The Ex-PM (2015–2017) User Reviews

Very, very funny

[BarnabusRex · 8/10 · 27 October 2021]

Let me start with a comment on other reviews. I think Aussies went into this looking for a comedy that speared their politicians and are disappointed that this (as dar as I can tell) doesn't do that. In common with the other Brits reviewing this however, any comments about Aussie politics are relatively moot anyway and we get to focus on the characters.

And if you come in with the understanding that this is not stinging political satire as Yes (Prime) Minister was, but a jet black farce propelled by grotesque characters with few to none redeeming features, then you can relax and enjoy the ensuing ridiculousness on display without caring whether it scores political hits or not or approaches any kind of realism.

It is very funny. It does take a while to build into it with the first half of the first season being much more subtle and refined, it raises a smile and some titters, but as the show goes on, the humour broadens out and many of the episodes leave me very merry.

It's not perfect - there's a big shift, not just in tone, but also in concept between series 1 and 2 as the Ex-Pm returns to the hustings in an attempt to be more on the nose. Although series 2 takes the farce to even greater heights, it does kind of defeat the point of calling the show The Ex-PM. Also a couple of the characters just don't make the jump. Both Ellen and Rita may as well be entirely different characters between Series 1 and 2, through no fault of the actors involved.

Does it matter? Not really. The show more than earns its way. There are lots and lots of sitcoms out there that don't. Well worth a watch.

Very funny! (Review from a non-Australian)

[orcadiansmeghead · 9/10 · 17 November 2015]

OK, so admittedly my experience of Australian cinema and television is probably limited to the only things that I can remember when put under pressure - Mad Max (which probably isn't Australian, I don't know) Home and Away, Eden, Neighbours.. and Sons and Daughters. Really bad as I am a self certificated movie and TV buff lulz You may also see my experiences stem from the 1980's so it's been a while!

I came into this show after finding it by accident on MXQ. We don't seem to have access to Australian media in any other practical way over here :P - so in other words I was completely blind to the characters, the setting, and the actors. I have never seen any of them before, in anything.

...soooo from an ignorant Brit, here is my short review - this is the FUNNIEST sitcom I have seen in a long time. I have found every episode laugh out loud and up to now I have watched each available episode now five times, including ep5 which I saw last night. I cannot wait for the next and hope this continues into a second season.

Andrew Dugdale was running a country the size of Australia? Jeepers! His character is very similar to Alan Partridge in a number of ways, although Alan Partridge is more of a cartoon character in that there is probably only a handful of people who are even remotely as disgusting as him - Andrew Dugdale is funny without thinking he is being so, and very straight played - and very believable as a normal guy even as a comedy character and I have met a number of people like him throughout my life. He is educated but only in a specific area, so the basic things normal people might take for granted he is a little ignorant of. He cannot cook, he cannot do his own tie without looking at a Youtube video, his ability to communicate with and listen to people are limited - he is self centered, ignorant, not all that arrogant although he does seem to think he knows his place even though he's probably a little lower than he thinks! There are a very small number of main characters in this show who I will not go into, who all provide Andrew with his situations and gaffes. All very funny, especially his driver, Curtis Curtis Curtis lulz, with slight brain damage and metal plate in his head whose role in life is to keep Andrew's car egg free.

I must add, that the incident which prompted me to actually put a review on here was from Episode 4 - when Neil Blanchard his old arch enemy in politics is having a 'snooze' on an inflatable li-lo in Andrew's pool. Andrew's conversation with him where he tells him some light home truths followed by a greeting card he presents to him then reads to him, in which he tries to right some wrongs from the past is very moving and changes Andrew's character for a moment into a normal human being. Best part of the whole series so far - it doesn't matter that before, throughout and shortly after the entire swimming pool scene, Andrew is completely unaware his poor nemesis isn't actually asleep and is quite dead! Very well written comedy with brilliant characters and I know I will be watching this for years to come.

I've actually read a few reviews for this show across the web, all from Australians most of which seem to be a bit mediocre so I thought I'd give a foreigners perspective on it. Certainly I'd recommend everyone give this a run. Despite being about an ex prime minister, its not a particularly political show and can probably be enjoyed by everyone, young and old. My only gripe with it is the episodes are far too short at about 25 minutes. I'd prefer far more input during each chapter! 8/10

Marvellous!

[dianeevanssmolski · 10/10 · 26 December 2019]

I have just finished watching Series 1, and absolutely loved it! Shaun Micallef is terrific as usual, as are the other actors. The humour is often very subtle, so if you're not paying attention, it could go right over your head, and seem boring, but it's not. I loved it!

Opportunity Lost

[jamesmoule · 4/10 · 29 October 2015]

Australia now has several ex-PMs, all of whom are open to ridicule and make the news for the wrong reasons. If the cartoonists can find humour in the lives of former prime ministers, why couldn't the writers of this series? The premise on which the series in based should have provided lots of good ideas. Instead, we have appalling over-acting and quite stupid story lines, far removed from the hilarious reality that the real ex-PMs provide. Consider what the writers of "Yes Minister" could have done with such a scenario. Where that series had wit and satire, this show has slapstick. After two episodes, the writers were burnt out.

Disappointing

[gburnfie · 4/10 · 18 November 2015]

I missed the first 5 episodes, so am only commenting on the last episode. With Shaun Micallef writing and starring, I was looking forward to seeing this. I've loved everything he's done, from Mad as Hell to Milo Kerrigan, so was ready to be entertained again.

I find it hard to believe that Shaun actually wrote this - it's laboured, obvious and downright silly at times, with none of the cleverness and wit he normally displays.

The acting is also terrible - I realise it's not meant to be taken seriously, but it comes across as just actors reading their lines.

Although I'm not mad as hell, I'm very disappointed.

Average

[robert-85923 · 4/10 · 26 April 2018]

Rather average. It's not awful but it's not great either.

The character of Andrew Dugdale is unbelievable. How could someone be so dim and have been PM? You could argue that James Hacker in Yes Minister / Yes Prime Minister as dim but there was a good deal more realism there.

Ming-Shu Hii - Rita's French accent is awful and Nicki Wendt - Catherine (Dugdale's wife) compete to be worse actors even than Shaun Micallef.

While Shaun Micallef is a good satirist he's not a great actor. We see far too much of him and not enough of Andrew Dugdale.

The script is pedestrian and the comedy tiring, if not embarrassing at times.

Best relegated to day time TV.