Total Control

I watched this to get away from all the usual formula stuff from the US and wound up staying up until 3 AM watching the entire first season. I was pleasantly surprised at how excellent it was. AND it has ROB COLLINS! It was also nice to see Shantae Barnes-Cowan again. She never fails to impress with her range and her depth. Deborah Mailman is new to me, but I look forward to seeing anything else she's in.

This series starts slow and just keeps building, like all the character. It also brings full forward the problem of the world which is prejudice in all shapes and sizes and colors. And the convoluted games played n politics.

Most importantly, to me, it was about people who care for one another and do everything in their power to make things better for them.

Yes, there are parts where you have to suspend your belief and go with the flow of the story. It's a good one. Enjoy.

Anyway Deborah Mailman shines as the central character of a Queensland senator handpicked by the PM to fill a vacancy. Having watched the first episode it has so much potential and already questions arise about the motives of the PM (Rachel Griffiths) and where this is going to head. Looking forward to the next episodes,

Yes, as the nay-sayers mention, parts of the storyline are implausible as most 'deux ex machina' are - ie they are just devices to structure a story, a plot and the characters' actions.

It is fiction after all, story-telling, and the storyline is not meant to be realistic, any more than "CleverMan" or "Secret City" were. Doesnt mean it doesnt have something important to say about Australian reality, while also making entertaining television.

As for those thinking Rachel was a Gillard-style character - I saw her more as a Julie Bishop style character, as in the 'moderate conservative' :-) I would have preferred an Amanda Vanstone style character - just for the novelty of seeing a poorly dressed female PM - but a minor point :-)

Cast, direction, script, the camera-work - all excellent.

Also as a Canberran, and as ex-PS, many elements also made me both laugh and cry. (But enough with the "cold" jokes!)

Deborah Mailman seizes our attention from the start and holds it unwaveringly in the first episode and the script writing and camera work back her all the way. The caricature of the 'Canberra bubble' carried by a cast of instantly recognisable and strong actors fitted comfortably into my prejudices while Rob Collins gave a moving performance as the Senator's brother. This series is exciting - almost enough to wipe the lingering aftertaste of "Pine Gap"!

Absolutely riveting. Congratulations to all who have contributed to this gripping series.