TV Review: Redfern Now

UNIVERSALLY SPEAKING

When it’s a struggle to pick the most outstanding out of a batch of stellar stories, you know you’re onto a good thing.

"This second installment of the anthology series has been nothing short of outstanding."

Such is the welcome dilemma of Redfern Now. Building on the emotional powder keg of six initial episodes, this second installment of the anthology series - with established characters and new - has been nothing short of outstanding.

Ernie Dingo features in the Season 2 finale

It’s been said before but though it’s a drama based on an urban indigenous society too rarely seen in a more balanced light until recently, the situations and issues Redfern Now presents are relevant universally on a very human level. 

Grief of sudden death, middle-aged love against adversity, domestic violence, a new mother’s newborn anguish, the reverberating pain of abandonment, gambling addiction. All are treated unflinchingly with dashes of welcome humour artfully in the mix.

But make no mistake, this is uncompromising Australian drama – this week’s finale featuring Ernie Dingo in a fierce neighbourhood conflict is sure to pack an emotional punch.

Here’s hoping Aunty commissions Season 3. 

The Season 2 finale of Redfern Now airs tonight at 8.30pm (AEST) on ABC1 and you can catch up on previous episodes on iview.

TV Review: A Different Breed

GONE TO THE DOGS

Britons reportedly spend a whopping £5 billion pounds (almost $AU9 billion) a year pampering their pooches. But if that’s not evidence enough of their undying canine devotion, the glorious bunch of nutjobs in this tongue-in-cheek ‘observational documentary’ series from 2011 will have you believing.

In Episode 5, Katya primps and pampers her trio of poodles for a V.I.P (Very Important Poodle) birthday party replete with Swarovski crystal necklaces and Brian May bouffant. But that’s nothing next to dog boutique owner Louise who is chaperoning the seaside ‘honeymoon’ of her princess, Yorkshire Terrier Lola and the aesthetically-challenged Chinese Crested, Mugly. That’s after blowing a cool £20,000 smackers (almost $AU36,000 today) on their ‘wedding’.

"The marketing material claims the real stars are of the four-legged variety but it’s their crazy owners who are top dog here." 

The happy pupple

Meanwhile there’s a freaky theme emerging with ‘doyenne of doggy dancing’ Richard planning a ghoulish performance piece involving a sprung-loaded coffin (gulp) and some fledgling canine psychics divine that a passed pooch enjoyed a variety of foods. Spookily insightful.

And standout doggy devotees, the barking mad radio show hosts Jo and Anna (slightly dim Bulldog Matilda and flatulent Miniature Bull Terrier Molly are their ‘fur kids’) bumble their way through controversy judging a provincial dog show.

The marketing material claims the real stars are of the four-legged variety but just like the splendid mockumentary Best In Show it’s their crazy owners who are top dog here. Dog puns, out.

A Different Breed airs Friday at 8.45pm (AEST) on ABC2 and you can catch up on some episodes on iview.