Underbelly - Season 2 The Mr Asia Story (4 Disc Set) reviews

Despite some lead actor shortcomings, this particular series is essential viewing. A gorgeous leading lady, fabulous performances from all the cast, the gradual moral slide from excitement to ruthlessness, to murderous madness. The heroic pursuit by dedicated police, despite corruption from the top, and political manoeuvring behind the scenes. The villains were as capable as their opposition. But with success came megalomania, and the distorting lens of powerful drugs. For a sheer roller coaster ride to hell, this series takes some beating. Just a slight level of palpable menace is missing at the start – Clark arrived in Oz seasoned killer, but it takes a while for this trait to emerge in this series.
Overall, top marks for a superb effort, destined to become a classic.

What I have to say about this will probably make me really unpopular for saying… But I want to say it. As the sister of a dead Sydney heroin junkie, I find myself deeply troubled at the glamorisation of the people who have brought such misery into the lives of so many. ‘Kiwi Terry’ – officially believed to have murdered a half dozen people – is guilty of a lot more than half a dozen. This series made these people seem young, fun and innocent – far more innocent than they were. Alison Dine, for all her ‘kindy teacher’ innocence, her prettiness and sweetness – was not! You cannot bring in a couple of hundred pounds of heroin, process it, and get it to market ‘innocently’. It's true that it's an amazing story – but maybe we'd all have amazing stories – even bigger than these ones – if we had three-quarters of a billion dollars to play with. These people weren't cutting edge or cool or fun… They were vicious, mean thugs who not only turned on innocent people – killing anyone in their way – but they also turned on each other. One of the big draws to gangs is the ‘family’ they offer. But what kind of family turns on each other – sends hitmen to kill each other- The truth is, removing the cinematic masterpiece that this TV show is, removing the dramatic and well-placed music, the dry Aussie humour (which I do love), you're left with an absolutely grizzly storyline. That's the danger of this… It's so entertaining. But if only people could have seen Terry Clarke's ‘clients’… My brother, for example, a heroin user who contracted AIDS. This is the reality of Terry Clarke's heroin empire. I'm simply not sure how to rate this… It would be top marks for TV viewing – but bottom marks for making these nasty guys out to be just ‘good ole boys’. But since that's said – I have decided to rate it based on its viewing appeal – therefore, top marks.