theenergizerbunny I was completely engulfed during each episode. Definitely a travesty that they did not continue this series. The casting, acting, and story line was spot on.

sonolite-97752 This is a period piece that takes place in 1800 Australia. Filmed on location, the setting is beautiful. If you haven't been to Australia this gives you a chance to enjoy this beautiful continent... The story is pure enjoyment...Up there with The Boardwalk Empire, Rome and a few others... the acting is great, the writers are fantastic! It is easy to buy into the story and you are gone on a wonderful vacation from reality....and isn't that the best in entertainment? I just discovered it...just finished it..and then found out there is not to be a second series...However, the story has a natural ending even through there is much more that could be done with such a script. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

luke-eberhardt I have to be lucky I was exposed to Australian history at quite a young age even for it to be taught in a fascinating manner. I have since maintained a healthy passion for Australia's Colonial History in particular, mainly between the first fleet of 1788 and pre-1901 federation anything before then was Indigenous culture and outsiders Exploration.'Banished' is particularly inspired by historical events after the landing of the first fleet, and really examines the life and times of the convicts and naval authority of the Penal Colony that would become known as Sydney.I can honestly say the overall quality of the series was really impressive. There's enough compelling drama and insight into the lives of the convicts and settlers, mostly fighting for survival and civil rights and disobedience challenging the authority. I also loved the genuine sense of historical authenticity reflected in the series' production design, costumes and aesthetics along with some fantastic performances from a talented ensemble cast I admire.Although the series merely mentions the presence of 'Natives'. It absolutely doesn't show it, which is questionable due to the local Aboriginal tribes feeling the political upheaval of the British Colonists settling on their land. Aborigines now more refer to the First Fleet's colonization as an 'invasion'. I do have enough respect for screenwriter Jimmy McGovern who created this show, along with many other respectable screen writing credits. Even after developing 'Redfern Now' which focused on the lives of Aborigines in Modern Australia he would've had some sense to delve deeper into pressure of the colonist's conflicts with the Aborigines faced at the time.However, I did really enjoy the series for what it is. If you enjoyed this I recommend 'The Timeless Land', 'The Term of His Natural Life' (1983), 'Against the Wind', 'The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant' and the more recently critically acclaimed miniseries 'The Secret River'.

Frances Ingram Only one thing to say. WHERE ARE THE ABORIGINAL PEOPLE? Another example of "terra nullius" i.e. the British legal confection that assumed that the Australian continent was not occupied at time of contact; this legal lie was finally laid to rest by the Mabo Decision in the High Court of Australia in 1992. This is a poorly researched "history" which misses out the most important point of British colonial expansion into this country i.e. dispossession of the Indigenous people - not to mention perpetuating the fabrication that this country was not occupied. All the early journals (e.g. Watkin Tench, John White) have pages and pages of observations of Aboriginal life so - obviously - the two populations were interacting from day one. So, WHERE ARE THEY?? Scandalous.