McLeod's Daughters - an Aussie series

[kevinbgoode]

I'm finding myself getting hooked on this series that was recently concluded in Australia - and was shown in quite a few countries around the world - well, except the U.S.. Netflix has the DVDS and I've been watching them on instant download, but youtube has some of the episodes as well.

This is a fascinating drama about the owner of a ranch in South Australia who has died and his oldest daughter is taking over the property, which has both cattle and sheep. The father had married a couple of times, and the oldest daughter has a half-sister - when her mother and the biological father died, the half-sister comes back to the ranch to claim her share, and ends up staying. Anyway, I'm only in the first season, but the hook of the story is the way the women build a relationship - not only with each other - but they fire the men working on the ranch and run the place with all women.

The series appears to have been very popular the first few seasons, and I can see why. . .not only does it show women being more than competent learning how to handle things on a large ranch, and the complex relationships they build with each other and the men on the fringes of their lives, but gives a really interesting look at rural life in Australia. But some episodes (at least in the first season) deal with issues like rape in a rural community, some dysfunctional things in families, and a lot about how women look after each other. I wonder why this was never shown in the United States.

Anyway, I wondered if anyone has seen this program - and if not, if someone might enjoy it. The music is very well-done - from an artist named Rebecca Lavelle. While the first episode was so-so to me, I'm finding myself much more involved as I see the characters (and their relationships) develop during the first season's episodes.

P.S. - the scenery is beautiful

Here is the clip of the opening credits and Lavelle's theme song (very short):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htSygg8WByQ

One clip of the opening scene of the first episode: (about 1:47)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJYHl9sSjck

A clip of a part of the first episode, from 2001, I think:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ_bwVvpBzc&NR=1


I really think this could have done well in the U.S. - at least on a cable station!

[TheMadMonk]

1. As an Aussie, I can't say it's entirely realistic. However,...

...it is truish that Aussies are far more interested in someone having the "balls" to pull off the job, than whether or not those balls real or figurative.

Not to say we won't still screw you on the pay, but hey, at least we're letting you do the job on more or less even merit, rather than the more normal twice the job for half the credit.


Oh and on the 70% of a man's pay, shafting you're getting, well simple observation should tell you that we're stupid and greedy enough to keep filling the TO (table of organization) from the bottom up, as cheaply as possible, (ie. with women). Suck up that 30%* and there's every bloody chance we'll hand you the whole bloody show on a platter one of these days.

*I'm only half joking here. There is every chance we blokes are that stupid and shortsighted.

[kevinbgoode]

2. Thank you. . .I enjoy reading your perspective

It is so rare that Americans see television programs from other countries (except a few British shows which usually land on PBS several years after the end of production). I must say that...after going thru season one and starting season two, that I am starting to really enjoy the characters - how different they are and how they stick together as family.

I can see why this show was quite popular the first few years.

[bikebloke]

3. Watching Season Three now.

I liked the first two seasons. But for Season Three is seems like they cranked up the soap. I wish they'd go back to more farm tribulations and less relationship anguish. I'm thinking of completing this season in segments, breaking it up with some other series.

[kevinbgoode]

4. Ah...I'm still in season two. . .episode 14, I think. . .

well, the one where Claire, Tess, Nick, Meg, and Terry are on the cattle drive. . .

The series is pretty addicting. I read somewhere that the later seasons (after five) became too soapish. . .ugh. I really enjoy the episodes where the women are tackling the problems on the farm/ranch/station. The relationship things are interesting as a sidebar...haha...

I wish they would have shown this series in the U.S. - it really is very well done and the characters are unique and likeable.

[bikebloke]

5. Not as bad as later seasons are supposed to be.

Season 3 isn't a complete washout with the soap (sorry about the pun). I'm only up to episode 9 or 10. But there have been a few that feel more like the first two seasons. The one I watched Friday night (I watch one episode per week with my DVD series) was a good one.

Once I was curious and looked for trailers on YouTube for the latter seasons. Not good. I won't hit you with a spoiler, but the character running Drover's Run is the one I wished would get carried away by aliens.

As a result of McLeod's Daughters more women have been applying for jobs on Australia farms.

[kevinbgoode]

6. Wow...is that true?

I mean, more women have been applying for jobs on Australia farms? I think that is great - and it shows how much impact the show had across the country (and New Zealand as well). It is rather popular in quite a few other countries - again, of course, except the U.S., where it hasn't been shown.

I'm really enjoying the show - and don't worry about any spoiler - I had read about later seasons and how difficult it is for a good program to survive many personnel and character changes. I figured I'd keep watching to see if I start disliking it later. . .it is pretty easy to get attached to the original characters - they did a great job and the story lines were both fun and interesting.