Gold Diggers

If you are traditional, conservative, upper-class, a male, you will hate this show. If you benefit from current societal arrangements, you will hate this show.

I found it entertaining. It is fantasy, entirely unrealistic in every way possible -- that is what makes it entertaining. Instead of reinforcing stereotypes, like every other show, it challenges them.

The women challenge social norms about femininity, patriarchal values and stereotypes, heteronormativity, drinking, sex before marriage etc.. The women are not "proper women."

The show includes interracial lesbian relations, heterosexual relations.

The show challenges hypermasculinity. Rich men can be gay. It is acceptable for heterosexual men to be sensitive, cry. The police officer is gentle, non-violent, non-hypermasculine. Women can be intelligent and exert power over men. The show challenges norms.

The acting is excellent, casting was well done.

Some parts of this show are inspiring and uplifting, if you were not born into wealth/prosperity or as a male, while some parts will make you pleasantly uncomfortable. Some parts are realistic for that time -- e.g., The officer had to be a man and a gay man had to be married to a woman -- others are not.

Gold Diggers is a bit of a disappointment TBH. Seemed like an interesting premise with a lot of potential and good casting (I was drawn in after seeing Danielle Walker on Taskmaster) Initially it seems as if a fair bit of money and talent has been thrown at the design, sets, effects etc., and the idea of C21st attitudes in an historical context, especially a chaotic Wild West-type one, can lend itself to hilarity and social commentary. The scripts however feel very much like a white fella is playing at being 'right on' and so the humour falls very flat and the characters don't feel right for then or now or as people really - in fact the only roles that so far has been somewhat funny and human is the creepy exploitative rich white guy and the dopey slightly less creepy copper - huuummmm interesting.

It looks like the creator/writer had other people (intersectional women) contribute to scripts but suspect he didn't really listen/learn/take lived experience on board/accept that talent - maybe a learning experience for all involved.

Think I will keep watching, it may improve, and its not baaaaddd just a little childish and cliched (reviewers here are a reflection of the triggered in the current weird culture wars and the odd obvious production plant so hopefully a less biased review will be useful to others)

The reviewers who are offended by this series "authenticity" really crack me up. They probably watch Sky and Fox news and think everyrhing they say is factual.

This is such a funny romp in the Goldfields and behind the slapstick etc does touch on quite a few issues of colonial racism, misogyny etc. As I said in the title it's not meant to be taken seriously.

If you like shows like Plebs, Kath and Kim or Upper middle bogan then this should be right up your alley. Life is too full of serious stuff to worry about whether or not this series is factual or not. Take it as it is and just laugh at the satirical nature of the characters and the times.

If you like other UK comedies like Plebs, or US shows like Miracle Workers, this feels like the closest we've come to a home grown Australian version of these modern period comedies. Episodes are short and sweet and easy to chew through. It's fantastic to see some brilliant up and coming female and indigenous talent getting the airtime they deserve. It's not a deep and heavy storyline, but it does exactly what it says on the tin. Gold Diggers jumps straight in from episode 1 and sets you up for what to expect throughout. There are some great under-the-radar quick lines which had us laughing enough to require a rewind to hear what we missed. Looking forward to the rest of the season and hopefully seasons to come.

Perplexed by some of these reviews. Maybe everyone reviewing is just old and likes their comedy traditional? I also enjoy Utopia and Fisk too. But they are not trying anything new. I love that Gold Diggers is such a smart contemporary conversation about feminism and race in an 1800's setting and best of all its so funny!. Series hits its stride in Ep 3 with the bushranger soft boi's. Danielle Walker and Claire Lovering are a hoot and have perfect chemistry. And some great secondary roles by Megan Wilding and Eddie Perfect. This is surprising, fresh comedy that is irreverent, unconventional and sometimes smutty but always funny!