Thread: Underbelly

So I noticed it finished last night, did anyone actually watch it from start to finish & enjoy it?

I tried watching the first episode but gave up after probably 20 minutes. I came back to it a few times during the season, but could never get through a whole hour. What I saw was poor quality TV drama; what little dialogue there was came over as cheesy. Not much in the way of story or character development. Lot's of jerky, oddly styled montages trying to cover up for a lack of decent writing. And what happened to the tits? One of the things that made the last season at least bearable was that every 15 minutes there would be a nice pair of breasts on screen. The scenes in Kings Cross didn't even look like the cross.

The first series was great, been going down hill fast since then. I got a copy of the second series few months back and started losing interest at the same point i did when it was on tv, and this was watching back to back. I did finish it, but it doesn't even come close to the first.
Third series I watched the opening 2 hr special and then that is been it bascially. I may watch it all from start to finish if i get a copy, but won't be in a rush.
They started the next series according to the sun, something to do with the police killings in morrabin.

Better still though the U.S has bought the rights to start filiming U.S versions of underbelly but about american gangsters etc, should be a lot better then the australian stuff we have seen since the 1st one.

You have to remember too that with the first underbelly they spent years getting the script right, the rest have been some what rushed, few months etc. Also going back further in time there isn't as much documentation as there is for the gang wars which basically have only finsihed in the last few years.

I also think the pacific was no where near as good as the origianl BOB. Just examples of over doing great ideas. Saying that though i'd watch the pacific and any other series like that over underbelly anyday.

I liked it, and watched every episode. Sure it was dramatized for TV, but i didnt know much of the back story to the NSW corruption, so it was a great watch!

BT if you interested in a factual account of the Wood royal commission into police corruption than get a hold of a copy of The Inquisition The Inquisition - DVD - ABC Shop

Told by the key players themselves: Independent MP John Hatton, Justice James Wood, Counsels Gary Crooke and John Agius, and Investigator Nigel Hadgkiss, The Inquisition is the story of the Wood Royal Commission into the NSW Police Service that became an international model for battling entrenched corruption.

watch cocaine cowboys if you want to see some "hardcore" criminals

I watched it and I found it frustrating to be honest; over time I grew less and less interested although I continued to tune in. To me it was like watching a Cliff Notes version of only some of the things that happened during that period. There just wasn't enough meat to it and it glossed over a lot of things. I guess there is only so much they can cover in a limited number of episodes but really you could do a whole series on Danny Karam alone - Michael Kanaan is the same. As for the Ibrahim's (specifically John) well there is only so much they could go into bearing in mind he is still a legitimate businessman who, except for an assault charge when a teenager, has never been convicted of anything.

I'll second The Inquisition. It's an amazing story and killed Underbelly. I watched most of the series as it was Ok to have on as I was making lunch and ironing shirts as preparation for the new week at work. I missed a few episodes but, just like a good soapie, you never really seemed to miss much of a story.

I thought all 3 Underbelly's were great!

i third was pretty crap it was really boring through the middle episodes and it had all these shitty pointless side stories almost like episode fillers. I did like DK tho he was a pretty crazy chararter.

DK was the gay Russian guy right? I couldn't take that character seriously cause the accent kept changing from eastern european to middle eastern. And what was with that robin hood hair cut?

I liked all 3

Originally Posted by Tranquilo

So I noticed it finished last night, did anyone actually watch it from start to finish & enjoy it?

I tried watching the first episode but gave up after probably 20 minutes. I came back to it a few times during the season, but could never get through a whole hour. What I saw was poor quality TV drama; what little dialogue there was came over as cheesy. Not much in the way of story or character development. Lot's of jerky, oddly styled montages trying to cover up for a lack of decent writing. And what happened to the tits? One of the things that made the last season at least bearable was that every 15 minutes there would be a nice pair of breasts on screen. The scenes in Kings Cross didn't even look like the cross.

Lol... i watch one episode cause my mate was over and wanted to watch it... i refuse to watch tv drama's made in Australia by Australians with Australian Actors... goes for movies too... for some reason Aussie Actors are only good when in american films.. Comedies are the only exception...

Back on topic Underbelly was one of the worst shows produced.. i think babies wrote the script and filmed it... it was like watch a new Steven Segal movie... Something like a Z-Grade show... I'd rather the pain of watching Sex in the City or Desperate Housewives to Underbelly..

I loved the 1st one, hated th 2nd. Watched every episode of the 3rd just so i could see how much BS was put in there. I was right.
Ps - Joey, I like Sex and the City. LOL

I liked it. Apart from the fact they make johnny ibraham look like some kinda criminal hero saint wtf was with that? so far from the truth. DK was the best but yea he reminded me more of my crazy russian mates than any leb i've ever met (probably the reason i liked him), i also though it was pretty funny that the DK crew were all "fully sick" lebbo's but played by anglo's.

Lol. People living under a rock actually believe this BS. They have no idea what really happened back then, nor what is still happening. Rose coloured glasses are in fashion i hear. haha