User reviews

It's the perfect mixture of teenage cringe and charm. A childhood favorite and a guilty pleasure in adulthood. There's something so pure and enjoyable about this show with it's Aussie aquatic vibe and dumb but lovable characters. It's also quite funny and ironic enough that it doesn't have to be for children only.

I'll admit, it has bad writing and acting a lot of times and it makes no sense but there's certain magic to it, no pun intended. Maybe it's just childhood nostalgia or something, maybe the setting which is Australia, the accents, the silly mid 00s fashion or the fact that it's about average teen girls that happen to be mermaids but it keeps me entertained enough to keep watching. It's kinda trash but that good-entertaining type of trash and that's why it's an 8 in my book.

One of my friends recommended this show to me, and once I saw the first episode, I didn't really know what to think.

The story starts off with Cleo being the main focus, and jumping right into her life, with her friends, enemies and family.

Who are the people she is talking to? The story starts off slow, and if you are only planning on seeing the first episode, steer away right now. The characters' backgrounds and personalities are built up over the first few episodes, along with how they can cope with what is happening to them, but you have to stick with it or it won't make any sense.

Cleo is talking to this girl who is swimming, Emma. Emma is an important character int he story, as without her I am sure Cleo and Rikki would have been goners from the start.

So, we meet Rikki, who stole something off someone's boat (Note to self : watch my wallet around her), and valiantly jumps into the boat she stole the item from, which Cleo is now in. Now, my first impression of Rikki: Loud mouthed and cheeky. It turns out I wasn't that far off, but, in the end, it makes the show all the better. The 3 girls' personalities even out over the episodes.

And well, we have the main characters: Emma, the cautious one, Rikki, the one in-your-face one, and Cleo, the . . . I am not really sure how to describe her. Off the top of my head I would say 'annoying', but I think there are depths to her personality that I keep overlooking.

Then there is Lewis. Having known Cleo for who knows how long, he is seen often, as more of a comic relief character who thinks he is a scientist, and is usually, if not asking the girls for hair samples, trying to figure out what is up with them.

All in all, I would say this is a great, fun show. The plot is, in fact, thicker than I would have thought possible from watching the first episode (So stick to it!). It has a great assortment of characters (though, I do think a few skip between in and out of character), and plot twists when you least expect it (or think nothing else can go wrong for the three). So, I give this show 8/10 rating, for a great plot, good humor, and episodes that you want to see at least twice.

Though I should be embarrassed to say that at 18 I watch a television show marketed for tweens, I'm not. H2O: Just Add Water is quality entertainment.

The storyline, though not entirely lacking in plot holes, is well thought out and attention catching. I've scoured the internet on more than one occasion in the attempts of finding the next episodes and I'm mildly heartbroken about the current state of Season 3. I cannot help but remain interested in whatever might be happening in "mermaid land" The acting is certainly not that of Kate Winslet or George Clooney but as far as the small screen goes the skills of the young cast are enviable. Phoebe Tonkin (Cleo), Cariba Heine (Rikki), and Claire Holt (Emma) are the three headliners. They portray their roles as not only mermaids but best friends in a believable and touching way--and manage to convey turmoil in their relationships with each other but significant others as well. We often see Angus McLaren (Lewis) and Burgess Abernethy (Zane) throughout the series and they too are welcome characters. Both portray teens with real personality flaws and remain an area of interest.

Certainly the series isn't without its flaws but it's a cute show that will keep you entertained. I'll definitely continue watching for as long as it runs.

Fun show, with decent plots, which sadly falls apart completely in the third season.

This is the BEST new show I've seen in many years, and I've been watching television since 1966. The effects are superb, the actors are both very attractive and very talented. And the Australian accents make it all the more adorable. "MERMAID" just sounds SO much better when it rolls off the tongue of a beautiful Australian actress. You have to watch this show from the start, and give it until season 2 to really hit its stride. It gets very humorous in season 2 - truly a joy to watch. Great for all ages - trust me on this one - i know my mermaids! If this show had an advertising budget behind it it would have been a super smash. Oh and yes I agree - the music is also excellent especially the theme song NO ORDINARY GIRL. I just LOVE this show! If you only watch ONE EPISODE - be sure its SEASON 2 episode 15 IRRESISTIBLE. This is by far the funniest of all the episodes, some of the humor will be lost on you if you haven't seen the prior shows, but it can stand on its own just fine. I'm off to roll around in some ambergris and shamelessly throw myself at the cast...

This is not just a kids show. One of the biggest reasons I love this show so much is because it involves relationships, friendships, heartache in great depth yet includes no foul language or anything of that sort. The show is well developed from season to season as well as the characters. Some of the quotes are pure genius (if you watch it you will see what I mean) there are some hilarious one-liners and scenes in the show as well as some serious moments, gripping moments, and moments that have made me laugh out loud and cry. The cast is amazing and perfect for their parts - which is pretty rare. The casts acting improves as the seasons go on and the episodes always have me at the edge of my seat. Brilliant, stunning, 10/10.

Hey, i am a 13 year old girl and i absolutely love h2o just add water. Its basically about 3 girls named Cleo,Rikki and Emma. When Cleo gets stuck on a boat, Rikki helps her. Gets the boat going picks up Emma and (with the help of Rikki) Get stuck on a island. While trying to get a phone signal Cleo falls down into a cave and Rikki and Emma go down after her. After they walk for a little bit they find a little pool which if they swim underwater would lead them out to the sea. When they get into water they find that the water starts bubbling and sparkling. They don't think anything of it and swim to safety. The next day the girls realize that they have tuned into mermaids. They decide not to tell anyone because they were scared they would end up in a freak show. Later on they find that they have powers over water. Rikki can boil it, Cleo can morph it and Emma can freeze it. While tyring to keep this secret but not let in ruin the lives Cleo decides to go to a party where Zane (The bad boy) throws her in the water while everybody goes inside Lewis (Cleo friends who she likes and he likes her two)is shocked to see her turn into a mermaid he helps and finds out that Emma and Rikki are mermaids to. I have only seen 6 episodes. Because i missed it on channel ten so i am now watching it on the Disney channel. So if you are looking a the show and thinking is this a good show. i would say to you no... Its a GREAT show. And i would definitely recommend you watch it.

This show has some of the best developed character personalities I have ever seen.If you like shows aimed at pre teens to teens then you will most likely love this show.

The start of the show is kind of confusing but if you keep watching it gets better and better! The plot of the show revolves around three teenage girls that get turned into mermaids.Also how they deal with everyday situations with there new found 'abilities'.

I recommend this show to anyone that likes relationships,mermaids,and just watching one of the best shows ever!.It really is that good, and you will not regret watching it.

In an effort to steal 'Charmed's thunder, Australia went ahead and created something rather diabolically stupid, that it seems almost pointless and a waste of time. H2O Just add water is a television series about three teenage friends who become mermaids, and gradually avoid danger at every turn. Although the three friends must also avoid the greatest danger of all: Themselves. Risking exposure is not a priority that sadly seems very high for them, amongst trying to control their powers. Their powers include the different stages of the H2O cycle, like steam, Ice, and liquidized water. The threats also come from below; other mermaids who want to steal their powers, and their boyfriends... From boat chases to drama both on land and off, H2O just add water promises adventure and spectacle at every turn!

Unfortunately the promise of Mermaids, dazzling special effects, and action, seems to be the only thing on their minds. The script is a childish, contemptible, and the most obtuse, brainless script to have ever been said aloud in quite some time. The dullness of the script is not the only thing that's senselessly nonsensical, but the story-line of each episode is incredibly numb as well as it's cheesy. The dense dialog is so imprudent that the actors performing the inane screen-play look just as stupid. The acting is quite possible the most ludicrous thing about the television series. Here, our protagonists are on the verge of adulthood. Yet, everything that they do – and say – is beyond asinine. We have tweens acting like kids, teens acting like tweens and adults acting like teens. The irrationality of both the script and three girls acting like typical American aussy-speaking teenage girls, along with all of the male figures – all of them – acting like tools and nerds, is utterly absurd and pitiful.

Phoebe Tonkin (Cleo) is probably the poorest actress of the three girls, Cleo, Rikki and Emma. Whilst looking like she's just popped out of a 90's Wes Craven movie, with foul haircuts and the most plain outfits a star could wear, her acting is the most conventional and boring on the show. She's a cynically stupid, easily predictable character who just shut her damned mouth up. Cariba (Rikki) Is perhaps the least appalling actress here, keeping her character a serious and fit one, despite the inferior script. But like everybody else on this show, she does have her stupid moments – yeah, not stupid in the show. Emma (Claire Holt) is just as bad. So, good then. But eager to squeeze his way next to Phoebe as the worst actor on the show (Phoebe later redeemed herself in 'Tomorrow: When the War began) is probably Angus McLaren. He's just annoying, with his incensing presence proving worthless. But that doesn't stop him; Stupid haircuts (they get around, don't they?) feeble acting, floppy dialog, all make him just as weedy as the rest of the cast. An irritating factor is, he seems far too pre-occupied with thinking that he's all sophisticated because he plays a young scientist with the sea-maids, that he doesn't seem to focus on the real issue at hand; the vulnerability of the three mermaids that are apparently his best friends. The exposure of the mermaidians is evidently not a priority; so why even bother with the show? Burgess Abernethy is another male actor throwing away his career. At first he's an untrustworthy 'friend', who as nearly a grown man, is obsessed with mermaids. Again, another pessimistic and juvenile addition. He then proves himself worthy of friendship, and then they all go out for an under-water orgy. This is probably all you need to know. A weakening factor is, he's still a baddie.

Oh no! Now there are bad actors, badly acting, as people acting… Bad! Villains and threats are a common factor for our mermaids. Although the villains are nowhere near as menacing as they should be. We might as well kick the show whilst it's down. The theme song 'No Ordinary Girl' written by Shelley Rosenberg is as fatuous as the song, 'I'm a Barbie Girl'. Nail gargling, soul-crushing, head-aching, H2O Just Add Water is promptly the worst television show that has played on afternoon television since 'Power Rangers: Samurai'. Beyond poor.

My daughter (9) and I have watched it in the past and we're enjoying it again. For a series, this is really well put together. Yes, there are some cheesy lines, but the girls do a nice job. They can't help it that they had 2006 era phones! Just enough innocent teen romance to keep it interesting. I wish there were more than three seasons.

Another show about mermaids with some great Aussie actors before the became really famous

So, they can't touch water, right? Up to 60% of a human body is water.

Does that mean they can't touch themselves?

The acting in H2O: Just Add Water may not be top tier and some of the fashion choices reek of the 2000s, but I still hold a special place in my heart for this show.

It's innocent fun, as we watch our girls Cleo, Emma and Rikki navigate their new lives, turning into magical mermaids at the smallest contact with water. The girls' friendship with each other is strong and they are good role-models, but they often fall into mermaid issues - like time-activated sprinklers. Thankfully, they have Lewis (toe nail clipping collector and scientist) to help them when they transform.

Rikki is my favourite character because I think she has the best arc. I really like how one of the episodes explores her embarrassment in her living situation (she lives in a trailer park) and her friends being totally fine and accepting of it. She can't control her family's financial situation and it doesn't make her any worse a person. I am a bit disappointed that we only really got one episode about it, though.

Zane is also an interesting character. He's a pretentious, obnoxious rich kid who gets saved by one of the mer-girls when drowning. He becomes determined to prove the existence of mermaids, seeing himself bullied and considered weird by many others at the juice shack all the kids hang out at (the gang are determined to not be discovered, as they think they will get stuck in a lab). He ends up bonding with Rikki when stuck on a balcony at one of his dad's conferences and we see that his dad is a major influence of his disagreeable behaviour. The two start dating (which Rikki hides from her friends) until Zane is forced to make a choice. He could expose mermaids to the world (including Rikki, who he was not aware was one while dating) or help Cleo, Emma and Rikki escape and remain safe. He helps the mermaids out and we come to see that he is actually quite caring.

I find Emma okay. She's very responsible, but has had to give up her passion for swimming to hide her mermaid powers from the world. Cleo. Is. A. Mopey. Pest. She has been friends with the toe-nail clipper, Lewis, for ages and gets weirdly mopey and controlling about him at points in season 2. She's super whiny and I 100% side with her little sister in all their silly spats.

The series is funny and addictive: I binge watched it for a few days on netflix. However, the third season is a major disappointment. Emma disappears 'to Europe' and is not seen at all, with a new personality-lacking girl in her place (she takes centre stage in the show, despite being very boring). Lewis is hardly seen and Zane and Rikki's relationship just gets really weird. It takes away a lot of enjoyable elements.

I was just channel surfing and my digital box summary for the show read (almost exactly)"The story of three Australian teens that are able to transform into crime-fighting mermaids".- Crime-fighting mermaids? It sounded like a lame, animated, 7-year-old, kiddie, "Totally-Spies" copy television show. So I waited for the commercial break to be over while I was reading the show info. When the show came back, I started watching it. It was the pilot episode (I guess it was the premiere of the show on the channel). It was actually REALLY good. As soon as the episode was over, immediately went on youtube to see if anyone had posted some episodes.-I was NOT gonna wait once a week to watch the show.

I started to watch more on youtube and it was entertaining along with interesting plot lines in each episode.

This show may sound like a girly-bad acting show, but it isn't. The other great thing about the show is that the girls have almost no acting experience on television, yet their acting is believable not overdone at all.

All the special effects look totally realistic, unlike other shows for teens.

Even though I've only seen at least a total of 9 episodes (from both seasons), I strongly recommend this show! I'm not exactly a fan of adventure and fantasy, but I can't stop watching "H2O: Just Add Water"!

GO RIKKI, EMMA, AND CLEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 9/10