What do you get when you cross BabaKiueria with BeDevil (google is your friend)? An illegitimate child called Cleverman and a tired old trope in search of a meme to promulgate.
Season one has come and gone and I stuck it out to the end of "Schindler's Yowies" aka Cleverrman, but I am left with feelings reminiscent of that time when I was gagging for a refreshing cup of coffee only to discover the milk is past its use by date.
When Andrew Macfarlane made an appearance I perked up in the vain hope that this meant Paul Cronin, Tony Bonner and James Laurenson might be about to make a comeback. Surely, in a show of cross-border cooperation, Paul could have called in VKC Matlock to have Tony fly his ranger chopper to the rescue with James (as boney) using his detective skills to fix the mess with the help of Cleverman conjuring the spirit of Ed Deveraux for advice. Now that would have been entertaining! I mean, if you are going to regurgitate ancient stereotypes why not go the whole hog?
I didn't mention Skippy, as I have far too much respect for her non-partisan acting credentials and character depth. But I digress.
I have to worry when concept creator and producer Ryan Griffen states in interview: "The premise of the show, I guess, is is umm..." I can empathise with his desperately juggling hand gestures and know how he feels because I'm trying to guess that there's meant to be more to it than the thin platitudes on offer. The cast makes no apologies; it is a metaphor for perceived attitudes toward aboriginal people and minorities, although Ryan apparently just remembers watching "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and wanted to make a similar film his son could relate to culturally. This offering, however, unlike the Marvel/DC crossover, finds itself sequestered in a laboratory somewhere having its DNA probed for meaning and direction along with the rest of the clones.
The only Cleverman here is the one who suggested there were tax credits available for arts funding in Australia.
It's time to pack some fresh laundry in our "ten canoes" and portage them over the "rabbit- proof fence" to a more productive and enlightened destination.
Season one has come and gone and I stuck it out to the end of "Schindler's Yowies" aka Cleverrman, but I am left with feelings reminiscent of that time when I was gagging for a refreshing cup of coffee only to discover the milk is past its use by date.
When Andrew Macfarlane made an appearance I perked up in the vain hope that this meant Paul Cronin, Tony Bonner and James Laurenson might be about to make a comeback. Surely, in a show of cross-border cooperation, Paul could have called in VKC Matlock to have Tony fly his ranger chopper to the rescue with James (as boney) using his detective skills to fix the mess with the help of Cleverman conjuring the spirit of Ed Deveraux for advice. Now that would have been entertaining! I mean, if you are going to regurgitate ancient stereotypes why not go the whole hog?
I didn't mention Skippy, as I have far too much respect for her non-partisan acting credentials and character depth. But I digress.
I have to worry when concept creator and producer Ryan Griffen states in interview: "The premise of the show, I guess, is is umm..." I can empathise with his desperately juggling hand gestures and know how he feels because I'm trying to guess that there's meant to be more to it than the thin platitudes on offer. The cast makes no apologies; it is a metaphor for perceived attitudes toward aboriginal people and minorities, although Ryan apparently just remembers watching "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and wanted to make a similar film his son could relate to culturally. This offering, however, unlike the Marvel/DC crossover, finds itself sequestered in a laboratory somewhere having its DNA probed for meaning and direction along with the rest of the clones.
The only Cleverman here is the one who suggested there were tax credits available for arts funding in Australia.
It's time to pack some fresh laundry in our "ten canoes" and portage them over the "rabbit- proof fence" to a more productive and enlightened destination.