I'll tell you why so serious

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

This series may not be a good one for the people who are in to the history, it may be misleading to those who don not have idea on history, but it gives an idea about History of Australia for those not in to history.Apart form that, it is not always possible to show "as it is" the history while reproducing the Movies and Shows. It is required to deviate a little bit but not too much, and introduce the romance, fun, foreplays, etc., bits to make it more entertaining. Other wise no will watch and no one will sponsor. One need to understand that.I have watched first season, to me it went well... Actions, Story is perfect, maintained Thrill & Kick through out the show. The Good script is always the one, which goes beyond the imagination of the viewers, that is it, it has got and it is more than enough to get 8 points. Sad it is cancelled, I don't see any reason to cancel this show.

This is a period piece that takes place in 1800 Australia. Filmed on location, the setting is beautiful. If you haven't been to Australia this gives you a chance to enjoy this beautiful continent... The story is pure enjoyment...Up there with The Boardwalk Empire, Rome and a few others... the acting is great, the writers are fantastic! It is easy to buy into the story and you are gone on a wonderful vacation from reality....and isn't that the best in entertainment? I just discovered it...just finished it..and then found out there is not to be a second series...However, the story has a natural ending even through there is much more that could be done with such a script. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

So surprised about the negative reviews of this. I think this was an excellent piece of scriptwriting, so emotive and interesting. No, it may not have been 100% historically accurate but it is drama not a documentary, so should not be expected to be. In fact, I had never heard much of the story of the Australian convicts before, and given that this was based on many true stories, I found it very interesting; usually this time period does not normally interest me but the exploration of power, duty and morals of this period were great. After such good character development and acting, I was in tears after the events of the last episode. Beautiful portrayal of humanity.

despite shortcomings good take on imperialism. well done in terms of locations, characters and story, but somehow fails to gel. never the less, it is another in the long line of exposing British brutality. it often takes eons to probe into a nation's past and to expose the crime and cruelty perpetrated on lower classes.Downton Abbey, Mutiny on the bounty etc all paint a picture of British cruelty and jimmy mcgovern hits this message. if you read "fatal shore" by Australian writer/critic robert hughes, you find that most people were deported were poor, disenfranchised irish.I look forward to seeing more of this admission of guilt on the part of the British empire in Ireland, Africa, India, the Caribbean, Asia and Australia. There is such a rich, dramatic history of cruelty and perhaps this will serve as an introduction. perhaps McGovern's writing's subtext is that so many have have suffered for the benefit of so few. This holds true for Belgium, Holland, Germany and France. Today this story plays out with Amerika and China exploiting poor folks in ways the more devious than the British could not even imagine.