Disclaimer: I would give this show a 8.5 or 9/10 but as I can see there is already some review bombing starting (including from people overseas who can't even watch the show legally)... It's getting a 10! This is exactly the kind of Australian content I want to see! A rare show clearly made by women for women but also just a damn fine Australian drama.
It has messy, complicated female characters who are all distinct, interesting to follow and equal parts deeply flawed and sympathetic. I didn't find any of them frustrating to follow in the episodes where they were the focus (each of the main three characters has two episodes focussed on them- as indicated by the titles of the episodes). I also found the relationship/friendship between the three women believably fractured and loaded for what they've been through, filled with subtext, secrets, and differing perspectives. Yet, at the core you can see the deep bond between the three.
It also has a complex and relevant story navigating trauma, friendship, family, memory, justice etc. I feel like just about every woman (and probably a lot of men too) can relate to the major traumatic event of the series and I generally like how it's handled. The show never feels like it is exploiting, glorifying or making a spectacle out of the trauma, and the mystery of what happened is less important than its fallout. It also deals with the justice system, and, once again, it is both infuriating and true to what goes on. Something I also love is how natural most of the dialogue is. The characters sound really unashamedly Australian in how they speak.
It also has a really beautiful Australian setting. It's so great seeing more stunning Australian areas getting featured in shows. Especially regional coastal areas of Australia. Australian film/TV has a big issue with always setting shows/films either in very rural Australian towns (usually drought-stricken, barren) or pockets of very white, coastal city suburbia. Regional coastal Australia especially has been woefully neglected and it's about time that changed.
Then there's the acting, which is top tier. The acting from the leads especially is incredible! It's so good! The three are powerhouses together, and there is never a sense of them trying to figure out the roles. They nail it from the start. All the emotional moments of the show hit so well. It's very satisfying to watch.
And a special kudos to Jodie Whittaker, who manages to pull off one of the best Australian accents out there, and still somehow give an amazing, understated and nuanced performance. Also as an Australian I feel so honoured that Jodie Whittaker picked an Australian show for her first role out of Doctor Who and was apparently willing to cut her maternity leave short and relocate here on the other side of the planet for months to film. That's commitment! Especially as she clearly put the hard yards into her Australian accent. She can come back here and play another Australian any time she likes! Seriously! She's an honorary Australian in my eyes and I'm sure many other Australians for that accent alone.
As for flaws, there are a few things but nothing that major. Some might understandably complain the pacing is slow at points, but I honestly didn't mind because I quite like a slow burn, and this kind of story flourishes in the character drama. I suppose that's personal preference. There were a few minor side characters or plotlines I wasn't as keen on, and a few plotlines/ plot points that felt like they weren't fully resolved or were dropped too quickly or conveniently, but nothing that left me feeling very dissatisfied. There was the rare line of dialogue that was a bit too obvious, and a few shots of the past felt a bit too on-the-nose whimsical. But overall I really enjoyed this miniseries and its attributes far outweighed its flaws! Definitely plan on rewatching it soon and I hope to see more Australian shows like it coming out! I love how many great Australian shows are coming out this year!
