I had the luxury of watching all 5 seasons in a period of a month or two (thanks to Acorn) and although I really enjoyed the series at the start, I was disappointed to see it deteriorate over time.
The last two seasons were particularly sad - sad to see such intelligent and ethical characters like Penny go over to the dark side. Of course one character that didn't change was Hugh, but that was fine since he started out as a self-centered, albeit charming, jerk (with some redeeming qualities.) Charlie also devolved into a shrew when they brought the actress back after her pregnancy hiatus (how ironic was that?) Hailey and Ajax never did go downhill since they started out there in the first place (at least the Christian Hailey didn't lecture about God as often as I feared. But really -- low morals for a supposedly devout Christian). And I was hoping Meryl would get her comeuppance - what a terrible person she was portrayed as. The final episode sort of regained the feeling of the early seasons, but perhaps they kept the series going a little longer than was necessary, although it looks like it was a windfall for cast and crew.
My thoughts about some of the cast and their characters (Cast likeability 1-5); (Character arc over time in show: 1-5) 5 is best rating.
Rodger Corser (5) Hugh Knight (5 - 4) Nicole da Silva (5) Charlie (5 - 3) Ryan Johnson (5) Matt Knight (5 - 4) Tina Bursill (4) Meryl Knight (3 - 1) Hayley McElhinney (5) Penny (5 - 3) Chloe Bayliss (3) Hayley (3 - 2) Matt Castley (2) Ajax (2 - 1) Belinda Bromilow (5) Betty (5 - 4) Charles Wu (5) Ken (5 - 4) Patrick Wilson (4) Rod Eagle (3 - 3) Winta McGrath (4) Floyd (4 - 3) Steve Bisley (5) Jim Knight (5 - 3) Brittany Clark (5) Mia (5 - 4) Miranda Tapsell (4) April (4 - 3) Uli Latukefu (5) Darren (4 - 3) Shalom Brune-Franklin (5) Aoife (5 - 5) Kate Jenkinson (4) Tara - (3 - 3) Dustin Clare (5) Jarrod (5 - 5) Chantelle Jamieson (5) Sharna (4 - 4) Annabel Wolfe (3) Ivy (2 - 1) Vince Colosimo (3) Carlito (2 - 2) Angus McLaren (5) Toke (5 -5) John Waters (3) Michael (3 - 2) Lincoln Younes (4) Tom (4 - 3)
The last two seasons were particularly sad - sad to see such intelligent and ethical characters like Penny go over to the dark side. Of course one character that didn't change was Hugh, but that was fine since he started out as a self-centered, albeit charming, jerk (with some redeeming qualities.) Charlie also devolved into a shrew when they brought the actress back after her pregnancy hiatus (how ironic was that?) Hailey and Ajax never did go downhill since they started out there in the first place (at least the Christian Hailey didn't lecture about God as often as I feared. But really -- low morals for a supposedly devout Christian). And I was hoping Meryl would get her comeuppance - what a terrible person she was portrayed as. The final episode sort of regained the feeling of the early seasons, but perhaps they kept the series going a little longer than was necessary, although it looks like it was a windfall for cast and crew.
My thoughts about some of the cast and their characters (Cast likeability 1-5); (Character arc over time in show: 1-5) 5 is best rating.
Rodger Corser (5) Hugh Knight (5 - 4) Nicole da Silva (5) Charlie (5 - 3) Ryan Johnson (5) Matt Knight (5 - 4) Tina Bursill (4) Meryl Knight (3 - 1) Hayley McElhinney (5) Penny (5 - 3) Chloe Bayliss (3) Hayley (3 - 2) Matt Castley (2) Ajax (2 - 1) Belinda Bromilow (5) Betty (5 - 4) Charles Wu (5) Ken (5 - 4) Patrick Wilson (4) Rod Eagle (3 - 3) Winta McGrath (4) Floyd (4 - 3) Steve Bisley (5) Jim Knight (5 - 3) Brittany Clark (5) Mia (5 - 4) Miranda Tapsell (4) April (4 - 3) Uli Latukefu (5) Darren (4 - 3) Shalom Brune-Franklin (5) Aoife (5 - 5) Kate Jenkinson (4) Tara - (3 - 3) Dustin Clare (5) Jarrod (5 - 5) Chantelle Jamieson (5) Sharna (4 - 4) Annabel Wolfe (3) Ivy (2 - 1) Vince Colosimo (3) Carlito (2 - 2) Angus McLaren (5) Toke (5 -5) John Waters (3) Michael (3 - 2) Lincoln Younes (4) Tom (4 - 3)