Keeps up the tension, though it does take liberties

pfgpowell-1

There's a lot to be admired in Shelley Birse The Code, not least the convincing, often quite touched, relationship between journalist Ned Banks and his autistic brother Jesse. And the final scene of one of the 'baddies' leaving Australia with - well, I shan't tell you here - does end it all on an unexpected note and set Ms Birse et al up for a second series. And that's no bad thing because if nothing else The Code is hugely entertaining.

But there's also room for niggles, however, not least that the computer hacking abilities is to flawless and results are obtained far, far too quickly to allow us to suspend disbelief. Yes, I know cyber nerds can do a lot you, but this quickly? This efficiently? From a cybercafe in the outback?

And to be honest I really wasn't too sure what was going on, not even when the final credits were rolling. I could attempt some kind of explanation here, but it doesn't really add up: so some of the bad guys were actually good guys, though a tad brutal? I am always rather disappointed in some drama productions which don't have the mega-bucks budgets of Hollywood - which is all of them made outside Hollywood, then - that there are so few characters of any consequence. Yes, I know it comes down to nothing more than budget restraints but . . .

Overall, though, The Code was refreshingly different and, for this Brit at least, it was good not to suffer from the usual range of 'cutting edge' TV drama clichés which are apt to pepper our homegrown - Brit - product (an obligatory gay character, the alcoholic who can still keep it together, the single-mum cop who juggles motherhood and career with an Avon Lady business - no, I think I've got that wrong, but you get the picture. I can honestly say I shall look forward to the second series if there is to be one.

score 7/10

pfgpowell-1 31 October 2014

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3114822/