Crownies

It's early days, but this series (which the ABC seems to have made a lengthy commitment to) has started fairly well. Whether you enjoy it or not will probably depend on how interesting you find competitive, habitually successful young people who approach almost everything in terms of words and arguments.

Standout performances come from Andrea Demetriades, Jeanette Cronin, Ella Scott Lynch and the fantastic Marta Dusseldorp. Aside from a few dodgy extras, all the cast are good. And with any luck as the series goes on, the writers will trust them (and the audience) with dialogue and character developments that are a bit more three-dimensional.

Crownies was a show that really deserved a better fate. Even if it was not to have gone past a second season, there were enough open story-lines at the end of season one that truly should have been allowed to play out in a second concluding season.

As for the delayed spin-off (Janet King), it's a good show, but lacks the warmth and charm of the first series. They kept all the five young actors to start off, but quickly dropped one then another, distancing the new series from the concept of the old.

What remains is of good quality, but less viewer friendly. It's unfortunate they decided to go completely away from the predecessor. Had they found a better balance between the two, retaining the best of both, it could have now overall been even that much better. As although the show now by design is very different, it's not necessarily that much better. It's more mature and serious (less soap box).. but not as much fun.

'Crownies' is an Australian legal drama mainly centering on five young solicitors who juggle difficult cases alongside their love lives and friendships.

Crownies is the first introduction to the characters that later appear in 3 seasons of 'Janet King', a spin off more along the genre of legal thriller. However I did see the shows out of order, watching Janet King first, and found that watching it this way didn't effect the story too much, but it did offer a chance to reflect on how far the characters develop from the start of their careers in Crownies, compared to as they gain experience and confidence in Janet King.

Crownies flips in tone from light hearted banter, emphasis on the character's love lives and then difficult cases that tug at the heartstrings. Despite this unevenness in tone, the characters are all intriguing and viewers will likely connect with one, if not all of them. For me, I found the scenes between a hapless Richard and Judge Walker particularly entertaining, along with the bromance between Ben and Richard and the tight friendships between Lina and Erin and Tatum and Richard.

While definitely in a different realm to its successor, Crownies does start off weak, but builds in drama and sustenance over the course of the season. Don't write this show off, it sets up things nicely for Janet King.

The more recent "Janet King" miniseries featured a compelling & suspenseful storyline. "Crownies,' also called "the early episodes of Janet King' recently started on Acorn, so we expected more of the same in hour-long episodes. Wrong!

Judging by Episode 1 - and we don't care to watch anymore - this is your show if you enjoy CONSTANT, never-ending smarmy references to sex sex sex. Tiresome and juvenile. Dil**s & sex toys, oral sex, young women fondling male crotches and dressing up like sleazy hookers for a "Christmas Party," smirking young men - the writers have the mentality of precocious, horny teenagers who think all this wink-wink onslaught of crudity is terribly clever and attention-grabbing. Obviously to some people it is, but not my cup of tea. I would think Marta Dusseldorp would've been embarrassed to be involved with such silliness.

Oh my lord, someone get me a bucket, I have watched whirlwind TV episodes before, but nothing like this, jeez!! Five minutes in I was asking why I was watching the show, then at 8 minutes it had a reprieve with a promising storyline, only for that to be shelved so it could explore people and characters, why?!? This has an 11 episode run, why show me in 30 minutes every character (of which there are many for a small show) without any just cause or reason, except because it wants to.

Pilot episodes should be succinct, they should be small and if an appearance is necessary, it should be seconds not minutes (unless a lead of course) with impact, if it can wait till a later episode, then even better. They should punch there weight, it should be gripping and to the point, it should have a promising storyline, with a let down, then a recovery....Textbook script!! This does none of that, it settles in the first 10 minutes on exploring what the place is and what they do, major error!! I know what a lawyers office does, I have seen many shows and even been in a few!! Not shows, but Lawyer offices!! This is just wrong, I hate to slate Australians, but of all the TV shows I have seen recently, this is typical, there is no decent storyline, it feels like they have taken a storyline, then added there own story around it, very disappointing and not a show I would watch to the end or recommend.

Avoid this show and see it done properly, watch 'suits', great acting, good comedy and strong scripts, you could even say textbook!! If your looking for more comedy, try 'The Defenders'!