Safe Home

Streaming has exposed international television series on an even playing field, and Australia can certainly hold its own against the best in the world. This series is the best I've seen. Wow.... Brilliantly played story, yet painful to digest the truth it represents. This is frighteningly real, yet presented so peacefully - like a perfect picture of a horrible event. Melbourne is well presented as a local would experience it - barely a token cafe or tram to be seen (thankfully), but some genuine inner north urban represented. All involved in this production should be immensely proud of the beautifully respectful story told of such an awful subject - a must see.

Wow. There's a lot to say about how this topic of discussion can effect so many lives and who it effects. We think of family violence as name calling or a playful punch on the arm but it is so much more then that.

I watched all 4 episodes and I congratulate the cast and crew who brought this to life it could not have been easy.

Aisha Dee as Phoebe in a world she doesn't understand and trying to make a journo understand what is going on, her depth and emotion to this cannot be understated, she played this to perfection.

The names that were attached to this and when I saw them on screen was like "Oh hey I know them from this light hearted role." that was my first thought with Diana played by Janet Andrewartha from Neighbours, what a return to the screen for her, such a hard role to play someone being controlled by this she played it perfectly.

The intertwining stories and subject matter make it a hard watch but it needs to be watched we can no longer be quiet about Family violence when it out there and not going away.

There is nothing new in this show. ALL of these scenarios have already happened, in our communities, around Australia.

Be warned, it is confronting. Within the early scenes. If you have experienced violence, be prepared. It is very spare in its depictions of physical violence, and is not gratuitous, but it does not need to be. The threat of violence is just as terrifying. And the trauma and psychological impacts are evident in many of the characters

I can't speak to whether the Community Legal Service is realistically represented. But for the different versions of family violence, this is, to my experience, authentic. The situations (plot) and character representations (acting) are entirely convincing.

The boiling frog metaphor, whilst only alluded to in this show, is an accurate one. It creeps up on you, whilst at the same time, you rationalise the situation, and the perpetrator's behaviour. I suspect, the more 'clever' you are, the more convincing your rationalisations, to yourself as much as others. The underlying plotline of the 'murder' alluded to in the 1st episode, attempts to depict to the viewer, how we can ALL be taken in. "It can be anyone". I think it is also a challenging thought project, to question yourself, about any assumptions you may have made, before the denouement in the final episode.

Yes this is a representation of, predominantly, women as victims. But that is factually accurate. Family violence towards women and consequently, children, is an epidemic in Australia. The institutions we have; Courts/Police/Services, have been identified as part of the problem - as is depicted in this show.

For those of you who question its veracity, who propose it 'needs more irony', who think it is 'biased against men', consider your own internalised biases and your capacity for compassion.

My hope is that at some point in my lifetime, we have moved on from; desperately needing to represent these stories. To; actually seeing solutions and change within our culture. A time when shows like this become painfully outdated.

I admit I had to steel myself to watch Safe Home, and initially did so mainly because I thought it was such a 'worthy' project. However, while saying Safe Home is 'enjoyable' sounds too flippant, this show is definitely not an 'eat your greens' viewing experience. Of course, it deals with a very confronting topic, but does so sensitively, and delivers its message(s) via well-constructed-thriller and engrossing-workplace-drama plots. In short, Safe Home is absolutely gripping, and really well acted and well written. All the cast are great, and Aisha Dee is superb in the lead. Congratulations to all involved!

As a male viewer, I was initially hesitant and almost switched off during the first 15 minutes of the opening episode due to the subject matter. However, the exceptional production values, brilliant script, skilled direction, and compelling acting kept me on board, and I'm grateful that they did. This series masterfully builds the drama through its clever use of time cuts. It keeps the audience guessing throughout.

The impressive production values and overall quality of the show are a testament to the talent involved. Kudos to series creator Anna Barnes. I'm looking forward to her next endeavour.

Highly recommended.