User Reviews

Well NZ's favourite show is back for season 2, which I wasn't expecting since the season 1 finale seemed to have wrapped up all the storylines.

The first episode was incredibly gripping, although I must admit I didn't realise it was on until maybe 15 minutes after it started, but I caught up pretty quickly. So glad to see Super Star Dr. Ashley Bloomfield back, he's really the main reason for watching after all.

Im looking forward to seeing how season 2 holds up against the fantastic first season and see how this storyline progresses.

This debut series from little-known studio, Beehive, portrays an eerie pre-apocalyptic dystopia that depicts a country battling to save itself from a deadly virus ravaging the rest of the planet.

There have been several overseas adaptations which have flopped in comparison to New Zealand's roundly-praised "1pm Daily Update", most notably "Oval Eyes" from Washington-based production powerhouse White House Fiction, which was abruptly cancelled after the main protagonist was pulled from the show - widely believed to be down to a long-standing casting blunder which still baffles viewers to this day.

Airing every weekday, each episode of "1pm Daily Update" is set in one room, with minimal set-dressing. Fans of classics such as 12 Angry Men and Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight will appreciate how the confines of the set emphasise the drama that plays out.

The pilot episode aired with little fanfare, but Beehive's breakout series has had domestic audiences gripped ever since - thanks in part for deploying a risky screenplay technique whereby the cliffhangers occur at the beginning rather than the end of each episode, with each opening scene providing the latest plot turn before the audience learns how the latest twist unfurled.

It's this kind of subversion of the serial drama genre that has rightly won the show plaudits nationwide, not to mention the two main protagonists' command of the screen who were rightly recast in a surprise second season.

The fact each episode is filmed in one take is often overlooked, and is a credit to the studio's faith in its cast and production crew. Furthermore the mysterious host of characters behind the camera - who are only ever heard and not seen - has had audiences scrambling for months to figure out their identities, motives and relationships with the two lead characters, and has ignited online discussion forums to levels not seen since the ill-fated Game of Thrones finale.

Unlike that show, viewers and critics alike were happy with the conclusion of the first season of "1pm Daily Update" when it came to a close earlier this year.

Its sudden return to our screens is sure to have a nation gripped once again, but many have signalled it will be more uncomfortable viewing than the first season.

Hoping that Series Two will be shorter this time as I really feel the first series dragged on way to long. But curious if Crusher Collins will make a guest appearance as a new villan. Ashley still as hot as ever. Can the man be any more heroic. Feel its really time for this story to end.

I missed season 1 as I was still out of the country but I caught the important bits on YouTube so it was easy to dive right into season 2. I tried watching the UK version but the storyline was very muddled and I mostly had no idea what was happening, the lead character was barely in it and they were all terrible actors. This version is much easier to follow and I actually feel like I have all the information I need to fully appreciate what's happening every episode. Who would've thought that I'd be choosing a NZ made show over the international versions with much larger budgets, but here we are!

Wherever I am, I always make sure to get home in time to watch this must-see TV in the comfort of my own takeaway boxes and empty bottles. The largely unknown cast have a bright future. Look out Hollywood, the Kiwis are coming!

The ongoing saga of Tova vs Jacinda is what keeps me gripped. The absurdity of the questions from Tova vs the quick wittedness of Jacinda is worthy of any drama. Will there be fisticuffs? Will there sarcasm? Will they ultimately fall in love?

After the exciting season 1 finale, I really didn't think I wanted to endure a second season, gotta admit I've not missed an episode! Keep seeing memes and social media posts everywhere. It's viral y'all.

Sometimes you think you know where the series is going but then BOOM a whole new alert level. The subtle humour and the smirks about the conspiracy theory backstories are classic. Best duo since Mulder and Scully.

I love the two main actors but not a fan of some of "the villain reporters".. some of those "questions" are absolutely inane. As if any smart journalist would ask dumb questions like that. "Should we inject ourselves with disinfectant"? in season 1 seriously!! I almost stopped watching.... I think the script writers need to take a good hard look at themselves. Almost as bad as the guy who plays the President in that awful American show.

This has to be the best reality show of 2020. I find myself glued to the tv everyday at 1pm to see what new drama has unfolded! Season 1 was great and had a fantastic finale. Season 2 has just been released and I have heard their may be a new character called 'The Mask' so I am looking forward to seeing how that will fit into the narrative! Also looking forward to the vexatious questioning from Tova to spice things up!

Still think David Tennant should have played Ashley Bloomfield. Putting an unknown in the role was a wasted opportunity.

It was the great Kurt Vonnegut who said "She was a tiny girl-a trinket brunette, very pretty, very pale, and hard as nails" in his book While Mortals Sleep - possibly the inspiration for the female lead in this 'docudrama'. And while the casting is excellent (a bespectacled Kevin McCloud of Grand Designs fame as the sombre Dr Ashley Bloomfield was a brilliant choice), the plot really goes nowhere.

Every good story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Even Groundhog Day eventually resolved, but 1pm Daily Update started feeling very 'samey' a few episodes in, and it didn't improve.

I admit I gave up after a while and invested my screen time in the local Chamber of Commerce-produced series 'How to use Zoom', a Big Brother-esque piece of fluff that entertained without much need for serious thinking.

1pm Daily Update was innovative, I admit. It was the TV series that first introduced sign language experts to provide movement on the screen during the main characters' lengthy wooden monologues. Without this many smart TVs would have turned themselves off to save power.

This series could be a life saver during a particularly cold Winter, but not a programme to snuggle to on a first date. I could be drawn back for second season though, with David Caruso lined up to play the inimitable Hon Chris Hipkins!

The dynamic duo are back on our screens giving us our daily dose of information. Season 2 has already started with a bang, what will happen next?

I think some of the commenters here should definitely check out the American version, which is way darker but does suffer from randomly binning some of its better characters and is starting to drag on a bit.

Slightly disappointing that the networks saw fit to move the timeslot of the season premiere to 9:15 on a Tuesday night before returning it to its 1pm regular slot. maybe viewing figures weren't as high as expected?

Not sure if the mobile-based spinoff of having everyone's phones go off at 6:55 am was necessarily a smart move either, what with us all having been up all night already reading reviews, predictions and insider gossip for season two of this show.

Other than that, good return to form by the lead characters and their supporting TikTok artists. Welcome back Ashley, and welcome back Jacinda.

Perhaps less episodes in this season. I know i will be on my sofa every single chuffing day waiting for Emmerdale to finish.

So for Season 2 they've decided to add a companion mobile experience for an extra dimension.

Feel genuine panic induced heart palpitations as blaring sirens issue forth at 10 pm and 6.55 am. Get calmed down again only to have another phone in your household go off so that you can race against time frantically once more to locate it and silence it.

I'm personally totally on board with this new cross device immersive theatre so don't get *defensive*, but perhaps they could be more *civil* about the timing?

In a surprise twist the second season snuck up on the viewing public with an unexpected viral launch. Where did it come from, where is it now? How long do I need to do my mother's grocery shopping for? How do the Frontline and essential workers do it? Tune in each and every day to hear the numbers as the two main stars steer a small and committed nation through a sea of disaster and fear mongering. Laughs, anger, sadness and hope.

I made sure I had my lunch ready (freshly baked lockdown loaf out of the oven) and the TV on at 1pm sharp today to tune into the 3rd series of what has become a cult telly show in Aotearoa/NZ.

Jacinda seemed a bit strident I thought in her role. Maybe as the season goes on she will chill out a bit but the good Doctor Ashley is still playing his role of McDreamy really well. Good looks, charm, GSOH and most importantly, intellect. Swoon.

Speaking of swoon, we haven't seen that cutie pie Darryn Webb, Assistant Chief of Defence on this show for a while. He was a hottie. Hopefully the producers might bring him back this season?

Anyhow I digress. Today's pilot was good. A bit long I thought however, although I appreciate there's a lot of information out there for the team of 5 million to take in.

I did think season 1 and 2 were a bit samey samey, but I have the impression already that the Delta variant theme for this season might just shake things up a wee bit.

The two main leads Ardern and Bloomfield give electrifying performances, with dependable and solid support from recurring characters Hipkins, Woods and Coster. Thankfully Clark, occasionally seen in Season 1, has been cut.

Ardern looks like a shoo-in to win People's Choice in the upcoming awards season!

The current season was never planned but Delta which had been investing globally, decided to focus their investment on New Zealand, one of the last major countries they had their sights on to establish themselves.

The season is exciting with a mix of suspense, thrillers and comedy. Don't give this season a miss, it's a star studded affair with all the faces from OG and more. The highlight of the season has been the new tag line " Stayhome. Spread your legs. Don't spread the virus."

Wear a mask..it's not that hard. Peace, Love, Sanitizer

My son texted me the other night about a surprise second season. Despite the late hour we had to watch.