Operation Buffalo

I found the series a little inconsistent at times, but overall an enjoyable satire. James Cromwell definitely stole the show.

Entertaining dark comedy and original period drama about the A.Bomb testing at Maralinga. An authentic depiction of life in the 1950s, the hair styles, clothing, cars, advertising signs.... everything except for women using the 'F bomb'. Even men rarely used the F word in the 1950s and women NEVER used it. Why do writers and producers insist on spoiling good period dramas by using present day swearing? Some may say its to appeal to a younger audience, but why go to the meticulous effort of making everything else a true reflection of an era, then spoil it with modern day language.

While the setting of this show in post WWII Au. reminds me at times from A Place To Call Home. Mostly in the way a character of being good or bad can very from one episode to the next.

Sadly it looks as though this series is going to be unseen by many due to a combination of bad timing and some truly terrible reviews here. Personally I think it's excellent, using humour in the vein of Catch-22 to highlight the horrific, callous and ignorant ineptitude around the Maralinga atom tests. Ewen Leslie is excellent as the overwhelmed, undermined base commander, trying to keep everything under control. All the cast are good, the setting and period feel are beautiful, and it highlights a period in Australian and British history many know little about.

Finally, it's always refreshing to see an Australian drama which doesn't take itself so deadly seriously, while still managing to deliver its message.

I agree that the humorous element of this series seems misplaced and jangling but the basic story line comes through. Maybe the English and Australian key characters are caricatures but maybe not so much given this is 1956. The dispossessed Aboriginal people and presence in the region comes through, as does the unfolding horror of significant radiation exposure. I think give the series a go and some of the reviews are perhaps overly harsh. An important event in Australia's history.