BANJO PATTERSON'S THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER: THE McGREGOR SAGA

SEASON 1

    SUMMARY

                The story of The Man From Snowy River is the most famous of all Banjo Patterson's works and it is captured majestically on film in this acclaimed Australian production. Set in the renowned Snowy Mountains this series takes you into the heartland of a beautilful wilderness and deep into a mythology entrenched in the Australian experience. Stories of love, loyalty and determination have made Snowy River a success with audiences world wide.

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DAVE G'S FLASHPOINT SEASON 1 REVIEW:

         'Banjo Patterson's Man From Snowy River: The McGregor Saga' is a show that gets better as the season goes on. Early on the 'family' nature of the show gets in the way of some of the more dramatic storylines but then disappears as the season moves on, and ends up heading into a season finale that works only because a little bit of violence was allowed to show through.

        Also damaging the Season early on was the fact that the producers didn't have the money early on to make some of the stunts look realistic, but again that problem ends as the season moves on. Viewers who stick with the show will also see the acting just gets better and better as well, which can only be expected with the likes of Andrew Clarke, Guy Pearce and Joshua Lucas at the forefront.

        While the writers are a little out of touch on the romance stakes (people fall in and out of love at a whim), the whole McGregor vs Blackwood story works remarkably well and this show does justice to Banjo Patterson's work.

        A great show that just gets better as the Season goes on.
RATING:- *** (out of 5)

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1.01 The Race
Guest Stars:     Ben Geurens (Michael O'Neil), Terry Gill (Mayor), Clive Hearne (Charlie The Blacksmith), Colette Mann (Mrs. Carney)
 

           

Summary:
The famous Matt McGregor finds himself drawn to a beautiful young widow who has returned to Australia while at the same time a mysterious and dangerous young American lad challenges him..
 

Dave's Review:
A well written pilot although you feel that it is held back a little by the fact that the true 'violence' doesn't get a chance to shine because it is being made a family show. Still the characters are interesting and the Luke/Blackwoods vs McGregor Family story seems like it will certainly have legs.
RATING:- *** (out of 5)

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1.02 Pascoe's Principle

Guest Stars:     Nigel Bradshaw (Mr. Pascoe), Ben Geurens (Michael O'Neil), Collette Mann (Mrs. Carney), Rachel McCully (Doreen)

Summary
When the sadistic new school teacher savagely punishes his daughter, Danni, Matt is forced to take action. His son and nephew, Rob and Luke play dangerous games to win the affections of the beautiful Victoria Blackwood. 

Dave's Review:
Some smart writing sees the Luke vs McGregors hot up, although while the 'teacher' storyline is mentioned as the top story it is in fact just a side story.
RATING:- *** (out of 5)

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1.03 Kathleen's Choice

Guest Stars:     David Bradshaw (Steve), Nathan Doekes (Sean Carney), Ben Geurens (Michael O'Neil), Reg Gorman (Mr. Fowler), Maggie King (Mrs. Fowler), Sheryl Munks (Emily Cornish)

Summary

A competitor arrives to challenge Matt for the affections of Kathleen O'Neil until Matt and Kathleen have a romantic encounter while snowbound.

Dave's Review:
This episode really picks up with it's dramatic writing, especially in dialogue, it is remarkably better then the previous episodes. The romantic tension between Victoria and Luke and Matt and Kathleen also keeps the audience interested.
RATING:- **** (out of 5)

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1.04 Partnerships

Guest Stars:     Ben Geurens (Michael O'Neil), Chris Inglis (Jeff 'the bully'), Colette Mann (Mrs Carney), Rachel McCully (Doreen), Sheryl Munks (Emily Cornish)

Director:         Marcus Cole
Writer:             Ted Roberts

Summary:

Their romantic affair takes a comedic turn when Rob rescues Victoria after she is stranded in the outback.

Dave's Review:
A 'feel' good episode that relies on comedy to get the message across, and while the writers have done a wonderful job keeping the Rob and Victoria relationship in the 'what will happen next' category, you can't help but wonder if they have allowed the first kiss between Matt and  Kathleen to happen far too early.

RATING:- *** (out of 5)

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1.05 Where There's Smoke

Guest Stars:     Robin Dene (George Elliott), Nathan Doekes (Sean Carney), Ben Geurens (Michael O'Neil), Jason Khoo (Chen), Maggie King (Mrs. Fowler), Sheryl Munks (Emily Cornish), Greg Parker (Herbert Elliott), Warrick Randall (Dr. Stone), Victoria Tennant (Anita Hargraves)

Director:           Marcus Cole
Writer:              Everette De Roche

Summary
Seeking revenge against Matt for supposedly abandoning her, his old flame returns home to Patterson's Ridge. Luke strikes gold and becomes a serious threat to Matt..

Dave's Review:
This episode unfortunately slips on two of its major stories in a bid to fit the 'nice' feeling around the show. Firstly the first sign that Matt has a darkside is quickly stomped out, while how many people believe that Luke would really have sold the share back to Frank... not likely. These slip ups make the show lose its realism. Lets hope they don't make this a regular mistake.
RATING:- **½ (out of 5)

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1.06 Tracks Of Gold

Guest Stars:     Stan Dryden (Joe Possum), Ben Geurens (Michael O'Neil), Reg Gorman (Mr. Fowler), Maggie King (Mrs. Fowler), Sheryl Munks (Emily Cornish), Greg Parker (Herbert Elliott), Rebecca Strok (Wirra Possum), Victoria Tennant (Anita Hargraves)

Director:           Holly Dale
Writer:              Ted Roberts

Summary
Kathleen feels rejected by Matt and decides to end the relationship while Danni and Michael are lost in the mountains.

Dave's Review:
The love triangle between Anita, Matt and Kathleen hots up, and the writers did actually suck us in their for a moment as their was a chance that Danni was in fact dead. Good writing.
RATING:- **** (out of 5)

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1.07 Plans Of Poison

Guest Stars:     Nick Antipas (Grant), John Arnold (Cullen), Tom Coltraine (Enright), Nathan Doekes (Sean Carney), Ben Geurens (Michael O'Neil), Chris Inglis (Jeff the bully), Jason Khoo (Chen Yung), David Le Page (Riley), Brad Lindsay (Sharp), Rachel McCully (Doreen), Sheryl Munks (Emily Cornish), Greg Parker (Herbert Elliott), John Raaen (Wicks), Warrick 'Warwick' Randall (Dr. Stone), Roger Stephen (Griffin), Chris Stevenson (Rogers), Victoria Tennant (Anita Hargraves), 

Director:           Colin Budds
Writer:              David Phillips

Summary
Matt stands by Kathleen when the rest of town turns against her.

Dave's Review:
It's good to see some action put into the show but some of the stunts did look really ordinary. The Anita/Luke romance is surely some good thinking to add some spice.
RATING:- *** (out of 5)

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1.08 Stepping Out

Guest Stars:      Ben Geurens (Michael O'Neil), Maggie King (Mrs. Fowler), Sheryl Munks (Emily Cornish), Greg Parker (Herb Elliott), Warrick 'Warwick' Randall (Dr. Stone), Victoria Tennant (Anita Hargraves)    

Director:           Marcus Cole
Writer:              David Phillips

Summary
Luke accuses Matt of stealing Langara from his father, but also finds himself falling in love with Anita.

Dave's Review:
Some great piece of tension as Luke is blamed for Oliver's shooting only for it to be discovered that Frank did it... why can't every episode be like this?
RATING:- **** (out of 5)

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1.09 The Bushranger

Guest Stars:      Andy Anderson (Harry Roebuck), Ben Geurens (Michael O'Neil), Sheryl Munks (Emily Cornish), Greg Parker (Herbert Elliott), Warrick 'Warwick' Randall (Dr Stone), Victoria Tennant (Anita Hargraves)  

Director:           Marcus Coles
Writer:              Ted Roberts, Magaret Kelly (story)

Summary
As Matt goes to save Kathleen, who he finds is being held hostage, a tragic accident occurs involving Anita and her brother.

Dave's Review:
A well written episode that acutally gives us an insight into some of characters... something that you don't realise until now hasn't really happened. With a tragedy at the end you can only see what effect it will have on characters such as Luke.
RATING:- **** (out of 5)

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1.10 The Rustlers

Guest Stars:      Nicholas Crawford-Smith (Kevin Rorke), Georgina Dymocrl (Sarah), Peter Ferago (Wilcox), Ben Geurens (Michael O'Neil), Reg Gorman (Mr. Fowler), April Howard (Jamie), Maggie King (Mrs. Fowler), Sheryl Munks (Emily Cornish), Greg Parker (Herbert Elliot), Josh Picker (Brian Casey) 

Director:           Colin Budds
Writer:              David Phillips

Summary
Danni experiences the heartbreak of first love as Colin and Emily get married.

Dave's Review:
Again some more character depth, this time for Danni, and again the result pays off. The episode is far better than some of the early ones, although the ending was a bit soppy. The whole Luke/Victoria rekindle perhaps came a little too soon after Anita's death as well.
RATING:- *** (out of 5)

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1.11 The Loneliness Of Luke McGregor

Guest Stars:      Fiona Corke (Lola Hatton), Ben Geurens (Michael O'Neil), Terry Gill (Mayor), Colette Mann (Mrs. Carney), Sheryl Munks (Emily Cornish), Greg Parker (Herbert Elliot), Colwyn Roberts (Johnson) 

Director:           Colin Budds
Writer:              Peter Kinloch

Summary
Luke asks for Victoria's hand in marriage with shocking results.

Dave's Review:
The writers should be congratulated for not making the Blackwoods vs Luke soap opera like, but it is still a bit of a worry that they thought he would move on from Anita so quickly. Seems like the people in Patterson's Ridge fall in and out of love very, very quickly.
RATING:- *** (out of 5)

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1.12 Love Finds A Way
Guest Stars:      Nathan Doekes (Sean Carney), Charlene Fenn (Miss Cavill), Gary Files (Clarendon), Ben Geurens (Michael O'Neil), Reg Gorman (Mr. Fowler), Chris Inglis (Jeff 'The Bully'), Bruce Kerr (Concannon), Maggie King (Mrs. Fowler), Rachel McCully (Doreen), Sheryl Munks (Emily Cornish), Greg Parker (Herbert Elliott), Charles 'Bud' Tingwell (Governor)

Director:           Marcus Cole
Writer:              Ted Roberts

Summary
Luke's entire world collapses around him when he loses Victoria and his gold.

Dave's Review:
The trip to Melbourne works well in the story and breaks up the action as well which adds a new element. The writing out of Victoria however feels like it may cause the show to miss one of its most interesting characters.
RATING:- **** (out of 5)

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1.13 The Stampede

Guest Stars:      John Flaus (Masters), Ben Geurens (Michael O'Neil), Jason Khoo (Chen Yung), Sheryl Munks (Emily Cornish), Greg Parker (Herbert Elliott) 

Director:           Marcus Cole
Writer:              Ted Roberts

Summary
Matt stands to loose everything he owns, including Langara.

Dave's Review:
This is the ep where the show shrugs of its 'family' tag, and thank goodness it does because the action and violence of this ep is what makes it work. Some brilliant dramatic scenes make this a good season finale.
RATING:- **** (out of 5)

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