was so slow but I persevered with it, hoping it would get better. All it did was frustrate me more with each episode How could Birdie be so blind to Joe's lies??? They got grander by the scene & the gas lighting, omg.. They're both sad, whiny characters. Wish I hadn't wasted my time watching this drivel.. On the bright side, it was a lovely surprise to see Anne Charleston on screen again. I loved her as Madge on Neighbours all those years ago.

The tension in the series is created between the characters' and the audience, rather than among the actors. Birdie's deep-seated denial makes the viewers say over and over "how can she believe him", as do her friends and family.

The more that audience members can sympathize with Bridie's denial, the more profound the tension is. However, for those of us who do not sympathize, the constant repetition of her failing can be a bit tedious. Therefor the director has taken a big chance by using this technique. This is exacerbated by the fact that the story arc builds up slowly over the initial episodes and that the crescendo is 100% predictable.

Joe played a slimy creep with a sickening voice, but having come across two of these sort of characters in my time, his role was true to form. A Player of the highest Order. However, Denham really wasn't suited to the role at all. It needed someone less creepy and more 'dashing', thus to avoid the warning bells and red flags that someone like Birdie could be excused for not seeing and acting upon, therefore making it more realistic.

Birdie, Birdie, Birdie - when does stupid become more stupid? You were painful to watch and I wanted to throw my phone away, let alone yours.

All in all, too long and too much of Birdie feeling sorry for herself. I wish I hadn't wasted my time.