Cleverman (2016–2017) User Reviews

Promising

[Harun_Karali · 6/10 · 2 June 2016]

The story is about Hairies whom are people with supernatural gifts, They are mistreated and cast out of society for there differences. I like the idea that is at work here, Although it is science fiction, I can't help but wonder if there is a hidden message. Unfortuntly we, as a society, do tend to cast out people that are a bit different. Then again, maybe I'm reading too much into it. What peaked my interest was Koen West's character who is on neutral grounds, however I have feeling that might change in the near future as he gains the ability to regenerate. He might see first hand what the government is capable of when your on the wrong side of the fence.

Refreshingly different fantasy drama with a social conscience

[s3276169 · 7/10 · 19 June 2016]

What to say about Cleverman? Its not exactly an entirely new concept but what it does, it does well.

Certainly its a brave and very relevant series, given the sometimes awful treatment of Aboriginal communities, at the hands of Federal and State authorities, in Australia. It can also, in one sense, be viewed as a unapologetic commentary on the plight of asylum seekers, in Australia's contentious detention centers.

Looking beyond these factors how does Cleverman stack up as entertainment? Its a thoughtful series and its pacing, may not hook hardcore sword and sandals fantasy fans. Indeed, its fair to say this series is probably going to appeal most to viewers who enjoy slow burn fantasy dramas, where things take time to develop and secrets are revealed by degree.

The acting is of a mostly good, if not exceptional, standard too. There are some well known Aussie actors who have taken up roles in this series, who sit alongside fresh faces I have not come across before.

In summary, whilst Cleverman is not for me (I'm more of a sci fi/futurist buff) I can see it appealing, in particular, to fans of the fantasy genre. Especially those looking for a refreshingly different departure from your standard US/UK fare. Seven out of ten from me.

This program is quite watchable, not brilliant or rubbish

[jonnithomas · 6/10 · 21 June 2016]

I'm amazed at how divisive this program is with some people saying it's absolute rubbish and some singing its praise.

The truth is in the middle. It's not war and peace or any sort of deep moral analysis of a racist society. it's simply a story to entertain, you know, a TV series.

so if you watch it with an open mind you could well enjoy it. the characters aren't 3d with solid personalities but neither are they in Home and Away or Neighbours.

remember tho it is science fiction which isn't everyone's cup of tea but if you accept a little mythology it's really not bad.

An Interesting Plot - Racists will hate it

[luisuxuk · 7/10 · 11 July 2017]

One shouldn't be surprised with the low ratings and scathing reviews coming from the wading, whining crowd of neanderthals with a TV who came across this series hoping that Australia kept quiet about the mistakes of past and present and was portrayed as the racial democracy it is still struggling to be.

The ignorant will describe things that don't conform to their bigoted view of the world (as usual confusing fiction with documentary) as political correctness, liberal propaganda, leftist historical revisionism and whatever pair of words these real-life far-right sub-humans can support in their pea- sized brains when faced with a dystopian sci-fi happening right in their backyard.

I believe the strength of this series lies in its ability to show how easy it is for humans to exert united oppression over those who are different. The series is not as nuanced as the film Crash (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375679/) or District 9 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1136608/) when it comes to portraying the deeper psychological aspects of race relations. Unfortunately at this level things can be very flat and divided into the old us vs. them without much history growing into the situation the characters are found.

It also doesn't build up its background history too well. The series jump-starts at a point in history where things are well ahead and kicking off with government containment, persecutions and killings freely ongoing, unlike A Handmaid's Tale which does that pretty well without soaking one on infinite flashbacks.

All in all, this is a good series to watch and I am having fun so far.

Don't be put off by these other Numpty's reviews. It's good. Small budget, but good!

[ashlearadan · 9/10 · 13 June 2016]

I've never written a review on IMDb before, but I felt compelled to write one for Cleverman since so many people have rated this show so low, unfairly low in my opinion.

I'm sure many people watching this show who are not familiar with Australia's past treatment of our Indigenous peoples, will want to call Bullsh**t on the way the treatment of the Hairies is portrayed in this drama. One other reviewer stated that they didn't understand the, "overt discrimination and prejudice shown" seeing as, "The Hairies are not particularly dangerous nor do they seem very detrimental to society as a whole yet are treated as slaves". And there in lies the point of the entire show. Cleverman is drawing parallels (and successfully so)between the government's treatment of the Hairy's and the past treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.

So for those who still think that the prejudice and discrimination in the show is baseless, here's a quick fact check for the times the show parallels the treatment of Indigenous Australians. When the Hairy family is separated and the children are forcibly removed from their parents - that happened to our Indigenous Australians. When the Hairies are restricted to a compound and can't move in and out - that happened to them too. When the Hairies are seen as animals and the government's laws reflects that and treats them as sub-human - yep, that happened. When the media keeps citizens ignorant and misinformed by pushing their own agenda - that sure happened and sadly still does. I could go on and on, and that's only a handful of examples found in the first 2 episodes alone.

For some, the fantasy elements may be a turn-off, but I think putting the fantasy twist on Cleverman was an ingenious idea by the creators. It softens the amount of prejudice and discrimination the audience can swallow by allowing them to oh-so-slightly distance themselves from the realistic atrocities committed against Indigenous Australians by placing the story in a non-realistic setting. Which I know, sounds hypocritical of my above points, but I think it allows people to access this show at a level which isn't so confronting that they are put off from watching it and can thereby experience the messages at the show's core. That being said, obviously it's still not subtle enough for many of the first episode's viewers!

Look, I get it, in terms of production value, yes it is lacking in some areas like CGI and set design. But that can mostly be put down to the small budget. This show definitely does not deserve the 1 star rating that some reviewers have given. I can only assume that they're unable to look past Australia's uncomfortable history (or perhaps their ignorance of this history?) and enjoy this show for its clever premise and it's subtle execution.

In summary: At the end of episode 2, the story line of this show has definitely caught my interest. The main character's acting is spot on as 'the dude you kinda hate', and I look forward to seeing how the show develops his character. There are so many individual stories that have been set up, ready to be woven together. That I'm waiting in excited anticipation to see how all of the characters interact and affect one another. Do yourself a favour and go into Cleverman with a willingness to see beyond the small budget and to enjoy the story line as it slowly builds. Who knows, it might even prompt you to learn a bit about Australian history.

It's a solid 8.5/ 10 from me so far.

Violent Racism DOES STILL Exist and We Still Need These Stories Told

[becca7931 · 7/10 · 28 August 2019]

To the reviewer who said that the premise is dated because this type of racism is no longer a big issue: you need to watch the news, read the news, talk to anyone of racial minority - it absolutely does exist.

Violent oppression is a problem in many places all over the world - systematic violent oppression like is shown in the very first episode. The attitudes of the boys on the bus or the cops' fear: this happens in "First World" countries every day. And where we've evolved beyond violence, there still exists systematic oppression in many forms from micro-aggressions all the way up to human trafficking and modern-day slavery and murder.

There is a sci-fi/fantasy twist to this story, but the story it tells is not in any way dated. If you think race and color no longer exist, you're part of the problem. The point is to see it and not have it make a difference in your behaviors and attitudes toward those of a different race.

And I love the Aboriginal angle to this story as well since they need their stories told as much as everyone else. Also, Indigenous populations' stories are often told from perspectives other than their own and we need to ask for more told by the population themselves. Let networks know that just because one show doesn't work out, it's the storytelling not the subject matter that is less than.

Okay-ish

[nathan_furnal · 4/10 · 3 June 2016]

So, the show is about a group of people that are outcasts amongst society and they have to survive while being segregated. You have two groups, humans vs subhumans and some people in the middle. It's a very basic plot, it doesn't mean it's bad but the show has to be smart about it and as far as the first episode goes, it is not. You have some subplots which sound more interesting than the main plot and I'll maybe watch a couple more episodes.

But the main problem of the TV-show is the approach it takes on the matter. We have seen that kind of plot and storytelling so many times already that I personally don't want to see it again. The more one watches movies and shows, the higher the expectations and in this day and age, I'm jaded by these simplistic takes on social issues. In my opinion the show comes too late, 20 years too late. Though I'm happy to see an Australian show with Aussie actors, it's too bad that it has to be in an average (mediocre?) show like this one.

Long story short, you shouldn't have high expectations when watching this. Let's hope it gets better even though the path on which it is now doesn't look that bright.

Complex, clever, lots of potential

[pee_bee · 9/10 · 3 June 2016]

This is excellent storytelling. Cleverman brings Indigenous storytelling to the 21st Century, and seamlessly weaves it into an alternate present. It's the story of the exclusion of the Hairypeople, mutantesque people described by the government as 'subhuman' and condemned to live in 'the zone', separated from the rest of society.

One episode in so far and there's excellent shades of grey in both the story and characters. Neither of the two brothers at the centre of the story - Koen and Waruu - are simple good or bad guys. Both grew up in 'the zone' but are not Hairypeople themselves, and now live on the outside. Koen and his mate Blair make money trafficking Hairypeople out of the zone, and then make more when they report them to the authorities. Waruu on the other hand, works in the zone as a sort of community leader, but is also having an affair. When the young daughter of a family trafficked out of the zone by Koen and Blair is shot dead, the stage is set for both community outcry and conflict between the brothers.

There is a lot that is going on in terms of Indigenous myth, and Cleverman doesn't give the viewer a cheat sheet. You need to watch and listen and piece things together as you go along. But the reality is that it isn't difficult to do so. You don't need to know the specifics around language used by the hairies (it's Gumbaynggirr, spoken on the mid-north coast of NSW), the war club given to Koen by Uncle Jimmy (a nulla nulla or waddi) or even the fact that both the Cleverman and Hairypeople are specifically from Indigenous culture. Really, all sci-fi/fantasy/superhero genre fare has similar elements, but in this case those are taken from Indigenous story and history.

Ignore the few mindless low scores here. Those reviewers simply have short attention spans and cannot follow a show with nuance, thinking that Cleverman needs to have flashy explosions and telegraphed good and bad. This is a show that wants an intelligent viewer willing to invest their thought. If you are willing and have an attention span longer than 5 minutes, you will not be disappointed.

Very poor

[Nickthehungarian · 1/10 · 4 July 2016]

Cleverman mind-numbingly misses the mark. The plot travels slower than a snail through jelly but somehow, over six episodes there is still no character development or appeal to the main players. The acting is so mono-tone and wooden, staying focused on an entire episode is impossible. The dialogue is painful. "Hairies", I mean, come on, seriously?

I saw someone mention Game of Thrones – I'd have to say no way do the women in Game of Thrones have as little agency as this. Seriously, everywhere but Australia they proactively stopped making programs with this sort of message in the 1980s. Take each episode of this and make a list in one column of all the crappy things that happen to the helpless women – including things like being cheated on, being lied to by a far more powerful partner, being shut out and ignored, being treated like a sperm dumpster, being shoved around, being forced into prostitution, being raped, being shot in the gut, or being shot in the head - then in a second column add all the things that actually happen in the plot, it is such an overt subtext.

Not worth the time it took me to write this review.

An American Indian Perspective

[nafps · 8/10 · 22 May 2018]

The series is now on Netflix where Americans can see it for the first time. MY review is from an American Indian POV. I deeply appreciate how the series brought up issues Aboriginals and American Indians have in common. I see many themes with an indigenous worldview:

The common experience of being colonized and made to feel outcast in your own homeland. Being segregated, forced onto reserves, reservations, or "zones" in the series. The importance of traditional knowledge for self preservation. That such knowledge is not just "stories" but lived experience, as real and important to the indigenous as the Bible is to Christians. Colonizers wanting that traditional knowledge for their own exploitation. The conflicts between traditionalists and those indigenous who collaborate or have a colonized mindset.

For all those reasons I rate this series highly. One review did claim this series is similar to another that I've never heard of. I don't know of any Native series similar, but then American Indian series are themselves rare. Among films, the closest themed I can think of are Legends from the Sky and Older Than America.

My sole criticisms are that the first season is better written than the second, tighter and clearer narrative. The ending is somewhat anti climatic.

Still relevant in 21st century?

[vickanid-716-312729 · 3/10 · 8 June 2016]

While it has a certain dramatic overtone, it's a very confusing and antiquated plot IMHO. It seems there are two "species" with one looking very much like Aussie Aborigines, "hairies" and the other European. What gets me is the overt discrimination and prejudice shown between these groups. The hairies are not particularly dangerous nor do they seem very detrimental to society as a whole yet are treated as slaves etc. It's not very sci-fi either IMHO and so not too interesting there. Might have been different if it had been made in the 40's or 50's but it doesn't make much sense in today's political and societal climate. I really like to think we have advanced pretty far in acceptance of others yet this series takes several giant steps back. A much superior and similar story line was shown in the eighties as the film "Alien Nation" which also spawned a TV series.

Hits the nail on the head

[tulips_poppies · 8/10 · 9 June 2016]

I don't usually write reviews on IMDb but felt compelled to, considering that Cleverman really succinctly questions modern Australia's political, social and racial climate. In fact, the nature of other reviews, positive and negative, are actually a testament to how well this series has done in exploring key concepts. Namely, Cleverman is actually serving its purpose very well, considering the number of racist reviews!

Cleverman is telling a story about how Australian's (and perhaps more broadly, general society) are fearful of those that they don't know and minority cultures. In the series, a society is afraid of the insinuation that another culture might be different to theirs and feel the need to put them "back in their box". It is truly poetic how the actions of many of the antagonists in Cleverman, are so well mimicked by the negative reviewers here on IMDb.

Xenophobia is still relevant and Cleverman clearly explores this theme effectively and strikes a chord with a number of viewers.

I would recommend this series for those looking for something different and who are knowledgeable of the science fiction genre (and that speculative fiction sits within it!) It is a really unique show that explores some aspects of Aboriginal folklore from well respected artistic groups. It's also excellent for its consideration of political rhetoric around tolerance; exceptionally relevant viewing.

Painfully slow and drawn out

[sketco-34105 · 1/10 · 11 June 2016]

As an Ex-pat, I desperately want this series to succeed. However, after two episodes it has revealed yet more politically correct apologetics in presentation and delivery, with the tired old stream of NIDA extras and "found object" pool of actors, indifferent in content in most respects from the well known Australian soaps. If it lives beyond a first season I would be mightily surprised. Fortunately, there is just enough performance skill to prevent the viewer seeing the actors eyes scanning the autocue. There is very little to commend this awful rendition of the "Yowie gone mainstream" theme and carries with it the imprint of the British sci-fi series "Aliens" which itself is experiencing declining ratings. I am mortally embarrassed that this is an Australian production.

Very much enjoyed the premiere

[dombaking · 9/10 · 3 June 2016]

With well paced plot, full of suspense and mystery, as well as a fantastic young and relatively unknown cast, Cleverman promises to be one of the best shows of its genre to come out of Australia for a long time. Drawing on indigenous culture and lore, the social issues prevalent in Cleverman are obviously representative of current issues facing Indigenous communities, with the premiere along touching on high levels of incarceration and the loss of culture. The political allusions also reflect the Australian governments attitude to asylum seekers in recent years. The action scenes are fast paced and dynamic, and the show does not shy away from sex and nudity. The drama is realistic and raw, and is portrayed very well. Overall a very impressive premiere, and i will definitely be back for more

How to shoot the messenger

[mattbrennan · 1/10 · 13 June 2016]

Wow. No matter what this show is trying to do, any intentions it has to deliver some sort of "message" is lost. I agree that Aboriginal Australian's have been and continue to be treated like something akin to a slave race, but this show's efforts to address this is lost. The production values are woeful; the acing is barely passable. Embarrassingly so. It makes one wonder if they kept the bad takes and rejected the good. The writing, although based on an interesting concept, has been murdered along the way. I am a lover of almost all genres of film, but this attempt at Sci-fi is poor. The levels of gratuitous violence are unnecessary, and are really only inserted for "shock value" or to appeal to the baser side of an audience that this offering's message would be wasted on anyway. In addition to this, the way women are portrayed in many scenes is despicable, and is not warranted in any genre. Australia has been attempting as a culture to rid itself of the entrenched attitude that violence is acceptable towards women, and sadly this show undermines this. Any movie/game/show that contains graphic displays of this under the "it's OK, it's only make believe" loophole is wrong. You don't have to look far to find a consensus view that most people, subconsciously or consciously, are influenced by what they see on a screen. Congratulations to those that are not - you are in the minority. For the rest of the easily influenced world, this show is reinforcing rather than changing the current view. The next, and final point I raise, is for the NSW government. Why would you put your money into a second series of a show that is so poorly produced, and contained such questionable content. Surely spending the money directly towards the issues the series "claims" to address, would be better and more fruitful.

Important, tense, gritty and well-made

[sagittaeri · 10/10 · 4 June 2016]

The tense atmosphere, the talented diverse cast, and the fascinating plot all worked for me, so I'll definitely keep watching this. One of the best things of this show is it explores the rich Aboriginal culture, mythology and history in Australia, something I feel is largely untold so far in mainstream media, and thus has much to contribute to the world.

And yes, there are many parallels in the experiences of Australian Aboriginal communities, the asylum seekers in offshore detention camps, and the "subhumans" in the show, which makes it feel somewhat all too real at times. The social issues and the politics explored in this show makes Cleverman one of our more important shows.

Even if you don't care for all the stuff I mentioned so far, the show performs very strongly as a superhero series with a dark and gritty atmosphere. The acting is solid, the shots are gorgeous, and the mystery is gripping. I highly recommend this to everyone who enjoys a serious drama.

Oh, also, Cleverman is already renewed for a second season.

Cleverman: Poison in the Well

[rmduff-21533 · 1/10 · 10 June 2016]

Unfortunately, after excitement and anticipation at the new series, I found myself switching off after the first two episodes.

I will outline the purely personal reasons why, given the fact that I exist in the 30 to 40-year-old female demographic that I suspect, after Annabel's highly intelligent and astute offering, and Richard Roxburgh's irritatingly clever attempt to re-endear us to our men, is switching off to Cleverman.

I could completely forgive it for its earnestness. It matters not to me that its black and white portrayal of racism and ethnic tensions is to real life what Dig Dug is to gaming graphics; what does matter to me is that it was advertised to me, along with very cool music, as 'ground-breaking'. What I watched was a program so awfully cliché in its representations of women and the female gender that I feel this was written with only one half of the population in mind as an audience.

I could forgive as clumsy many basic mistakes, like the roles of women as supporting cast members with an infinitely smaller number of lines, to be shagged or shagged against (if you count the infidelity), unless of course they are wise, when they are largely a-sexual. And straight out of a text-book, if you discount the two- dimensional, predictable female protagonists, nice women are involved in community care, and of course, desperate for a baby.

But there are disturbing elements to the story – the enforced prostitution of the main female character designated a 'hairy'; in particular, the scene where two other women of the same ethnicity, despite their superhuman strength and other perfectly useful qualities, are simply shot in the head when not deemed fit for a life of sexual slavery. The message? If she's not a shaggable woman of ethnicity, she's better off dead.

It has been hinted in some early reviews that this is an attempt to include comment on the treatment of women, but while there was plenty of dialogue and effort to counteract the issues of race and ethnic tension (after all this is what the show is all about) there was nothing to balance out this portrayal of gender – unless you are trying to tell me that the plight of women as a minority is being used here as wallpaper for a dystopian setting? Given the lack of balance it did feel far more as if the treatment and portrayal of women in Cleverman is not any sort of comment, but rather the intended effect of writers seeking to set up an environment reminiscent of game-worlds set in similarly dystopian social settings, like Grand Theft Auto, Assassins Creed, Game of Thrones etc., where this is the accepted portrayal of women, despite the debate that rages around it.

Less than two years ago, Evan Narcisse wrote in Kotaku":

"Chances are if there's a woman in a game's side mission—especially if it's a female sex worker— something terrible is going to happen to her, just to drive home just how screwed-up a particular character or gameworld is."

So to the ABC, as a female with what Eddie Izzard refers to as 'a thinking brain', I don't find the portrayal of women in the gaming culture to be ground-breaking, and I suspect a large part of your audience probably doesn't either. So why would it be ground-breaking or even appropriate, to set it within a program aimed at the sci-fi genre, the main premise of which screams so very loudly to be anti- discrimination?

Back in my gaming days, there was a place called 'general chat' or 'trade chat'. Cleverman feels a lot like I've been subjecting myself to hours of lectures in CAPS, by Australian blokes in trade chat.

Unfortunately, I think Cleverman will become a study of discrimination within a very loud message of anti-discrimination.

That's not ground-breaking either.

Intelligent, creative mixture of fact and fiction, not too hollywoodisch

[Hempelton · 8/10 · 3 June 2016]

Cleverman - the title not sounding too interesting at first, but meticulously and beautifully chosen, because it forces you gently into this slightly other, mysterious world. A future, only a few years ahead, a slightly slimmer ebook reader, seemingly an iPhone/Galaxy 6 or 7 - not too much attention to the future here. The fiction and the pinch of mystery, at the core surely based on the old ways of some of our ancient ancestors and our own up-to-day and/or future social problems, is imaginatively spun further, seemingly a good mixture of forgotten reality and fiction. The Cast is cast interesting, Iain Glen from GOT is always worth a further look and I'm eager to see the development of other characters. The production of the show isn't spick and span but professional although, no flaws at all. It seems to pay more attention to the story with imaginativeness and creativity than to an overly perfect picture. The feeling is more like Neverwhere or John from Cincinnati, which is good! This series has potential! It build's up many unknowns, reveals just the right amount of them in the first episode. The setting is nicely chosen. It has not much Sci - but also not too much Fi, although the show seems to live from it, which I think is nice. - And it is not overly "produced".

great idea, poor executions

[abstractwhitesquirrel · 3/10 · 20 December 2016]

First things first, I really wanted to like it. After watching the first episode, I was really excited to watch this show. The main idea seemed new, fresh; it was a combo of dark fairy tales and brutal reality. But I think the execution is just too poor to make it a decent series. Episodes are slow paced, repetitive, they mull around the same thing over and over again. Acting of most characters is OK, the main guy is always kind of angry, bet he wakes up like that. The main characters were my greatest issue with this show: they are absolutely disgusting, they represent all what your grandma told you not to be. Also, character development is lacking, I felt like only in episode 6 something has actually changed. Thus,without bringing in any spoiler, the show is slow-paced, lacks story development, and has some poor acting. I recommend watching only first and sixth episodes, as it will be enough to enjoy the show

Fantastic for a number of reasons

[kizzleberry · 10/10 · 3 June 2016]

The first episode of Cleverman referenced numerous themes relevant to Australia's government and non-Indigenous people's longstanding issues of racism and prejudice towards Indigenous people. It also highlighted the complex relationship between politics and culture that Indigenous people are often forced to navigate.

The main characters are working within a society that consistently produces policy and law that deliberately or inadvertently disempowers a specific minority of people. The complexities inherent in this juggling act set the scene, and we are given the privilege of watching how a diverse set of characters handle themselves. I can see lots of room for character growth in this series going forward.

The acting and cinematography are A+, I specifically enjoyed the scene that was set with the protagonist ruminating with moonlight strewing into his room.

Also the lead actor is super attractive (I see you Rob Collins). Sorry to divert but a quick google search should highlight why I brought it up ;)

It's really good, watch it.

Don't waste your life on this.

[joelbaby · 1/10 · 5 June 2016]

Was hoping this was a good sci-fi show to get into - it wasn't..

Some comments say that the 'negative reviews are due to people not watching it all the way through'. I did watch the whole 48 minutes.

1. It is not "Sci-Fi" as currently tagged. Having one scene with people using see through touch screens, some bad wigs, and a couple of splashes of red hair dye doesn't make a show 'sci-fi'.

2. The show is basically pushing an agenda about aboriginal culture, and some kind of segregation and living conditions.

3. There are overly long and slow dialogues with the camera panning everywhere.

4. The best part of the show is the cinematography. However - the bar fight scene about 42 minutes sways so much it seems to have been shot on a rocking sail boat.

5. The biggest disappointment in the acting for me was Iain Glen (Jorah from Game of Thrones). His character is a media mogul who owns a TV station. A Game of Thrones extra made of painted cardboard would have done a better job.

6. There's a guy who does a ritual by the water, reminiscent of the fountain scene at the start of "Hand of God". He looks like a crazy Santa, and its the best part of the show.

7. There's a pointless sex scene about 30 minutes in, where the guy collapses during the act. Maybe he wasn't wearing protection - who knows ..

It tries to be 'urban' and mysterious.

As a tax payer, I am disheartened to read that this has already been renewed for a second season. Obviously someone thought they were 'doing the right thing' even if the show is totally rubbish.

Subtle, and good on it.

[stepheabrewer · 9/10 · 4 June 2016]

Well put together, and with a fascinating and engaging world behind it, Cleverman also has more going on under the hood than is at first obvious.

(Telling that the negative reviewers mostly say they didn't watch past the first 15 - 20 minutes, and also seem to be focusing on what they see as PC messaging.)

None of the characters are black and white, in fact on thinking back, I believe every main character is introduced while committing an act of betrayal. Not that you know it at the time, but when thinking back you realise that they all were.

There are enough intersecting lines of relationship and conflict between all the characters to have a lot of interesting stuff going on, and the fact that they are all in some way culpable or duplicitous (even the protagonists) is juicy and exciting.

Can't wait for episode 2. Well done all involved.

It's absolute sh*t

[ibiliss · 1/10 · 2 June 2016]

Seriously, I don't know how I got through the episode, I gave the plot a chance after watching the trailer.. But.. I wish I didn't. There are "hairy" people which humans call Hairies.. (Very creative) and they are stronger and faster than us human beings. Then there's this guy called cleverman, who's like a constantinish being, only hairier.. My review does not contain enough lines to submit, and I'm writing this to be able to stop the people who haven't seen the show yet, please refrain from seeing this piece of junk. This show.. is no friend of mine. And I thought that whipped guy from Game of Thrones would be in a TV show which is watchable, but God I was wrong. I told my friend Steve, Steve you made a mistake. Now I gotta move house. Because there's no lock on the door.

Very impressive, compelling and well written

[claresoutherton · 9/10 · 12 June 2016]

Set in the not-too-distant future, this series offers a fascinating commentary on contemporary Australian society - particularly the entrenched racism against indigenous people and the inhumane treatment of refugees. This rich sci-fi narrative draws on the indigenous story of the Cleverman, a wise man gifted with supernatural powers. The central narrative focuses on the struggle of the Hairypeople, non-humans with superior strength that have become the underclass in Australian society, restricted to living in slums without running water or proper housing.

The cast is impressive, not just because of big international names, but the fantastic local talent. Hunter Page-Lochard and Rob Collins are particularly notable for their nuanced performances. Rarriwuy Hick is fantastic.

I'm surprised by negative reviews here saying that the conflicts and reflection on Australia society as unrealistic. I couldn't disagree more. What makes this series so compelling is how real the world it creates feels to me. I'll certainly keep watching.

The ghost of BabaKiueria

[malhedley · 2/10 · 11 July 2016]

What do you get when you cross BabaKiueria with BeDevil (google is your friend)? An illegitimate child called Cleverman and a tired old trope in search of a meme to promulgate.

Season one has come and gone and I stuck it out to the end of "Schindler's Yowies" aka Cleverrman, but I am left with feelings reminiscent of that time when I was gagging for a refreshing cup of coffee only to discover the milk is past its use by date.

When Andrew Macfarlane made an appearance I perked up in the vain hope that this meant Paul Cronin, Tony Bonner and James Laurenson might be about to make a comeback. Surely, in a show of cross-border cooperation, Paul could have called in VKC Matlock to have Tony fly his ranger chopper to the rescue with James (as boney) using his detective skills to fix the mess with the help of Cleverman conjuring the spirit of Ed Deveraux for advice. Now that would have been entertaining! I mean, if you are going to regurgitate ancient stereotypes why not go the whole hog?

I didn't mention Skippy, as I have far too much respect for her non-partisan acting credentials and character depth. But I digress.

I have to worry when concept creator and producer Ryan Griffen states in interview: "The premise of the show, I guess, is…is…umm..." I can empathise with his desperately juggling hand gestures and know how he feels because I'm trying to guess that there's meant to be more to it than the thin platitudes on offer. The cast makes no apologies; it is a metaphor for perceived attitudes toward aboriginal people and minorities, although Ryan apparently just remembers watching "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and wanted to make a similar film his son could relate to culturally. This offering, however, unlike the Marvel/DC crossover, finds itself sequestered in a laboratory somewhere having its DNA probed for meaning and direction along with the rest of the clones.

The only Cleverman here is the one who suggested there were tax credits available for arts funding in Australia.

It's time to pack some fresh laundry in our "ten canoes" and portage them over the "rabbit- proof fence" to a more productive and enlightened destination.