East West 101 (2007–2011) User Reviews

Well made, but shaky camera ruined it

[latinfineart · 6/10 · 3 July 2020]

Personally, I only occasionally enjoy hand held camera work. Most of the time, it takes a good movie like the Green Zone, or a good TV show, and diminishes it significantly. I can say that was the case here. The acting was good, and so was the production.

The racist, profiling, Arab hating part of the first episode was a little over the top, but we are talking about Australia. Not the most tolerant of people.

FASCINATING CONCEPT

[kirbylee70-599-526179 · 8/10 · 13 April 2018]

The world is filled with tension these days. The possibility of war between various countries looms if you believe everything you read in the press. The fear of nuclear holocaust hasn't been this pervasive since the 1960s. While the potential is and always has been there the reality is that the odds of it happening are slim. And yet a fear remains in place.

Much of that fear stems from the actions that have involved Muslim extremists. Now please note this is not ALL Muslims but extremists we are talking about here. This would mean those that feel the need to wipe anyone who disagrees off the face of the Earth. The problem is that far too many associate ALL Muslims with this movement. Sadly those that have no connection are paying for the actions of the few.

Few films or TV series have actually covered this topic in depth. Some have touched on it but nothing major. With the exception of one. EAST WEST 101, which aired on the SBS network in Australia in 2007 made this the center piece of the series with all other actions revolving around it. Why no one has taken the series to reset it in another country is beyond imagination. It would work so well in creating a bridge between people.

The story focuses around police detective Zane Malik (Don Hany), a Muslim on the elite Major Crime Squad in Sydney, who faces scrutiny and distrust from his fellow officers due to his faith. His partner is Sonny Koa (Aaron Fa'aoso), a Samoan-Australian who faces as much prejudice as Zane due to his heritage. As part of the team they focus is on crimes taking place in Sydney that range from gang violence to murder. Covering the area of Sydney that houses a number of immigrants creates more tension than should exist.

One of the main officers on the team is Detective Ray Crowley (William McInnes). Crowley is filled with plenty of prejudice against nearly any and every one you can imagine. He focuses much of this against Zane and the two face off more than once in the first season. The second episode spends much of its time focusing on Crowley when his son is found dead of a heroin overdose. Filled with guilt over the death and knowing that the man who most likely sold him the drugs was foreign, the possibility of Crowley being the killer of this drug dealer is introduced. That internal affairs is leading an investigation into his conduct doesn't help.

So what makes this series work? Why is it so interesting and why would is it a show that other countries should emulate? The main focus of the series is the answer. The combination of prejudice mixed with the fear the world fears after numerous attacks and bombings is a balancing act that deserves discussion. And the series never turns away from that discussion. It embraces it and shows the differences in cultures not just from one side but both.

The pervasive fears of non-Muslims in a world of terrorists threats is normal but at the same time can become irrational when you begin thinking that ALL Muslims are the enemy. And the distrust of those who are Muslim in a country where they are treated poorly based on the actions of a minority of their religion creates a resentment as well. The character of Zane tries to balance both sides, remaining faithful to his religion and family while working within the system to prove his worth their, that he can be trusted like any other member of the force.

The acting on the show is wonderful with each actor playing their part to perfection. Hany does a great job in the lead role, displaying an intensity when called for and a softer side when needed. One hopes that he moves on to bigger and better things. McInnes as Crowley is a character that you will loathe early on and never remove that loathing for him even when he's faced with the death of his son. He is an unsympathetic character that you want badly to feel something for but then he opens his mouth and all sympathy is lost again. How you feel by the end of the series depends on your views.

Acorn Media is just now releasing the first season of the series with the second soon to follow. It provides viewers around the world with a chance to experience TV from another country and they're bringing some of the best there is to find. This is one of those good ones and while only 6 episodes long is a real treat. If you're looking for a crime drama that offers something a little different then I highly suggest this series. You won't be disappointed.

Heads above other current TV shows

[v-ley · 8/10 · 13 June 2018]

The writing, the action , the stories, the team work, all makes for a wonderful show. I have also found their accents a bit hard to figure out, not the arabic, just the actual local accent. I'm not a fan of the Woman in charge, I find her character so one dimensional and way too obvious. Her appearance seems to be too "pretty" and all in place rather than based in reality. She also casts a shadow on racism to even remotely allow the banter between the two head detectives to come to such a raw conclusion. I would encourage all law enforcement to watch this show, it may help you in your indecisions towards other cultures, actions/reactions. Bravo for stories well told and extremely well acted.

This edgy drama is an absolute must - do not miss it!

[akcowell · 9/10 · 11 January 2008]

I have just watched the final episode of this outstanding Australian police drama and about the only thing that surprises me is how few people seem to be even aware of its existence. Every episode is like a high class feature film. You simply will not see anything better from anywhere in the world. I don't really want to write 10 lines - I just want to implore you to watch it for yourself. Featuring some of Australia's finest actors and a very evocative musical score, it portrays a gritty picture of Australia's urban underbelly. The script is tight and twitchy and never a dull moment. Every aspect is simply superb. This edgy drama is an absolute must - do not miss it!

I'm in awe.

[ghmevans · 10/10 · 10 January 2008]

A ten rating from me for a cop show? Yup.

I've seen some cop shows, from at least a dozen countries I'm almost embarrassed to say, but none better than 'East West 101'. It's simply awesome the journey we take through just six episodes. The characters are so well drawn, by writers directors and actors, that it could easily be extended in various directions. But it doesn't need to be. At just six episodes it's a gem of rare distinction. Exciting, beautiful, moving, satisfying. I'm in awe. And beautiful Sydney, a city I know well, is up there on the screen, heart and soul. May that same spirit heal the world.

I'd prefer not to single out contributors to a superb collaborative effort. Just congratulations Team!

Do yourself a favor if you get the chance.

police drama taken to a new level

[wcashley · 10/10 · 4 September 2009]

This is the best police drama series I've ever seen, and probably one of the best TV shows I've ever seen. I can't wait for the new season (starting at the end of September in Australia). Watch it for yourself and enjoy - you won't be disappointed.

There is a sense of realism and character depth that is rare for TV. The acting is top class, and you find yourself drawn in and wanting more. It's also visually appealing and the characters have a sex appeal that comes from being so emotionally available to the viewer (and yes, they are a good looking lot too). The plots are complex yet easy to follow, probably because the scripts are so good.

Superior police shoe

[rdd-23304 · 10/10 · 5 April 2021]

I'm watching this in 2021 and it seems very fresh.

I appreciate that this was made with good intentions

[whatithinkis · 1/10 · 7 June 2018]

The shaky camera work is just too distracting for me. There's a roughness to the work, speaking too fast, unpleasant editing. Sorry it's a no for me. I do understand that it's a worthy undertaking but my main interest is entertainment and the technical problems in this take me out of the experience.

Really enjoyed this.

[ZinQ · 9/10 · 28 February 2021]

Real shame there weren't more episodes. But I have to say, I kept watching not because it's a damn good show, but that I find Don Hany so damned hot!

Poor English

[mrshadow-2 · 9 October 2008]

I've seen only 2 episodes so far, but both have been very good.

Very believable acting by the main character, the Muslim police officer. I'm not really sure where the action takes place, either New Zealand or Australia.

This show is very different from US cop shows (ex. CSI: Miami or Third Watch). More fast-paced, less focus on forensics but more emphasis on the characters and how they get on with each other.

The only problem is the heavy accent of the actors. I have to turn on the text caption to figure out what they're saying because they talk very fast and half the time it doesn't sound like English (and yes I know the main character speaks arabic sometimes... that's not what I'm talking about).

A Must Watch Series

[marlynn1111 · 10/10 · 31 August 2019]

This series is exceptional not only the plot lines but a big shout out to the many fantastic actors and their believable stirring performances Hang is superb and I love his side kick. - what a team More please

Go undercover as easy as eating a pie

[MovieIQTest · 21 July 2023]

This is one of those TV drama series that when you watched the first couple of episodes, it looked so promising, but after that, each episode you watched, the rating just keeps coming down unstoppable.

All the leading cops in this series are very unprofessional, even amateurish. The female chief kept having sexual relationships with her senior detective and having another affair with the outsider. The two senior detectives even had fist fight in the office. Their family members kept meddling with their police works. They even could give up and drop what they were doing in any police investigation to take care of their family matters right away soon after they received calls from their wives or kids. A big Australian metropolitan city turned out to look like a Middle East shanty town. The soundtrack was even tuned in Arabic music completely that would make you feel like watching a Muslim country soap opera.

In the early episodes of Season 2, we saw the guy went undercover, but the lazy script made him so easy to be an undercover to infiltrate the arms dealer and so easily became his confidante in an unbelievable short period of time. As we used to know, if a guy was chosen to be an undercover, there would be a thorough, almost split-the-hair filtering process to build the guy's personal background, family and social history, fake identifications, even with fake jail time, whatever that these information and material could be used to prove he is the real deal. But in this lazy and amateurish episodes of season 2, the guy simply waltz into the arms dealer's organization without being checked out thoroughly by the crime syndicate. What became even more ridiculous is we saw this guy would go home kissing wife and kids, answering phone calls and, Jesus, could go back to his police headquarter talking to his partner, his superior chief, participate meetings. Well, if becoming an undercover so easily like what saw in the brainless season 2, everybody could become undercover as easy as this guy.

From Season 2, this series did show its weakness and continued the deterioration and almost became quite laughable. What made me feel more uncomfortable and painful was seeing how Australia almost became a Muslim country in this series, even the soundtrack was using Middle Eastern music, and they made it in 2007 to 2011. I simply couldn't imagine what Australia looks like in 2023.