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Highly Overrated But Still Good

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

I have to be lucky I was exposed to Australian history at quite a young age even for it to be taught in a fascinating manner. I have since maintained a healthy passion for Australia's Colonial History in particular, mainly between the first fleet of 1788 and pre-1901 federation anything before then was Indigenous culture and outsiders Exploration.'Banished' is particularly inspired by historical events after the landing of the first fleet, and really examines the life and times of the convicts and naval authority of the Penal Colony that would become known as Sydney.I can honestly say the overall quality of the series was really impressive. There's enough compelling drama and insight into the lives of the convicts and settlers, mostly fighting for survival and civil rights and disobedience challenging the authority. I also loved the genuine sense of historical authenticity reflected in the series' production design, costumes and aesthetics along with some fantastic performances from a talented ensemble cast I admire.Although the series merely mentions the presence of 'Natives'. It absolutely doesn't show it, which is questionable due to the local Aboriginal tribes feeling the political upheaval of the British Colonists settling on their land. Aborigines now more refer to the First Fleet's colonization as an 'invasion'. I do have enough respect for screenwriter Jimmy McGovern who created this show, along with many other respectable screen writing credits. Even after developing 'Redfern Now' which focused on the lives of Aborigines in Modern Australia he would've had some sense to delve deeper into pressure of the colonist's conflicts with the Aborigines faced at the time.However, I did really enjoy the series for what it is. If you enjoyed this I recommend 'The Timeless Land', 'The Term of His Natural Life' (1983), 'Against the Wind', 'The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant' and the more recently critically acclaimed miniseries 'The Secret River'.

Only one thing to say. WHERE ARE THE ABORIGINAL PEOPLE? Another example of "terra nullius" i.e. the British legal confection that assumed that the Australian continent was not occupied at time of contact; this legal lie was finally laid to rest by the Mabo Decision in the High Court of Australia in 1992. This is a poorly researched "history" which misses out the most important point of British colonial expansion into this country i.e. dispossession of the Indigenous people - not to mention perpetuating the fabrication that this country was not occupied. All the early journals (e.g. Watkin Tench, John White) have pages and pages of observations of Aboriginal life so - obviously - the two populations were interacting from day one. So, WHERE ARE THEY?? Scandalous.

That's how this program feels like each episode. Fantastic setting, Blue skies, green jungles, sunny beaches. The acting is first rate, the script is challenging enough to be fun without being too cerebral. That's what entertainment is supposed to be. Its one of those series where an hour is not long enough. As for realism, I don't want to see skanky teeth or manky uniforms but I do agree on the condition of Kitty's hair but then again 'maybe shes worth it'. Maybe in the second series, she looses her memory and The Major convinces her its May Belle Lynn McVitie This story could run and run as the New South Wales colony grows over the decade. If done properly, more series than Stargate SG1 Well done script writers and well done to the BBC for funding it. Feel free to making a remake of Mutiny On the Bounty or Hornblower or anything anywhere hot 'n' sunny on water or in a jungle and I'll be a fanboy of that too. :)

Dear America (and anywhere else that Auntie Beeb tries to sell it)Sorry.Our BBC normally produces better than this. This time it failed and on behalf of Britain I apologise. I can allow for "bending" of the facts to help a better drama but historical inaccuracies in an "Historical Drama" are just not acceptable. As well as these glaringly obvious errors, victims of floggings recover amazingly quickly, others are "starving" because they have not eaten since breakfast and the female lead has such perfect teeth. Most of us in the UK in 2015 still don't have teeth as good as this let alone in 1788!As for us Brits. This is being on BBC2 - BE WARNED it is NOT a BBC TWO drama! At best this is BBC1 fare but more likely this would be something that you would find on "the other side" (and I don't mean Channel 4).It is a reasonable yarn and the idea is a good one (and why I have given it as high as 4/10).Admittedly my opinion is based on the evidence of the first episode only but so far it is soap-opera tosh. I WILL give the second episode a chance in the hope it is improves but for me this show is very much living on borrowed time.Sorry, we are so sorry.