★★★★★ 0/5

Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities

Any fears that Nine has rushed the second series of Underbelly aren't evident in the first episodes of the prequel series.

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underbelly-taleAny fears that Nine has rushed the second series of Underbelly aren’t evident in the first episodes of the prequel series.

It’s just as strong as the first.

But that’s to be expected. Screentime and the creative team behind Underbelly have now forged quite a reputation. And they know they have a lot to live up to. The gangland drama was the hottest thing on the box last year. It would have been easy to quit while they were ahead.

All the ingredients of the first series are here, if just transported to the 1970s and New South Wales. By the first commercial break we have copped everything that made the series such hot property: language, nudity, violence and drugs. But while these garner all the media attention, and not always for the right reason, it’s the storytelling that continues to be the show’s strongest asset.

The action of the first episode centres on Griffith and a meeting between Italian drug baron Robert Trimbole (Roy Billing) and aspirant crim, the younger Terry Clark (Matthew Newton). Trimbole deals in marijuana but it is Clark who has connections to the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Asia and eyes the huge profits of hard drugs. The two forge a tenuous partnership built on brains and brawn.

But whistleblower and local businessman Donald McKay (Andrew McFarlane) is leading a charge to rid the area of its criminal element. He talks too much and too loudly for the likes of Trimbole. McKay disappears without trace as their drug importation thrives under the nose of Australian Customs.

From here the story focusses on the burgeoning organised crime industry, including corrupt NSW cops and the Great Bookie Robbery in Melbourne.

In the top-heavy male world of Underbelly, there are tough-talking crims, cops and thugs everywhere. Female characters are a blessing.  Asher Keddie plays a Melbourne detective, whose daughter will grow up to become ‘Jacqui James’ (Caroline Craig), the policewoman who narrated the first series. Craig once again resumes this function here, which with a lengthy roll-call of characters, helps the viewer stay on top of the busy action.

Billing and Newton are excellent as the chief protagonists of this tale.

Charactor actor Billing is menacing yet darkly comic as a working class mafia boss of the 70’s. Newton, in a role that affords him a return to form, will impress with his confidence and versatility. Dustin Clare as thug criminal Christopher Dale Flannery has a lot more to show than the early episodes allow. Similarly, Peter O’Brien’s white-sheen George Freeman is only just warming up. Kate Ritchie will appear in the fourth hour and Sam Johnson in the third.

The recreation of the 1970s is outstanding. Production and Costume departments deserve a Logie right now (if we had them). The series spills over with wood-grain brown and gaudy, colours misappropriated onto clothing and cars. Griffith shops, farms, pubs, Sydney girly bars, cop shops and even (the now-defunct) Russell St Police Headquarters are wonderfully envisioned. Aussie rock songs from the era help transport the viewer.

This week Nine made an offer to abide by its M classification ruling for Underbelly. Only a censor will know if the repeated violence, language, nudity and drugs exceed what is allowable in an 8:30pm timeslot. One scene towards the end of the third hour is particularly violent.

If there is any criticism of this prequel it is that the forerunner has diminished, if minimally, its overall impact. We now expect Underbelly to be unforgiving in story, performances and tone. It’s all that.

Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities is a knuckle-sandwich. Hold on for another wild ride.

45_starsUnderbelly: A Tale of Two Cities premieres 8:30pm Monday on Nine.

43 Responses

  1. I agree with those who say Mathew Newton is all wrong cast as a gangster. He wouldn’t scare your little sister.
    Although the bloke playing “Aussie”Bob Trimbole looks like him, he can’t hide his kiwi accent.

  2. Woops!! In the scene towards the end of last night’s (9th) show where the two NSW detectives drive out of the Griffiths motel, a satelite dish can be be seen on the roof. The only people in Oz using satelite dishes back in the late 70s would be ASIOS

  7. hey peter if you can do better then go for it..
    newton is a awesome actor. u need to wear your glasses mate.
    u should read the reviews…. oh thats right your not wearing your glasses! lol
    oh and how has u spoiled the whole series???? we have only seen the first 2!!
    oh thats right…. your not wearing your glasses!!!

  8. Just watched the 1st Episode. Great TV and great casting except for Matthew Newton…. this guy can’t act! He spoils the whole series! What idiot cast him in the role of ‘Mr Asia”? They need to have their arse kicked!
    Matthew Newton is atrocious.

  9. I agree with James R W above – the timing of this is terrible – I like the other 4 shows on Ten and Seven and now have this to tape also. My PVR is going to get a work out! 🙂

    On a seroius note though, its for this reason Underbelly will have to bolt of the gates to catch audiences straight away – otherwise they’ll all drift back to Seven for Desperates or Ten for GNW, both of which I understand rated quite well last year.

    Having said that, my pick is that Underbelly will thrash both those shots in its slot tonight.

    1. There have been a number of comments on this point, most of which are unpublishable because they don’t adhere to the outcome of court cases. Whether this matter affects the size of a potential audience we’ll know by Tuesday.

      That said there is also something to be said for acknowledging mistakes and rising above the past with solid work.

  11. Just tape one & watch the other!

    As for Matt Newton don’t dismiss him as an actor because of an error of judgement or because he’s Berts son and you hate Nine. Please be objective.

    Fact is he is an excellent actor and wouldn’t get a role like this because he’s Berts son that’s just silly talk. He was brilliant in Changi & in a recent Oz movie(forgotten the name of it) his acting ability was praised by none other then David & Margaret from The Movie Show who know their stuff.

    That’s all.

  12. I think Jed has a point here. The violence and sex in the original Underbelly, to me, felt forced, almost gratuitous; shoe-horned in as if the writers believed that’s how ‘criminals’ should behave. It didn’t feel integrel to the plot and characters, acting instead as titilation (in part perhaps to attract the ‘bogan’ demograph).

    Anyone who has seen Underbelly or who’s contemplating watching A Tale of Two Cities should first watch Blue Murder and see how it’s really done. This sublime crime mini-series is the definitive Australian drama, end of story. Underbelly apes much of the style and tone of Blue Murder minus the spellbinding performances, ferocious direction and intricate, finely nuanced screenplay.

    You honestly felt Blue Murder’s motley crew of reprehensible villains could actually be the real people but for mine, the cast of colourfuls in Underbelly all seem like your staple Aussie actors getting their moment in the sun playing crooks (ie: all that pointless nonsense with the Carlton Crew at Princess Park). Some of the supports were ropey too, not helped by a script with clunky, naive dialogue.

    Whilst Underbelly had its moments, I’m hoping for more from A Tale of Two Cities… It will doubtless arrive like its predecessor to much fawning fanfare and hysteria and subsequently huge ratings. However, the problem with most Channel Nine programs is that the final product rarely matches the hype…

  14. Living in Melbourne, I dont know what to expect as I did right thing and only saw heavily edited “1st series” which i thought was just “soso”
    Like a few others, I am not a fan of Matthew Newton (family name gets you gigs eh !!) Will watch double ep on Monday night and try to keep clear mind as rest of cast seems good but Newton as Mastermind of evil (gimme a break)

  16. I have spoken with a few people and like me enjoyed the first Underbelly but not interested in this one at all, mainly due to Matthew Newton being in it. I’ve said it before how I can’t stand this guy and don’t see what the appeal is, maybe it had something to do with Daddy’s contract! I mean the guy has had a bit of bad publicity and rightfully so as far as I’m concerned but in typical channel nine spirit they seem to support losers like him.

  22. Can’t wait to see Matt Newton in full flight this guy is an amazing actor. Will be interesting to see how Kate Richie goes and whether she has a future as a serious actor.

  24. Thats pretty high praise. I probably won’t bother with it this year coz the 1st season was probably enough for me, but I expect this to rate through the roof. I call 2 million for the first two episodes.

  25. Been subscribed to your RSS feed for ages now, and am amazed at the quality and sheer amount of articles I get from TV Tonight – the only TV news I read. Thank you. Anyway great review, much appreciated. I mean technically I can’t be sure if it’s a great review until I’ve viewed it for myself, but yeah… the new series looks shaped to be another classic. Can’t wait until I get a hold of these episodes! Cheers.

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