Other reviewers have remarked on the various quality aspects of Aussie TV show Last Man Standing and I'll not regurgitate what others have already written much better than I can. I agree with most, although there are a couple of reviewers who got little out of the show. I got plenty out of it and I was glad to catch up with it. I don't why I missed it 2005 but its relevance seems to continue into 2019.
Leading men Rodger Corser and Matt Passmore have continued to act in TV shows with success, while character actor Travis McMahon enhances anything he's associated with. Kiwi actress Miriama Smith appeared in series 3 of successful New Zealand production 800 Words, and she to is an asset to any show she appears in.
When you read the synopsis of Last Man Standing, you could be forgiven for dismissing it as purely low-level male self-delusion, but it is not that. The reason I believe it succeeds is because it is mainly written by talented Aussie Marieke Hardy (grand daughter of Frank Hardy) and she ensures that the female side of the various plot machinations is represented and balanced.
Yes there is much drinking and man cave activities, plus trying to seduce various women into bed. But the female contingent pursues its own agenda and is not merely a herd of vacuous sex objects available on demand. The journey through life is not gender one-sided and the triumphs and pitfalls are equally distributed.
Yes it is a soapie about those in their late twenties living in inner Melbourne; but it is all quality and the pace never slackens. Only one series was made, and this disappointed many. But there are times where one series of quality is better than three series where two are not up to the mark and the production as a whole suffers because of it. It is worth a look.
