User Reviews

I absolutely loved Wentworth. I don't think I've ever been more surprised by how much I've liked a show quite like this one. Every episode of every season is good. It's addicting. I binged the entire series as quickly as I could and I would dare to bet you would to if you haven't seen it yet. It takes a look at the lives of the women inmates and the staff at Wentworth prison. This show is intense, violent, gritty, intelligent, all of those. It's a pretty if cast and there's not a weak link among them. They all do a fantastic job. I can not recommend this show enough. Give it a chance and I promise you won't be disappointed.

I cannot overstate just how good Wentworth really is! It will hook you from the first episode and keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire series. Like everyone else on here that has compare it to Orange is the New Black (which I liked) I have to agree that this is the far better show! It's a lot like Game of Thrones where no character is safe no matter who they are. Some of biggest characters on the show will die or leave but the quality stays the same season after season!

When I read the summary for Wentworth I thought it was going to be an Orange is the New Black knock-off, but I was wrong. Australian prison drama Wentworth is a ruthlessly dark. It's tragic and gripping, it has a lot of characteristics of OZ. Wentworth's careful plotting is a great example of what can happen when a show actually tries. It's smart and well acted. I actually prefer this show to OITNB. It has more depth and character, it just more real and gritty, like OZ. After each episode I just wanted more and more. It nice to watch a show that isn't over advertised or filled with famous names to rely on viewer ship. Superb acting from all of the cast.

I was a huge fan of the first season of Wentworth Prison when it was shown on Channel 5 in the UK last year. I thought the series proved to be a great 'standalone' drama with high quality production values, excellent writing and acting. The series at the same time also paid subtle and gracious homage to Prisoner, a special and ground breaking show. Well the second season doesn't disappoint, building on the quality of the first season, and it is mostly down to the clever introduction into the Wentworth mix of one character - Joan Ferguson. Pamela Rabe is simply brilliant as Joan Ferguson - taking on the mantle of one of the most iconic of TV characters and breathing a new 21st century life into her is no easy job, but Rabe achieves it, obviously relishing the opportunity to play such an unusual female character. Rabe's on screen presence, controlled physical stillness and a real glint in the eye hides an obvious wealth of feelings, which comes out in small doses throughout the season, in carefully played scenes where unexpected kindness and sincerity adds real depth to an already complicated individual. The 'new' Joan Ferguson has obvious OCD and abhors physical contact. Her compulsion to control every part of her environment (including her office) her staff and prisoners is wonderfully realised by Rabe, with a series of subtle physical ticks, cold stares and calculating mental games with everyone around her. Great use is made of prison security cameras which become Joan's 'All seeing eye'. Clever adaption of surgical gloves is used as a visual tease (and a wink) in the early episodes of what is to come from Joan later on. The writing, production and cast are universally excellent once again, with particular mention to Nicole da Silva and Danielle Cormack who play Frankie and Bea. As in the first season, the use of slow motion image capture and end sequence music is particularly effective. I for one can't wait for season three.

I thought Orange was a great tv show. Very well done with good flow. But let's be honest. Wentworth brings you the truth nitty gritty of a women's prison. This is Orange on drugs and set on fire.

This show is simply amazing! I wasn't so sure I was going to like this. But it's sucks you in and I binge this every single day. The waiting and chomping at the bits for the newest season to release.

The acting, stories, characters, flow, scenes very much done with excellent execution! This show is a true prison show that just about our ranks all others.

I've recommended this show more than I can remember. If you haven't watched then you need to. You will not be disappointed. (P.S: this is not for kids)

I put off watching this for a long time, under the false impression that it would just be a different version of 'Orange Is The New Black' (which I do love, but am not really searching for shows similar to it because I don't particularly like jail/prison shows) but man was I wrong. It is NOTHING like OITNB. Their similarities begin and end with it being set in a female prison.

When I finally gave in and started watching, I was instantly hooked. Each episode is filled with action and drama and plenty of moments that make you either laugh or cry. The characters are unique and truly wonderfully played, you will quickly grow to love or hate each of them (sometimes both!) and as you learn their backstories you get a sense of really knowing and understanding them.

There are some scenes that will literally have you on the edge of your seat, with your heart racing, yelling at the TV.

After finishing this, I had to go find 'Prisoner Cell Block H' and give it a try. While it's nowhere near as good as 'Wentworth' (in my opinion) it was definitely neat to see the differences between the two.

I'd definitely recommend Wentworth to anyone, I can't think of anyone I know who wouldn't like it, all of my friends who have watched it agree that it is one of their all time favorites! You will be kicking yourself for waiting so long to watch it!

Every season has been great and it just continues to get better. There are so many holes and unbelievable storylines and I couldn't care less. Sure it's more like a really strict high school than a prison but it's always entertaining. Characters come and go but there's always something new and juicy - highly recommended.

Just finished episode one of "Wentworth", the 2013 remake of the totally brilliant Prisoner Cell Block H, The characters names are the same, Erica, Vera Bennett, Bea Smith, Lizzie Birdsworth, Doreen Anderson, Mr Fletcher, even Frankie Doyle.

The first episode leads us down the route like the first episode of the original with some surprising differences, and one huge change from the original, which you will have to watch Ep1 to see, it came as a shock and surprise to me, and I loved it, it made sense to do it this way.

As long as the great writing and acting continue then Wentworth Prison will last for many many years, it would also be great to see some faces from the original pop up albeit as someone else, how about Val Lehman as governor, now that would be amazing.

If you want a really gritty drama, that harks back to the 80's but is new, modern and right up to date, along with great acting and writing, then this is definitely for you, currently it is on Wednesdays Channel 5 10pm (UK), go on, you know you want to.

IM an old prisoner fan. queen Bea and her mates were fantastic. I was a bit reluctant about the remake. But i have to say its been amazingly good, gritty and fully entertaining. Wentworth is on its way to being just as good as prisoner cell block h, don't be put of because its not the same as the old one , in a lot of ways it can be better. you'll love it. The prison looks good. No wobbly sets. Some of the characters are still here, well in fact most of them are, You will find some have just been switched around. Its set before the original one. It gives the viewer a better idea of how and why things came to be, that in its self is making the whole first season.

A tense, thrilling and grasping TV series. Very much underrated. I love prison based shows so i was a huge fan of this. It got straight to the point and doesn't disappoint. I cannot wait till its back. I also watch Orange is the new black but this concept is different because its more serious. You cannot compare the two even though both is based around womens prison unit. You do not have to like a certain genre to watch this or be super intelligent, you can simply enjoy it. I'm really upset hardly anyone I know doesn't watch it which is why i had to write this review as to why everyone should! Again like any other show there are characters you love and hate which is awesome I get so attached to them. It is not a typical storyline in an everyday prison is what i loved.

100% my most favourite TV series ever and I've seen a lot of TV series. It's gripping and gruesome with great storylines and acting. I will be disappointed the day that it ends as I look forward to this show airing each year, the most.

This show is surgically executed. It builds and builds and when you least expect erupts like a violent volcano. I warn you it can be bloody and violent but that's the shock of it because you don't see it coming. Just when you think it's become stable BOOM. THIS is the best prison show hands down. The casting and acting is out of this world. Each of the seasons finales are staggering. I've watched all 3 seasons and each is a prize waiting to behold. This series is brilliant. The way the lead has grown and transgressed is so awesome. I love this show. Orange is the new black I can't even watch after I first saw this. It literally changed the game. You don't understand how much of a favor you'd be doing your self by watching this incredible show. Bravo

The last thing I ever expected to appear in the TV listings was a new series based on the excellent Prisoner Cell Block H! Being a big fan of the original series I had to see what it was like.

The acting is good and it has the same mix of tragedy and tension as the original. I think it's a good move that they didn't try to exactly copy the characters and stories of the original, instead opting for some familiar names and a whole new story with some reminders of Prisoner for the fans.

You have to hand it to Australia, there are some genres of TV they do better than the rest of the world, namely soap opera and prison drama. Great stuff, I will definitely be tuning in next week. Well done to Channel 5 for buying in something worth seeing for a change.

I hate that the main characters with great character development had the most hardship then you have Doreen who cries for 5 straight seasons with a happy ending

Looking back now, Prisoner was a laugh riot. Dad and I were laughing when they repeated the original series, again, that seems so cheesy now, if of course unrealistic, judging by the larger than life plots, and some highly and insanely unlikely scenarios, that caused a bit of eye rolling. Oh, how times have changed. This new, better series is more modernized as now having security cameras with much better looking women and better actors, although the ones from the original must be praised too. Don't fault them, it's what they had to work with. We retain our chief characters from the original, though some, altered, here and there, especially Vera 'Vinegar Tits' Bennett, played wonderfully by a familiar Seachange face. Danielle McCormack holds her own, very strong as Bea, and a much hotter looking Frankie Doyle, is a very animated and absorbing character, wonderfully played by De Silva, up there by McCormack. Even the brief Jim Fletcher character is reprised by McCleod's Daughter's Aaron Jeffrey. But it's Pamela Rabe as the notorious Joan Ferguson, who's really scarring and creepy to the max. I was impressed and admired her take on the role, that's so creepily haunting, I prefer her to Maggie's Kirkpatrick's portrayal. It's great to see different actors do the same role, putting their own spin on it. Hey if they copied the other actors, it would be boring, and unwatchable, but when actors breath a lot of originality, life and traits into that role, you know it will be, and I'm not just saying that about Rabe's, but her performance was the one, who had the real effect on me, that sly smile, and those unreadable expressions in that steel gaze of hers, that only leaves you wanting more. This is one of those successful remakes, a much scarier and tougher Prisoner this time around, some women you don't want to mess with, the much younger ones, some real cuties. Hey, if you want laughs and escapism, just go back to the original, as this one, a much more serious and intense series, is far different from what went on 24 years earlier. Excellento.

Initial skepticism of trying to remake a classic serial drama like Prisoner was quickly dispelled in the first few minutes of episode 1. This is a completely new take on a long running series from the 1980s with the necessary level of added grit needed in 2013. Whilst employing many of the well known character names; the "new" version has created juicy variations to the originals. Those familiar with the original series should not allow themselves to by put off in the early stages by casting of different types to play the original characters. Ep 1 was edgy, well paced and the acting overall was very good. If Wentworth can maintain the same intensity over its remaining 9 episodes of season 1, it will be a treat to watch. As well as seeing how the initial variation to different main characters develop, perhaps growing into their more familiar traits from the original series as the new series progresses. Clearly this re-make is attempting to tell the background story as to how the likes of Bea Smith, Vera Bennett, Meg Jackson and Frankie Doyle came to be like they were in the original Prisoner series.

I think this is the best TV series I have ever seen. Gets me chills everytime. Seasons don't lose their quality as it usually happens in other shows, this one only gets better and better. Wentworth, you are under arrest, you stole my heart!

A brilliant prequel to the fantastic series Prisoner Cell Block H. The focus of this series is basically how the young, innocent and abused Bea Smith becomes the infamous 'Top Dog' and Prison Officer "Vera 'Vinegar Tits' Bennett becomes the nasty biatch we all know and love from the original series. While the main focus is on telling the story of Bea Smith and Vera Bennett, each episode tells a different story about how the additional prisoners became imprisoned.

If you loved Prisoner Cell Block H then you really will love this! Not only is it interesting to see how Bea and Vera become the infamous characters we love, the acting and stories is just fantastic. While this is a prequel it also stands proud in it's own right as a fantastic and powerful Australian drama. I definitely can't wait for season 2 to come to the UK!!

To the reviewer complaining that the characters are a "complete contradiction to their original"...I don't think you understand that this is NOT A REMAKE of the original but a PREQUEL TO THE ORIGINAL! The characters are completely different because they are possibly 20 years younger than they are in the original!

If you loved Prisoner Cell Block H and you're interested in how and why the characters you loved became those people then this is ESSENTIAL viewing!

This is a series definitely binge worthy. Better than ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK (in my humble opinion) and based on PRISONER, which ran on Network Ten (AU) from 1979 to 1986. I give this series an 8 (great) out of 10 and have become very attached to it's characters. {Drama and Intrigue in a Women's Prison}

After reading the rave reviews I decided this must be something special. About half way in my wife and I looked at each other and laughed. The cheese factor, terrible acting and unbelievable setting and circumstances is beyond calculation. Thay so many people think this is good TV makes me question the fate of mankind.