User reviews

Secret City is the kind of drama that the has the feel of the old school House of Cards but with a modern veneer. Set predominantly in the capital of Canberra, among rising tensions between the Australian and Chinese Governments a determined and stubborn reporter, Harriet Dunkley searches for the truth when a friend is murdered. In the process she stumbles on a complex plot involving the highest level of her own Government and with multiple factions involved.

Secret City is a well thought out complex drama, the type of which can be all too rare on television. With a stellar cast of some of Australia's finest actors its a superb show with first rate performances, characterisation and script writing. The legendary Jacki Weaver brings her appropriate feisty talents to a scheming senator with her fingers in more than one pie up while Underbelly veteran Dan Wyllie plays the politician trying to do the one thing while people come at him from all sides. The supporting cast are more fun to watch than the lead, played by Anna Tov. (Stubborn journo's not exactly being characters we haven't seen a dozen times before) The plot twists and turns and covers more than one contemporary issue which makes it all the more relevant today. Its got high production values and the core story travels well overseas making it have a far greater international appeal than many other series from down under. For those who like their political dramas, what it lacks in the dark comical tones of the spacey version of House of Cards, it more than makes up for with high wound tension and three dimensional characters, for the most part at least. Recommended.

My Review- Secret City 8:10

Right from beginning the impressive title credits , which I think not by accident reminded me of House of Cards I was hooked . The camera sweeps over our National Capital Canberra to a suspenseful dramatic soundtrack by composer David Bridie and gives the impression that there's a Political swamp needing to be drained under its impressive monuments.

Watching Anna Torv as Ace Canberra news reporter and main star Harriet Dunkley I was struck by her resemblance and style ,so similar to Cate Blanchette , Anna Torv owns this role and continues to impress in her role as investigative journalist Harriet Dunkley.

Jackie Weaver is outstanding as usual in the role of Catriona Bailey the Attorney General and powerbroker in a role spookily reminiscent of a certain ex Policeman and now one of the most powerful ministers this country has ever known. The thrilling action and intrigue in Secret City can hold its own worldwide and is a worthy match for similar overseas series like House of Cards .

Series 2 Under the Eagle I've just started to watch on Foxtel and although under new direction seems to keep up the standard so far.

Amusingly it begins with a brand new charismatic Prime Minister Ewan Garrity 2 years later replacing Alan Dale as Prime Minister Martin Toohey in Series One .

Logie Award winning actor Don Hany (Ali's Wedding, Tangle) plays new Australian Prime Minister Ewan Garrity. This seemed very appropriate as Australia has had so many Prime Ministers recently and this series also has a Jacque Lambi inspired character in Danielle Cormack as Karen Koutoufides, Independent MP for Wakefield, South Australia.

This is a really impressive series

I'm an American who resides in Arizona, but have found such a connection to the excellent acting and portrayals that Australian and British programming provides. This program is no exception. The characters are indeed excellent and the actors are so believable against the backdrop of a properly paced thriller, that is not engulfed in over the top special effects.

I'll be honest, I went into this not expecting much. No scratch that, I was expecting to be disappointed, another thinly veiled attempt at recreating a style of show best left to others. I was wrong, oh so wrong. Secret City is a nuanced, understated and never clichéd blend of political intrigue and personal demons with a satisfyingly Australian flavour. It eschews the over the top melodramatic candy that would've been so easy to stuff down the throats of viewers in an attempt to keep them satiated in favour of a slower, more tantalising meal built layer upon layer leaving the viewer oh so much more satisfied by the end.

It's not just the political intrigue that keeps you on the hook, refreshingly up to date and relevant, mirroring the current position Australia finds itself, historically aligned with the U.S. whilst looking to China to boost trade and economic activity. But the complete multi-faceted nature of the characters. Their motivations are understandable and sympathetic and oftentimes it's their less likable qualities that push and motivate them into traditional protagonist actions.

The portrayal of intelligence gathering and cyber-security is spot on, Secret City even highlights the ability of agencies to use mobile phones as listening and tracking devices even while they're off, an idea that has yet to permeate the public consciousness despite the overwhelming evidence that this is happening in our own world. But herein lies the strength of Secret City, it's not fiction, it's real. Most of what it portrays is not far off from what is happening within the underbelly of Canberra right here and now. Against this backdrop of reality, it sets up an engaging and thoughtful story with a slew of disconcertingly empathetic characters.

Just shut up and watch it already.

Enjoyable binge watch. BUT is Canberra totally uninhabited ? It is absolutely totally devoid of people in outside and many internal shots. Underground car parks - deserted, promenade runs - deserted, steps of public buildings - deserted, public gardens - deserted, local neighbourhood housing - deserted, walkways within public buildings - deserted. Uncannily 'spooky'.

I know other reviewers have slated the pace and some of the quirky sub-plots but I really enjoyed this. If not for Netflix, I would never have heard of it. I'm a Brit but there were so many recognisable Australian faces. Great actors. You don't have to overthink it. Yes, it is another Government conspiracy plot but just go with the flow. If it's not your bag, it doesn't mean that it was badly made. Just take it off and watch something else. Some of us actually liked it. I hope Season 2 will be just as good, if not, better.

The first season of this espionage based thriller was excellent,but the 2nd season was not as good.

Nevertheless a very good series to watch.

If you expect political intrigue as in "House of Cards", treason, espionage, as in "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy", dark hints on the geopolitical evolution of the world (USA, China, and the rest of the world), then this is the show to watch. Ah, and a it has the realism that is somewhat lacking (lately) in "Homeland". Also, it has some intellectual references, as well, which is rarely seen in the nowadays cinema (be it TV, even!). A good cast. Anna Torv is convincing, and her complex character reminds me of Claire Dane's "Carrie Mathison". Even smaller roles are played wonderfully by each of the actors.

As it happens, I've recently seen some new Australian movies and now, this show. And all I can say is: Bravo!. I am grateful to all the Australian cinema.

I just hope the show will continue with (at least) one more season. We, the public, deserve it!

This is a pretty good spy thriller and Anna Torv is excellent in it. I do wish they had cast a transgendered woman as the transgendered character and not made her story quite so cliched. I know this is a few years old so the memo about Trans casting hadn't arrived down under, but someone like Jamie Clayton would have nailed the character of Kim.

Still, I will probably watch the second season on the strength of Anna Torv's work here. It's also fun as an American to watch a spy thriller that centers around Austrailia and China rather than the UK or Russia and the US.

This is the best Australian TV show I have ever watched. The lies and Corruption by those who govern us. One could see this being based on a true story, or at least a story that is no doubt commonplace throughout the world we live in. Magnificently written, well acted by a great cast. Very important to watch carefully to follow and understand the plot, with twists and turns at every unexpected corner. The people aren't the people you think they are, well, most of them and is that not the place in the real world of politics. It reminds me of America or at least what goes on over there from what I have read. Whilst some may consider it a bit slow I would say to them "all good things take time". My hope is that the show continues for many years. The person, who wrote this has more of an understanding of the real world than most so I expect more and more twists and turns to come in the second series. This is a show I could watch everyday.

The series takes a bit from House of Cards and a bit from John Le Carre and overall is interesting. At times though the plot jumps to keep the story moving along, the main character Harriet keeps having these moments of clarity or understanding a little too often, also at times too many bad guys, if everyone was this corrupt and secretive the country would cease operating at a very basic level. You start to assume everyone is a liar apart from Harriet and they are, it is a bit predictable, but fun.

As most of the action seemed to involve cell phones, SIM cards and computers, this series should have been called Cell CIty. I found the plot very confusing and was not really sure who was who by the end reveal. I also found the inclusion of the ex husband who had turned into a woman very odd. There was simply no reason for the transgender character who was so obviously a man that I found him distracting.

I lived and worked for the Commonwealth Government in Canberra for many years, which is why I watched the series, but the Canberra I knew was nothing like the one shown in the series. Either the times have changed greatly or I was totally blind. As for the main character played by Anna Torv, she wrecked the life of everyone she came in contact with and left a trail of destruction behind her I felt like saying 'run, run - get away fast' whenever she asked someone to do something illegal.

Overall, I found the technological thriller aspect with the constant use of cell phones and computers rather annoying, and they sure got through a lot of cell phones dunking them in the lake, bathtub, sink, toilet or anywhere handy!

This series has wonderful acting, great locations, and a deliciously complicated script that may put off some people. What may be best about the series is that you can never tell when a major character is going to be bumped off, or who did it. That's so unusual on TV (or in films) that a writer and cast brave enough to do this has to be saluted. It's also great that they were able to come up with two very different scripts for the two seasons. They both involve the reporter as the central character and there are a few hold-overs, but the scripts are very different making the show even more entertaining. I can only hope they have a third season. This type of quality TV is very rare.

Action packed thriller about a government that operates outside the law. Well made and entertaining, but at the same time, very incredible.

If this had been true, the story would make headlines all over the world!

Just binge-watched Season 1 in 2018. Was a little slow to start but much plausible manipulation and we are currently facing an Australian bipartisan attempt to put the through legislation that's as scary as anything in this thriller.

Set in Canberra and set up as a House of Cards style conspiracy thriller, this jogs along nicely and takes some brave twists and turns with both geo-politics and casting a trans character. Anna Torv is a real star as journalist Harriet Dunkley, but some of the politicos are right out of The Thick of It with some very strange motivations of characters which seem a bit fanciful. But frankly I can believe anything these days.

I normally am not a big fan of the "Deep State Conspiracy" genre. Usually they are cartoonish, unlikely, and too clever by half. But I've seen two of these now, both Australian, "The Code" and this remarkable achievement, "Secret City".

It runs for two seasons, at least so far, with each season being a complete story arc on its own, but featuring many of the same characters. And what characters! You will never doubt the reality of these people: None are cartoons, all are complicated people playing for huge stakes, some incredibly brave, some horribly venal, all driven by a variety of personal and professional realities that serve to limit their choices, often fatally.

There are no Snidely Whiplashes or Dudley Do-Rights. Their motivations are complex and usually hidden, but they are driven to make decisions where they may not have any good options, no morally obvious route. Appropriately for the genre, you spend each season trying to figure out whom you can trust and whom you should hate. And you'll often be wrong.

Each season moves like bullet train, so strap in. You will never find your attention flagging. When you come out at the other end, you will appreciate that you finally have a firm grasp of just what the hell is going on. There are no loose ends, but then, there are no ends at all. Every victory is really a holding action until another crew of villains and heroes come along and pick up the pieces as they try to mold events to further their agendas.

If this all sounds vague, that's on purpose. There is so much going on in each episode that it's impossible to summarize. Murders, assassinations, plots, coups, a little appropriate non-gratuitous sex, it's all there. You won't be bored. The acting is consistently fantastic, the actors perfectly cast, the direction fast-paced but clear.

It's simply the best of this genre I've seen, and I'll bet you will agree. It's the closest thing to perfection you've seen in a long time.

Spies, political intrigue and internacional conspracy are blended to make a gripping puzzle. The tension increases slowly allowing the viewer to get engaged gradually. Interest rises in line to advacement into later episodes. It does not drag on. It has action scenes and very good acting. I liked the second season better than the first. Nice imagery. Filmed in Caberra, Australia

Secret City is everything that a great suspense thriller should be, and the scariest part is that something similar could happen for real, and maybe has.

This show ticks all the boxes in terms of acting, plot, writing, directing, etc etc etc. It only loses a point because of the hacker who hacks into something that can't be hacked. Why do film makers keep using that outdated trope? (Rant over)

This show is well worth watching.

Not to give away anything plot wise, but this is an above average political "Deep State" type thriller. Anna Torv of the U.S. TV Show Fringe (2008) stars as a reporter who uncovers a mass conspiracy within The Australian Government. There are the well written usual twist and turns in the plot, and you find yourself wanting for the next episode.

You won't be wasting your time here. Cheers

The script is not tight enough. The dialogues can be slow and boring sometimes. Everything else seems fine, until an ambassador's wife claimed that China is unlike US can handle being viewed as bad. That gave a chuckle, whether it's the true belief of whoever wrote it or it meant to be sarcasm. All governments of any nation are equally with hidden agendas and secrets, with fear of being viewed in its true colour. The logic is slow but getting there, hopefully. The settings are not as smooth and natural, but definitely a good new beginning for Australian TV. Worth a 7 for still room for improvements. Too bad Daron Herriman's role is short-lived. His performance was the best.

SPOILER: It goes in fits and starts. The story revs up, zooms forward . . . goes nowhere . . . hangs . . .

She's rowing in the middle of a lake, is shot at, swims to shore, then sits there, out in the open breathing hard, like recovering from the strenuous swim is her only problem.

She comes into her apartment, sees blood on the wall, grabs a trophy, crouch-walks to the bathroom and finds a bloody guy in her tub.

'Are you okay?' she says.

He nods.

What!

A passionate spontaneous sex scene between her and the gay guy. ExCUSE me? Wha a a . . . ?

She meets 'the person' in the middle of nowhere to reveal that she knows he's the killer. Then runs, like it's a surprise he's gonna try to kill her.

The writing is just stupid.

So why have I watched the whole thing?

Dunno. I like Australian film. Sigh.

Well, I did fast-forward almost all of the last two episodes and I won't be watching a Season 2 if there is one.

As of this writing there's only one other negative review and that's just not right.

So, you're welcome.

Anna Torv was excellent throughout I really enjoyed the plot 👍