Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities

A Sweeping Australian Crime Saga: Season Two Of The Popular Franchise
The fascinating television import "Underbelly" finally got a U.S. distribution earlier this year in a three season set, but now the individual seasons are being released separately. I first became aware of "Underbelly" when I read that it was Australia's answer to "The Sopranos." Since that first comparison, I've heard the same point made countless times. To be frank, other than the fact that they are two adult series set in the criminal underworld, I don't think that generalized statement is very apt or has much bearing on whether or not you'll enjoy this show. If you are expecting a rich "Sopranos" type narrative and continuing storyline, this isn't quite going to fulfill your expectations. But that doesn't make it any less intriguing. The general tone of "Underbelly" is a bit more lurid. The show itself has much more of a docudrama feel, recreating significant true events in Australia's criminal history complete with plenty of gratuitous nudity and violence. With edgy camera work,...

13 part series on Australian underworld
"A Tale of Two Cities" is a very well done drama about the Aussie mob. This series is a pretty unique telling of the Australian underworld beginning in the 1970's up to the present day. Its interesting in that it is not a traditional TV series in the way recurring characters are used in each season. "Underbelly" is more of a collection of mini series, each 13 parts with different characters in each season.

This season is chronologically the first in that it takes place between 1976 and 1987, but technically "Underbelly" began with "War on the Streets," using the same concept yet telling the story of the predominant gangs Australia during the late 90's and early 2000's. I have not yet seen the other seasons, but this season is comprable to most mob shows in America. The production value is not quite up to HBO standards, but the acting and writing is extremely complex and gives a great depiction of how organized crime is found in all parts of the world. There are alot of...



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