etherspin pretty good pedigree of writers and producers, very likable characters. The show is not overly predictable and hits all the right notes, nothing controversial or groundbreaking unlike some of its predecessors (secret life of us ,love my way etc) - probably the main downside is the farcical / not even real jokes the pretend stand-up comedians give at the comedy club that is a regular hangout for the characters on the show. The actors are all great fits with some more than others (Karvan for example) are riveting to watch with the real emotional quality they bring to their respective roles but even the short term characters for subplots are excellent . Im waiting patiently for season 2 now that my favourite characters are intertwining and others are on equally interesting trajectories

jlarson-640-540909 It is fair to say that the quality of the cast gives the show a big lift. The cast are well chosen for their roles and, mostly, familiar faces. It is also fair to say that the script does let the show down, however, not very often fortunately. The overall story is believable while being meaty enough to stir up the emotions from time to time. I have found no difficulty in following the many interwoven stories of the characters lives. The realism of relationships between friends and families can be sometimes annoying and sometimes warm and fuzzy, and there are bits for most people to relate to. I have heard many friends and colleagues talk of the show and discuss the characters or plot lines that seem to get them going, so I always have someone to share my favorite bits with, or bag the characters that are annoying me. The show has that multi faceted look at life feel, similar to 'Love My Way'(which Claudia Karvan was also in). It is different in that it's not as edgy or "sexy", perhaps a little more appealing to a wider audience. Go Aussie drama !!

Bob Highland If you look at the premise of this series - one more examination of the daily lives of a bunch of suburban characters, most of them somehow related, chronicling their triumphs and disappointments - one could be forgiven for thinking that it's just another soap. After all, the line between upmarket soap opera and quality drama can be confusingly thin at times.For mine, this definitely falls into the latter category. It's true that the story lines fall into the usual run of spousal tensions, generational issues, affairs, blended families and how the kids are affected, with associated logistical problems. But then, that's life, innit? You don't need to be in a train-wreck to have at least one phase of your life that resembles one.The trick in making such well-worn stories worth watching anew is in providing moments of genuine drama, with authentic emotional reactions and dialogue that rings true for each character, with sufficient nuance to let us feel that we are they, and we know exactly what they're going through. Yes, perhaps some of the situations here are a bit familiar and obvious, but at least they don't all say the bleedin' obvious.In the end, the main differentiator between the two genres is a well-wrought script coupled with an ensemble cast that's capable of doing justice to it. Not to mention having the restraint to avoid a closing shot of a character staring into the middle distance with the expression of a stunned mullet. And resisting the temptation to include an explosion or inferno to ramp up the stakes a bit.On that basis, this is a fine effort. Good, thoughtful scripts, and excellent performances all round.

Lima Halen I was fully expecting to love this show. It has a cast of fine actors doing a fine job, but unfortunately the clumsy script lets them down. The thing has no heart or direction, just a lot of not very interesting, one-dimensional characters going nowhere, who seem to function only as stage props for each other. Their relationships have no depth or form, their thin history known only through awkward anecdotes. The dialogue is laughable. ("Do you remember that trip we did to Nepal last year?") The motion set up in the first episode fails to gain momentum, though I guess there's still time for something meaningful to happen. I've persevered through three or four episodes but can't face another one. I'd like some insight, some depth or maybe some lively plot development, but it's just limp. These are people I find hard to care about. If this is the time of their lives, heaven help them through the decades of excruciating tedium ahead.