Rescue Special Ops (2009–2011) User Reviews

High energy great series

[selah-90783 · 8/10 · 23 July 2019]

I live in USA so I had never seen this series. I am suffering from a. Chronic illness so unfortunately TV is my only vice since I'm pretty much house bound now. Anyway I've watched all USA shows and fell in love with British but have stumbled upon some great Aussie or New Zealand shows that most Americans don't know. This is one of those! Unfortunately I really had to search to even find it season 1 is on Prime but season 2,3 are not on any streaming service when doing a search on Roku I finally kept at it and found season 2,3 available on you tube the quality of picture isn't as good but better than no one else picking up streaming rights. It's a great show another great one is Rush, I found it streaming free on Tubi.

Great Show....for a while

[clww-97067 · 6/10 · 30 June 2020]

This started out such a great show!! Great characters, great situations, love the theme song which absolutely fits the show. Season 1 and Season 2 kept you wanting more. Unfortunately, by the end of the 2nd season, the producers decided to start focusing mainly on the characters, making them too impulsive, reckless, and so caught up in their personal lives they could barely function. Instead of keeping the reality of life front and center, troubled souls got slaps on the wrists, bar invites, and more exciting plots to show their foolish need for another adrenaline rush. The 3rd and last season almost abandoned the whole premise of the show -- Rescue. Almost every episode was predictable and flat. I wish I hadn't wanted it to end, because it started out So Well, but by Episode 22, I was done.

Possible error

[jha38159 · 7/10 · 1 November 2009]

This is a great show and series one has been consistently interesting (apart from all the officers ignoring correct protocols for emergency service personnel). Are Rescue Special Ops a branch of the police or the Ambulance service or who exactly? As I said great show but ... in the last episode, when a pedestrian is knocked down by a car the Rescue officers assess him and find that he has two broken wrists. Dean then wants to check the patient's level of consciousness so he says to him, 'Mate, squeeze my hands'. With two broken wrists?? Okay, maybe I'm just being picky. I do hope that the show has been recommissioned for next year. Despite all my criticisms above, I really did enjoy it!

Excellent Aussie TV program in need of syndication/export

[edindenco · 9/10 · 22 March 2011]

Too bad this won't happen until possibly 2012. The first two seasons production was only 13 episodes each. Season 3 was just announced and will yield 22 episodes. With 48 in the can maybe we'll see this in the U.S and U.K. Is shown on Channel 9 Australia. You can watch some episodes on You Tube though. It's worth watching even with the splitting of each episodes into 5 or 6 parts as is the custom with You Tube. This show is filmed in, and around Sydney. The program is produced by Southern Star Entertainment with the assistance of Screen Australia and the New South Wales Government. The high energy action drama series focuses on a team of experienced professional paramedics who specialize in unique rescue operations. The only recognizable one of the cast of stars to U.S. and U.K. viewers would be Gigi Edgely, (Chiana) of Farscape fame. Give it a go, you'll like the wonderful photography of outdoor down under.

Outstanding Show

[rmurts · 9/10 · 10 January 2020]

Found this on Amazon Prime and decided to give it a shot. I was quickly impressed with the authenticity of the rescue methods and realism, even though the show is 10 years old. The characters are believable but with just enough drama to keep things interesting and fluid. I enjoyed having Sydney and surrounding areas literally brought into my living room as many of the locations were real, including areas where they referenced lat/longs - Google Maps is great for that! I do regret this only lasted for three seasons and can't find out why it ended so soon.

An action packed drama

[aussiekiwitvlover · 7/10 · 20 July 2023]

'Rescue Special Ops' is an Australian drama series, that centers around a Sydney based Special Operations rescue unit who are trained paramedics, abseil off buildings and consistently find themselves in high risk situations to help save their patients.

The team features a core unit of characters throughout the duration of the series. Dean Gallagher is the unit team leader and his team consists of his brother Chase, love interest Lara and friends Heidi and Jordan. Peter Phelps' character Vince and Libby Tanner's Michelle are in management positions and often assist from the office, however they sometimes also visit the site of the emergencies. Over the course of the series a few other characters also join the group.

Rescue is relatively fast paced with each episode centering on a different location and story often involving secrets that have lead to the accidents. The stunt work is well done and the special effects are relatively believable. However some viewers will find frustration at some situations that seem a little too neat, or resolved 'just in time'. I also found that the characters were a bit undeveloped and inconsistent and throughout the course of the three seasons I felt like I didn't learn that much about who they really were.

Overall, Rescue is an enjoyable and at times edge of your seat watch. It has encouraged me to watch more shows of a similar genre. Throughout the action there are moments of friendship, romance and multiple locations showcasing the beauty of New South Wales. An interesting watch.

So well done. I LOVE IT

[robinnation1 · 10/10 · 24 July 2019]

I love the acting the scenery filming is awesome I just found this show and I'm so excited at looks like it's well worth my time and I read there going to be some other seasons I will be watching all of them this is an excellent show

Fun and a Little Addictive

[sonrisaparatu · 7/10 · 11 June 2022]

Just finished the 3 seasons and have to say, what a major let down! Sheesh! The writing in the 3rd season seemed to be scattered, like they were searching for storyline. I can see why the series ended, as there is only so much repetition that can happen; not enough creativity. Too many ridiculous scenes, not enough depth to this series. HOWEVER, as a romantic, I was hoping to see closure with Dean & Lara! This had potential to be better.

Something different for a change - in a good way

[Konstanze-allsopp · 10/10 · 17 May 2016]

This as a really decent (sadly a bit short with only 13 episodes for each season in 1 and 2) and different show, particularly series 1 - and with the exception of the slightly irritating constant battle between the Government-run Rescue Special Ops and the private cowboys Life Blood that dominates series 2 and 3. Instead of the constant and boring American crime series filled mainly by endlessly repetitive CSU science, super-modern crime fighting instruments you never actually get to see in your average police station anywhere in the world, and an overexposure with serial killers that has got to the point of over'kill', this is about real people and because Rescue Special Ops covers all rescue work we get a multitude of what happens in the modern crime fighting, medical rescue and general world saving world plus the different and beautiful Australian countryside of New South Wales.

But I have one question: did the Aussies cut the show after three seasons? Is that why Life Blood and Rescue Special Ops fright each other constantly for the best part of the second and third season and we get a big showdown in episode 11 of series 3 that more or less brings Life Blood down? Was that all? There's no information on the individual episodes unlike the ueber-details on all the American rubbish that gets churned out in Yankee-land on a daily basis. Could any Ozzie let us know whether I've seen the last 22nd episode in series 3 of this great show?

Good find on Prime

[Dot-teeK · 9/10 · 15 August 2020]

Enjoyed watching the show. All 3 seasons were easy to watch and entertaining. If your someone who picks out unbelievable acts in first responder shows then don't watch but if your someone who respects the shows for what they try to honor and enjoy the character interaction, then this show is for you. Most of the characters are easy to like and though some of the stories are frustrating, the acting is good and overall the series is a good one. If this an example of Australian TV, I will look for more to watch.

Ridiculous Storylines

[aussiewombats-28252 · 2/10 · 3 April 2020]

I'm not sure what other people are seeing in this show, the acting is passable, but the storylines are just ridiculous. This 'team' just goes off on a tangent in every episode and it's gotten worse with each season. Nobody follows instructions, they just swan off from whatever rescue they're supposed to be working. The chain of command is hopeless, and in all honesty probably eighty percent of the people they're rescuing are, quite frankly, too stupid to live. A total waste of time.

Love this show!!

[donwichman-21094 · 10/10 · 29 June 2020]

I am almost done with season 3 and I am wishing there were 3 more seasons. and ":Get a little dirty" is the best TV theme song ever!!!

Great wish there was a other season

[scoots-68461 · 10/10 · 22 June 2020]

I just got done binge watching all 3 season. The only thing I did not like was the end of the last episode. Left WAY too many questions. This show and even the music was GREAT. Wish they had made MANY more seasons.

Over the line.

[valstone52 · 8/10 · 7 December 2020]

Lara is very childish, over steps the rules and puts herself and others at risk. She likes Dean in his bu way too much, engaged to Hamish and marries him, but still flirts with others. None of these people act professional. Even the boss having sex on her desk.

Fantastic

[valstone52 · 8/10 · 24 October 2020]

Love the series only complaint is, Dean over steps the line sleeping with victims, and Lara is just a pain in the ass. Seems like she has a crush on Dean, and is too into his private life. She takes unnecessary risks and doesn't listen well to orders.

Loved this series why did it end

[b-novak-617-66094 · 8/10 · 19 September 2022]

I loved this show only sad about the ending you wait and wait till the two get together and they never really do. It should not have been cancelled it was original and life crisis. I don't care when characters sleep around so much it kind of cheapens the show. Again it should not have been cancelled there are not enough strong series like this out there. The rescues were written so well and it kept you interested, the cast was amazing that's what makes it sad they cut it. I hate when networks do this, there was lots more stories to add to this, feels like you are left short. We need series/movies like this except for stupid sex.

ok for a while

[jimvandemoter-50236 · 4/10 · 2 January 2021]

Season one was good, season 2 started off where season 1 ended but started to slip, season 3 became a total slop opera. Big disappointment. There's a lot of Aussie shows that are good but this one lost me.

Outstanding Aussie Action Show

[shannonmoore-48352 · 10/10 · 1 January 2024]

I'm from the US and think the best part of streaming tv is the international shows, particularly Australian ones, I would never had a chance to watch. The cast is great and the cinematography really highlights the beauty of Australia. The chemistry between the characters made their bonds very believable as a team and there was pretty good romantic chemistry amongst several couples as well (no spoilers). Libby Tanner is a particular favorite of mine ever since I saw her in All Saints.

I'm sorry it was only three seasons but I'll be looking for this cast in whatever I binge next. I highly recommend this show if you like action!

Ok- middle of the road- till it gots worse. boring

[braquecubism · 2/10 · 17 September 2019]

Boring, unwatchable dialogue. Pretty routine procedural "rescue" EMT- emergency- like many USA Brit shows. BUT it really is awful. this is more about personalities than any action. As to the leads, personalities are just a little too cutesy- the guy who seems the lead male, on screen the most, not alpha enough for my tastes- I am supposed to be engaged, right. seething undertone of sexual tension, unfulfilled, a bit cliché. the Aussie accents- or is the voices, begin to grate on me. I hate the theme opening song(s). Situations, routine, but fit the format. If you are 10, or want something to distract you while you do other things. It actually gets worse. how can it be this annoying.

Drivel

[Harryh00 · 2/10 · 28 October 2021]

I thought Police Rescue was average but entertaining so I thought I'd give this a go. Awful! Reasonable acting and cast, amateur scripting. No attempt at authenticity.

When I watched Dean leap arrive at a cliff and abseil in full gear literally seconds later I knew this was a history-making series - but not in a good way.

Cameo by Gary Sweet was cool.

I watch it in bed to get to sleep.

Unrealistic Rescue Situations

[Max_Lucas · 4/10 · 30 July 2020]

I actually don't mind the acting and the broader story. But what just floors me is at the beginning of every show is a situation that is presented to give way to a rescue. They're just plain stupid scenarios. And then compounded worse by another unrealistic predicament.

Not about reality.

[bobefx · 1/10 · 2 April 2024]

This show is about who is sleeping with who this episode. The situations they are involved in are not realistic and the acting is second rate. I don't believe the characters and their characters. It's just bad everything. There's no chemistry between the characters. The scripts are predictable and don't make sense most of the time. Why is upper management always trying to screw with the workers even when they are new to the job. Everyone is out to out do or destroy other members of the team. This show is more about the sex lives of the characters then the rescuers they are supposed to be depicting. Not really in any way..