Newton's Law (2017) User Reviews

Just a bit of harmless fun

[rachelynch-56351 · 8/10 · 3 March 2017]

This show might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoy watching it every week.

Written by the women who did 'Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries', 'Newton's Law' is a charming, quirky show with plenty of heart. All the characters are well-meaning, the underdogs always win, any mistakes our heroes make are forgiven, and everything wraps up perfectly in the last 15 minutes. Sure, it's not the most realistic (or best written, if I'm honest) show on TV, but it's a whole lot of fun, and refreshingly angst-free. Not to mention, it manages to slip in a surprising number of important messages about gender equality, multiculturalism, and even gender dysphoria.

Like I said, it's not for everyone. But I've got a soft spot for indulgent, fluffy, light entertainment; and 'Newton's Law' hits the spot.

Finally a new legal series that hits the nail on the head!

[Moist_von_Lipwig · 7/10 · 10 April 2017]

Great story lines, great characters and incredibly interesting to see a legal show actually follow legal processes. No more of the fake "I OBJECT" shows, this show empowers women as the main character is showing she isn't just there for looks. Could do without the Husband story line but other than that, it is a really good show.

It is no Janet King, but ABC seem to have found the formula for a show that works.

Lighthearted and fun

[Jondy-98374 · 8/10 · 23 August 2019]

Loved this show. Pity there was only one series - maybe they'll revive it?!

Love this show. I want more!

[sunali · 10/10 · 6 April 2017]

It's light, fun, quirky, witty as anything and the acting/direction is superb, the script is smart, and there is so much subtlety and fun. I particularly love the chemistry in the various almost-matches - it's just delicious! I was so disappointed to find that my new addiction was scuttled after 8 episodes. More please!

Love it.

[aces_hands · 16 March 2017]

Love it. One of three TV shows worth my time each week. As John Grisham has written "courtrooms are where the drama is". I like the light comic touches - for me TV drama is escapism. I like the twists in the tales - kudos to the script writers! Oh and, of course, I'm enchanted by Claudia Karvan's character, Josephine.

Great casting; crap courtroom accuracy

[pigletbunny · 7/10 · 30 December 2019]

If not for the even-worse-than-usual procedural inaccuracies in the courtroom scenes, and other legal inaccuracies, I would give Newton's Law 9 stars. The casting is excellent, and the acting top-noch :-)

In Newton's Law, barristers (aka lawyers who go to court ;-) ) ask leading questions (e.g. "Isn't it true that..."), and they testify instead of asking questions (even introducing evidence and testifying about it!!!). Also, witnesses are asked for their opinions about other persons' states of mind; regular, everyday witnesses, not experts.

Since almost every other English-language tv show and movie with courtroom scenes is inaccurate, I've not taken off a bunch of stars. However, I've take off 2 stars, because the courtroom scenes are SOOOO inaccurate, that they are worse than ones in Matlock! (In Matlock, at least the judge orders Matlock to behave in his witness examination/cross, although, then, the judge usually allows the abnormalities ONLY after assurances from Matlock that he has a good reason for his behaviour. Yup, that's b.s., too, but, at least the behaviour's pointed out!)

One of the best

[linkedin-46762 · 10/10 · 11 July 2017]

This is one of the best Aussie legal shows I have seen in years. The episode story-lines are clever and the underlying personal stories enjoyable. It is intelligent viewing, not flooded with violence and sex. Just what the mature viewer wants to see. The characters are interesting, because they are different, but not totally ridiculous. The saddest fact about this show is that there are only 8 episodes in the (first) series. I look forward to many more series in the future - please!

Claudia Karvan effortlessly shoots onto my list of top actresses

[orlando-somera · 9/10 · 30 May 2018]

Something's going on here. First Rake and now Newton's Law. These Aussies have a flair for engaging adult entertainment that I don't see stateside. Rake may be my all time best find, but this new legal comedy, led by one of the most charismatic women I've ever seen, is at least as rewarding.

The comedy revolves around a barrister who has one unpredictable teenage daughter, who is separated from her environmentalist husband and just getting back to working in a law office again. Thing is she's so winningly wise she manages to triumph when you would expect anyone to fail. After the first few episodes I was wondering why we can't produce women like this.

If there's anything negative to say about the series it's that the cast have a strange sense of timing that's hard to describe but that's easy to become accustomed to. Our legal series seem a bit neurotic compared to this Aussie offering. I can't wait for the next season and I'm looking to find more of Karvan's work.

Comedy-drama misguided on so many levels it's worth seeing.

[adam-703-808689 · 1/10 · 9 February 2017]

To be honest, I only watched 15 minutes of Episode One, but I was astounded by the number of levels on which this comedy-drama drove itself into a ditch and stayed there, writhing with wrongness. Scripting, characterisation, casting, direction, costume design, production design, art-direction, photography, colour, acting... all are a series of horrible mistakes wrought by people who seem to have no idea of drama. Really! It's like being a passenger in a car which heads the wrong way from the start of the journey; doesn't even try to find the right way, and keeps driving up dead-end streets, and doing u-turns in the hope that merciless quirkiness will amuse. I'm sure a lot of people worked very hard to make this, so please forgive my damnation, but...wow! Perhaps the drama suddenly found its way after the 15 minutes for which I viewed it, but it was not an auspicious quarter of an hour. It did occur to me that Newton's Law is a strategic move in the alleged plan for Michelle Guthrie to destroy the ABC.

Really liked this show!

[edwardsle · 9/10 · 8 March 2019]

My husband & I both enjoyed watching this series. We weren't really sure about it at first but we kept watching and it seemed to just get better & better with each episode. With new shows, I think it takes a little time for the characters to bond & develop their roles & how they relate to each other. This show accomplished that & was really coming into its own, just in time it to be cancelled, apparently. I can't find anything about why. We are very disappointed.

No Janet King

[bfmoore-97836 · 1/10 · 10 February 2017]

Probably expected this to be as gritty as Janet King or Crownies.The gorgeous Claudia was the attraction for me but her work in other shows is far stronger and convincing.She certainly had her work cut out in emulating the power,suspense and credibility of these predecessors. I don't know if ditz and law gel at this level, as comedy does in Rake and augustness in John Deed.Maybe now the premise is established it could fire up but at this stage the plots are hackneyed and humor,lame. Gee i wanted this to work as the menu of watchable television continues to dwindle to a set two course offering,hopefully another vehicle will come her way.

Loved this series I hope there will be more!

[deb-94293 · 10/10 · 1 July 2019]

I loved series 1. Hope there will be a second series. Thank you for great Australian legal humor Well done!

Highly Entertaining!

[euan-mitchell-113-802203 · 9/10 · 3 June 2017]

Newton's Law brilliantly balances dramatic and comedic story-lines in a highly entertaining series. I enjoyed Claudia Karvan's lead character (Josephine Newton) as much as Richard Roxburgh's legendary character Rake, even though they are very different types of barristers.

The main dramatic thread in each episode handles current or unusual legal issues in an original and engaging way. The supporting story-lines provide comedy, charm and clever plot developments that seamlessly complement each court case. The sexual tension between Claudia Karvan and Toby Schmitz (Lewis Hughes) plays out with continual twists and allure across the first season. More please!!!

A Bit if Fun and Freshness

[anorton-42205 · 10/10 · 9 February 2019]

I really enjoyed every episode. I wish there were more series. I was just getting to know the characters and how they are intertwined... I think they could have taken this so much farther! Totally recommend if you want a little light fun...

A joke show, and not in a funny way.

[visureigis · 1/10 · 18 February 2017]

Characters are caricatures, which is probably suppose to be funny, but it isn't. Newton's Law fails as both comedy and a drama (non-existent anyway). Script is two-bit clichés thrown together. There are so many law shows, to stand out you have to come up with something innovative (or excel on old and improved), this show has none of it.

Save your valuable time for something worthwhile, this isn't it.

4/10, and I'm being generous.

Witty, intelligent and needs another season!

[shalinalikestosing · 10/10 · 12 July 2020]

Seriously brilliant witty and intelligent writing. Devastated there is only one season. A must watch for all fans of Australian intellectual comedy.

What a load of trash!

[eeze-78138 · 1/10 · 3 May 2019]

Watched the first 5 minutes. Its supposed to be a drama. Courtroom is an joke. The defence lawyer is sitting with her back to the judge and the defendant is crying his eyes out in the dock. No way would a judge accept that in a court. This is a comedy surley!!

Delightful stories, characters, we loved it

[tweiss-87672 · 10/10 · 3 November 2020]

Why, oh why would anyone cancel this program? Stupidity is the only answer I can imagine! You know what I mean - idiot television Vice President. This program should have gone on for years, and we would have watched it as soon as we found it on Acorn.

Charm, tons of personality, good story lines.... you bump into a television program this good about once in 5 years - and then find out is was cancelled after one season. Just plain nuts and painful - really, how many television shows do you like this much? If you haven't seen it, do a search and plan for a few nights of good entertainment.

Only glitch, in the last episode, a truly annoying story line was being put into place - someone got pregnant and it was going to screw up all the relationships - totally unnecessary - probably an idea of the idiot who went ahead and cancelled it anyway!

Don't Waste Your Time

[user1684 · 3/10 · 24 January 2022]

I got through 17 minutes of it and that took multiple viewings. It's that bad. Cliche after cliche. The daughter looks as if she is in her 40's, the husband can barely deliver a line, the props are terrible, the bar scene looks the inside of a Trader Vic's restaurant from 50 years ago.....please don't waste your time.