Anyway Deborah Mailman shines as the central character of a Queensland senator handpicked by the PM to fill a vacancy.
Having watched the first episode it has so much potential and already questions arise about the motives of the PM (Rachel Griffiths) and where this is going to head.
Looking forward to the next episodes,
38 Reviews
Gripping Australian political drama: Episode 1
susancameron-7167914 October 2019
Deborah Mailman seizes our attention from the start and holds it unwaveringly in the first episode and the script writing and camera work back her all the way. The caricature of the 'Canberra bubble' carried by a cast of instantly recognisable and strong actors fitted comfortably into my prejudices while Rob Collins gave a moving performance as the Senator's brother. This series is exciting - almost enough to wipe the lingering aftertaste of "Pine Gap"!
Season 2 is better than ever
caeevans14 November 2021
I wasn't quite sure how the story in season 2 would develop, but after just watching the first two episodes, I'd say it's better than season 1. This season feels a little more grounded in reality, with Mailman continuing to excel in the role.
Standing ovation from me
thegaleas18 November 2019
Well, I just watched the final episode, and all I can say is WOW. Well done to the writers, and the overall quality is excellent. I love the use of the old Parliament house chambers. The cast give powerful and emotional performances, particularly Deborah Mailman as Alex Irving, Rachel Griffiths as Rachel Anderson and Harry Richardson as Jonathan Cosgrove. Celia Ireland as Tracey Helliar is really growing into her part. Shantae Barnes Cowan as Jess Clarke is a natural, taking us all with her. Gosh William McInnes as Laurie Martin has come a long way since Sea Change, always brilliant. To all the cast and crew, thanks for this very entertaining series. It will become a classic.
Excellent Aussie television
barb-7271630 October 2019
Original superb gripping
sgram-3828115 June 2021
Gets better toward the end - stick with it!
bustopher18 November 2019
I was thinking the first couple of episodes were rather formulaic, not believable and a tad pedestrian. There are some ponderous issues raised, such as how an unknown woman from the bush (and not even a party member) becomes a senator to occupy a casual vacancy. Members who've been going to branch meetings for years will be extremely disappointed by the low entry price Alex had to pay to become a senator.
Another point I had incredible difficulty with was how an aboriginal rights campaigner ends up joining the Liberal/National government. Okay, I'm aware of Neville Bonner and even Ken Wyatt, but I still can't see why Mailman's character - completely upset over lack of indigenous services in the bush - could join the (now) government.
As the episodes proceed, however, and we get to know the characters, the emotional side starts to shine through, and the series massively improves. Not wishing to reveal spolers, I think the main change occurs when Mailman has to race back to her home town to deal with a pressing issue there. That's treated with humour and sensitivity, and humanises the character and the whole series.
Some of the political procedures shown are simply not correct, but perhaps the series can be forgiven for taking shortcuts. However, to a regular watcher of parliament, it grated on me a little about how someone can just stand up in parliament and make a statement or even move a motion without going through the correct procedural processes.
What's interesting is that most of the imagery in parliament house is shot in the new parliament house (Opened in 1987), but when we enter the House of Reps or Senate chamber, we find ourselves down the road at Old Parliament House. I suppose it was a lot easier for the locations manager to book old Parliament House than the new, or indeed for a set to be constructed.
Certainly a worthwhile watch, and I encourage people to not judge this on its first two episodes - it gets a lot better - but far from perfection as some reviewers here would have you believe.
Another point I had incredible difficulty with was how an aboriginal rights campaigner ends up joining the Liberal/National government. Okay, I'm aware of Neville Bonner and even Ken Wyatt, but I still can't see why Mailman's character - completely upset over lack of indigenous services in the bush - could join the (now) government.
As the episodes proceed, however, and we get to know the characters, the emotional side starts to shine through, and the series massively improves. Not wishing to reveal spolers, I think the main change occurs when Mailman has to race back to her home town to deal with a pressing issue there. That's treated with humour and sensitivity, and humanises the character and the whole series.
Some of the political procedures shown are simply not correct, but perhaps the series can be forgiven for taking shortcuts. However, to a regular watcher of parliament, it grated on me a little about how someone can just stand up in parliament and make a statement or even move a motion without going through the correct procedural processes.
What's interesting is that most of the imagery in parliament house is shot in the new parliament house (Opened in 1987), but when we enter the House of Reps or Senate chamber, we find ourselves down the road at Old Parliament House. I suppose it was a lot easier for the locations manager to book old Parliament House than the new, or indeed for a set to be constructed.
Certainly a worthwhile watch, and I encourage people to not judge this on its first two episodes - it gets a lot better - but far from perfection as some reviewers here would have you believe.
Awesome!!!!!
bondcassie13 December 2021
Deb Mailman is incredible in her role. I love love this tv series. Series one was fantastic but Series two....is awesome.
The story of Australian politics is so up to date with what is happening right now.
May the independents win the next election and leave out 2 party idiots out of the game altogether.
The story of Australian politics is so up to date with what is happening right now.
May the independents win the next election and leave out 2 party idiots out of the game altogether.
Gaslighting us
christinacrosby28 November 2021
While I enjoyed watching both series to see strong women in control, series 2 episode 4 had a serious flaw that is effectively gaslighting the viewing public.
As much as Scott Morrison wants to introduce voter ID laws, it is not required at polling stations and a prospective MP would know that. Alex was asked by a snippy woman but her brother was not. I get that it was supposed to reflect casual racism but it was a dangerous and erroneous inclusion. It casts doubt and unease on the rest of the series.
You need ID to register to vote in Australia but because voting is compulsory for registered voters there has been little evidence of voter fraud.
As much as Scott Morrison wants to introduce voter ID laws, it is not required at polling stations and a prospective MP would know that. Alex was asked by a snippy woman but her brother was not. I get that it was supposed to reflect casual racism but it was a dangerous and erroneous inclusion. It casts doubt and unease on the rest of the series.
You need ID to register to vote in Australia but because voting is compulsory for registered voters there has been little evidence of voter fraud.
Great Aussie drama
rainysng99-835-32860623 November 2019
Yes, as the nay-sayers mention, parts of the storyline are implausible as most 'deux ex machina' are - ie they are just devices to structure a story, a plot and the characters' actions.
It is fiction after all, story-telling, and the storyline is not meant to be realistic, any more than "CleverMan" or "Secret City" were. Doesnt mean it doesnt have something important to say about Australian reality, while also making entertaining television.
As for those thinking Rachel was a Gillard-style character - I saw her more as a Julie Bishop style character, as in the 'moderate conservative' :-) I would have preferred an Amanda Vanstone style character - just for the novelty of seeing a poorly dressed female PM - but a minor point :-)
Cast, direction, script, the camera-work - all excellent.
Also as a Canberran, and as ex-PS, many elements also made me both laugh and cry. (But enough with the "cold" jokes!)
It is fiction after all, story-telling, and the storyline is not meant to be realistic, any more than "CleverMan" or "Secret City" were. Doesnt mean it doesnt have something important to say about Australian reality, while also making entertaining television.
As for those thinking Rachel was a Gillard-style character - I saw her more as a Julie Bishop style character, as in the 'moderate conservative' :-) I would have preferred an Amanda Vanstone style character - just for the novelty of seeing a poorly dressed female PM - but a minor point :-)
Cast, direction, script, the camera-work - all excellent.
Also as a Canberran, and as ex-PS, many elements also made me both laugh and cry. (But enough with the "cold" jokes!)
Maybe Living in the Past is More Rewarding
Rupert1717 November 2019
Excellent drama stripping down the moral facade of the Canberra political scene and the overarching desire for power and the associated greed that goes with it.
Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths give powerful performances. Of course, both characters needed to be women to bring validity to a narrative that seeks to expose male hypocrisy. If Rachel Griffith's charater as prime minister had been a male, this would have fueled the argument that the intent was steeped purely in feminist male-bashing and reduced its overall effect.
Perhaps the only criticism I have is the cleverly nuanced portrayal of indigenous people with only minor flaws while those outside their community are beyond help.
Great acting by all concerned and terrific direction by Rachel Perkins.
Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths give powerful performances. Of course, both characters needed to be women to bring validity to a narrative that seeks to expose male hypocrisy. If Rachel Griffith's charater as prime minister had been a male, this would have fueled the argument that the intent was steeped purely in feminist male-bashing and reduced its overall effect.
Perhaps the only criticism I have is the cleverly nuanced portrayal of indigenous people with only minor flaws while those outside their community are beyond help.
Great acting by all concerned and terrific direction by Rachel Perkins.
Lukewarm political drama
ozjosh0313 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Total Control is easily the most hyped Australian drama of this year, so one is entitled to have high expectations. It stars Rachel Griffiths and the always watchable Deborah Mailman. And it's been promoted as a provocative story about racism and race in politics. But maybe the fact that the ABC wimped out on the original title - Black B*tch - should have served as some kind of warning. On the evidence of the first episode, Total Control is too tame and tepid to be worthy of that more gutsy title. And as political drama it never, not even for a few passing moments, rings true. It starts with the country's PM (Rachel Griffith) travelling to outback Winton to personally implore local hero Alex Irving (Mailman) to fill a position in the Senate. Yeah, as if. Alex has come to national prominence by standing up to a violent gunman who then shoots himself in the head right in front of her. Yet it never occurs to anyone that Alex might be dealing with some serious PTSD issues. Yeah, right. Instead, her political handler, Jonathan, is far more concerned about ensuring that Alex delivers the bland, inoffensive maiden speech he has written for her, not the passionate, rousing, straight-from-the-heart everywoman speech she has written for herself. Because in this parallel universe apparently bland makes more political sense than passionate and rousing and saying something that will actually connect with real people everywhere. It's hard to fathom how all manner of presumably educated drama producers and executives could have read any of this and thought "yeah, that makes sense". And yet they did. Mailman is wonderful as always, and the only real reason to watch. She really deserves much, much better.
Excellent Political Drama
sparker-080873 November 2019
Two episodes in and this is still hugely watchable and entertaining. A strong cast and some great characters make for compelling viewing.
Deborah Mailman is brilliant, as usual. It is easy to feel for her character; she draws you in easily. The juxtaposition of bland maiden speech and her first interview works so well.
Rachel Griffiths makes a great prime-minister. Believable and strong.
The supporting case is equally proficient, and I look forward to more screen-time with them.
Highly recommended.
Aussie drama at its best!
clogsclogs18 September 2021
A welcome change of pace
HamIAm8 January 2021
A gripping series - with some political literary license - AND ROB COLLINS!!
thejdrage9 June 2022
I watched this to get away from all the usual formula stuff from the US and wound up staying up until 3 AM watching the entire first season. I was pleasantly surprised at how excellent it was. AND it has ROB COLLINS! It was also nice to see Shantae Barnes-Cowan again. She never fails to impress with her range and her depth. Deborah Mailman is new to me, but I look forward to seeing anything else she's in.
This series starts slow and just keeps building, like all the character. It also brings full forward the problem of the world which is prejudice in all shapes and sizes and colors. And the convoluted games played n politics.
Most importantly, to me, it was about people who care for one another and do everything in their power to make things better for them.
Yes, there are parts where you have to suspend your belief and go with the flow of the story. It's a good one. Enjoy.
This series starts slow and just keeps building, like all the character. It also brings full forward the problem of the world which is prejudice in all shapes and sizes and colors. And the convoluted games played n politics.
Most importantly, to me, it was about people who care for one another and do everything in their power to make things better for them.
Yes, there are parts where you have to suspend your belief and go with the flow of the story. It's a good one. Enjoy.
Continuity
idwallace-4729922 November 2021
In the first episode of the second season of Total Control, the new Prime Minister offered Rachel Anderson (Rachel Griffiths) the position of Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Big mistake!
Australia does not have embassies or ambassadors in any Commonwealth country, including the United Kingdom; they have a High Commission and High Commissioners.
In this show, they do not live in a fictitious country; they live in Australia.
You would think they would get something as simple as this correct.
Australia does not have embassies or ambassadors in any Commonwealth country, including the United Kingdom; they have a High Commission and High Commissioners.
In this show, they do not live in a fictitious country; they live in Australia.
You would think they would get something as simple as this correct.
Promising start but flounders after first few episodes
catnapbc20 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Although there are some really solid performances (I personally never 'bought' into Ms Griffiths portrayal as prime minister), the focus on the personal relationships and many issues and agendas being addressed quickly made this into more of a soap opera than political drama. I was impressed by the many Aboriginal characters that defied the usual cinematic stereotypes and predictable storylines, but it just became far too complex and busy to be able to fully develop anyone or any issue satisfactorily. It's refreshing to see that not all Aboriginal characters are saintly or even likeable at times (Alex drinking too much, swearing too much and screwing another woman's hubby, for instance), as well as the blatant self-serving political apparatus that is all too real. A few unrealistic scenarios and above all, for me, the constant inclusion of unnecessary songs that overwhelmed some scenes, really spoiled it. If you want to showcase a singer or soundtrack, do it at the beginning or end of a show, not all the way through! Arg. Far too much of this is being done lately and it's annoying. If there isn't good writing and character development, then this is one way to carry a production forward. But not for me, thanks. It's watchable but heads downhill after a while in my opinion. A missed opportunity for lots of good talent and premise.
Total Control has commenced in Australia.
wendyf88815 October 2019
Aussie Drama at it's best
john-815-11252810 November 2019
Excellent
bergin9917 February 2020
Really enjoyed this , all the twists and turns of a political drama with multiple good storylines mixed with the beauty of Australia's landscape and culture . Deborah Mailman really shines in this. Well worth watching and hope there's a second season.
Oh dear second season went WOKE,what a disappointment.
Oh dear second season went WOKE,what a disappointment.
... one just okay ... other much different & better
bjarias10 November 2021
... there are two programs being aired this season ... wildly-popular (Yellowstone) & another many might not even know about (Total-Control) ... one-American.. other Australian ... important-subject-matter at times similar yet contrast of styles could not be more-self-evident ... watching both mho highly recommend only one.
Not bad but has HUGE flaws
elena-kucheryavenko1 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Quite interesting, bingewatched 1st season in one evening, good writing, cast.
BUT don't understand:
whole 1st season 2 characters are trying to meet and travelling across whole country to give a video from one to another. Why couldn't they send it? It's a shord video shut on mobile phone by a teenager, who uses social networks and knows how to upload a video. If a girl wanted to get truth for her friend why didn't she send a video to press, put in internet?
And then a senator who knows she's gonna be betrayed, was betrayed already and knows that one of her staff got a job offer from the main villain - goes to meet a fugitive and calls her staff to tell about the meeting, when and where it's happenning. What for? To see if they spill? Seems the writers can't decide either she's naive or able to make a coup.
And what about a senator who can spend weeks and days hunting homeless teenager, waiting till dark at the beach, when this teenager apoints a meeting and doesn't come, and not the first time, forgetting about her own kid? The senators are so overpaid and have so little job and so much free time? It seems implausible.
BUT don't understand:
whole 1st season 2 characters are trying to meet and travelling across whole country to give a video from one to another. Why couldn't they send it? It's a shord video shut on mobile phone by a teenager, who uses social networks and knows how to upload a video. If a girl wanted to get truth for her friend why didn't she send a video to press, put in internet?
And then a senator who knows she's gonna be betrayed, was betrayed already and knows that one of her staff got a job offer from the main villain - goes to meet a fugitive and calls her staff to tell about the meeting, when and where it's happenning. What for? To see if they spill? Seems the writers can't decide either she's naive or able to make a coup.
And what about a senator who can spend weeks and days hunting homeless teenager, waiting till dark at the beach, when this teenager apoints a meeting and doesn't come, and not the first time, forgetting about her own kid? The senators are so overpaid and have so little job and so much free time? It seems implausible.
Quite Brilliant - Not to be Missed
DomenicoScarlatti3 June 2022
There are perhaps five ways to review a tv drama: plot; character; production; casting and 'gut-feel'. Few get a '10/10' in each category. This one does.
The characters are believable, well drawn and compelling. In the tradition of the best drama none of them are perfect, all have their flaws but those flaws make sense. The Italian word 'simpatico' describes them.
The plot draws us in magnetically. It is gripping, relentless and is utterly ( perhaps regrettably) believable.
The plot vacuums us into the harsh political world of Alex and Rachel . We want to know urgently what happens next. The suspense carries on until five seconds before the credits roll at the end of the last episode.
There have been great series on tv: 'Breaking Bad'; 'Brideshead Revisited'; 'Band of Brothers' - this is up there with them.
The characters are believable, well drawn and compelling. In the tradition of the best drama none of them are perfect, all have their flaws but those flaws make sense. The Italian word 'simpatico' describes them.
The plot draws us in magnetically. It is gripping, relentless and is utterly ( perhaps regrettably) believable.
The plot vacuums us into the harsh political world of Alex and Rachel . We want to know urgently what happens next. The suspense carries on until five seconds before the credits roll at the end of the last episode.
There have been great series on tv: 'Breaking Bad'; 'Brideshead Revisited'; 'Band of Brothers' - this is up there with them.
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