Love Child (TV Series 2014–2017) Poster

(2014–2017)

User Reviews

Review this title
13 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
8/10
Love Child proves to be a success for Australia.
Shopaholic353 March 2014
I think Australian television has finally figured out what it does best. Whenever they try to create a modern show it comes off looking cheap and outdated but their past few attempts at reverting back to the 60's/70's has been really successful. They have done a great job with the costumes, sets and everything 60's related so that it feels real.

Love Child is actually an exceptional TV show. The premise is gritty and delves into a subject matter that would still affect women in Australia today. It is incredibly hard to imagine that not long ago the world was like this. It enforces that people of power and wealth had the control while others were forced to fall in line.

This show may be too raw for some viewers but I believe the general public will enjoy Love Child for what it is. It's a new story that hasn't been explored in detail yet and in a way many people are still affected by this issue, if only to a lesser extent. Whether you personally went through this, was the parent, or the child or you just knew someone who experienced this everyone has their own experience. So yes I do recommend you watch it as it really is very good. 8.5/10
24 out of 28 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Call the MODwife
cantake825 February 2014
This Aussie take on drama and misfortune surrounding single pregnant women in the late 1960s Australia presents compelling stories and characters. Stanton House represents a place single women lived and worked during their pregnancy, and promptly separated from their newborns. Callus male doctors, a starchy matron, a crusading newcomer, and an ensemble of pregnant female characters who are diverse in looks, life experience and attitudes populate this effort. They seem to be hurtling toward epiphanies and revelations.

This must have been a hoot for set dressers, wardrobe, makeup and hair: every shot looks like a period snapshot. The music track is a little forced and the vintage automobiles are all pristine, much of the wardrobe looks more like party apparel than casual clothing, nevertheless I can't take my eyes off of it.
20 out of 23 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
A show that is worth adopting!
Rob_Taylor27 April 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Australia has produced some of my favourite TV over the years and Love Child is no exception. Set in the late 60's it centres around the (to us now) heinous forced adoption practices that went on back then.

It is interesting to see a modern show tackling such a "dark ages" issue and it does it well.

Although the underlying adoption practices are at the heart of the show, I found the characters to be the real draw for me. They are distinct and varied and no one is entirely black or white as far as morals and ethics go. Just when you think you have a character pegged into a hole, something is revealed to make you reevaluate the reasons behind their actions.

The acting is very good and Jessica Marais (playing Sister Joan Miller, the main character of the story) has an absolutely wonderful ability to get across feelings and emotions with almost no facial movement at all. I'm not sure how she does it, but it is distinctive and very effective. She can, and does, show plenty of obvious emotion too, but it was these subtle expressions that really stand out. I can't think of any other actor that can do that.

I would never have thought I would get into a show like this, but I am glad I did. It just sucks that now I have to wait a year for season 2! I'm hoping that, by then, the Nine Network will have dispensed with its "must be in Australia to view this program" nonsense which, let's be honest, is absolutely no bar to anyone with any online experience.

SEASON 2 EDIT: Just as good as the first season. Even when I'm not sure I want to watch something too dramatic, within a few minutes of starting the episode I'm hooked. Yep, it is just awesome!

SUMMARY: Tackles a difficult issue. Good acting and characters with depth. Not all doom and gloom but it will grip you and not let go. Definitely worth a watch.
7 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
this happened in America too
sashamerlin4 July 2017
To those thinking (review by jk-692-236394 (United States)) this only happened in Australia, do some research. It happened in the USA between 1940's and 1970's, google Baby Scoop Era.

The show is excellent and entertaining, much at the subject matter is heart-breaking. You can't just watch rainbow-coloured shows, but face reality.
8 out of 12 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
almost got it
robofin20 August 2018
First, the show is great. Although the music is more mid 60s girl groups than the summer of love rock and roll.the cast is wonderful, the subject heartbreaking. the girls are delightful.

this practice went on all over the world, the Magdalene laundries in Ireland. The Tennessee home society in the states which goes back 100 years. Then there is the American Indian debacle of assimilating the children, take babies away to become white or/and slaves, etc. All the way back to the beginning of Europeans coming here. Much of this was done under the guise of religion.

The greater good mentality has always been for the good of the church, rich or those who want to be rich. add a dash of self-righteous sterile matron types and people suffer.
5 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Surprisingly Very Good
deboraheden23 May 2019
I was bored so found this on the 9Now app. I actually have no interest in babies which is why I never watched this. I'm so glad I did what great storytelling. Tackles a lot of issues the cast are great
2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Watching Love Child series has been a education
leos_monkey12 July 2014
Set in 1969 in Stanton House and Kings Cross General Hospital, Sydney a fictional boarding house for young unwed teenage girls and young women when they fall pregnant and a place for them so as not to shame their families. The birth of Annie's (Gracie Gilbert) baby and the arrival of Sister Joan Millar played by the amazing and talented Jessica Marais back from London and one exam away from becoming a doctor marks the changing of times. Joan Millar the crusader ambitious nurse immediately makes an enemy with Matron Frances Bolton Mandy McElhinney) and Dr Patrick McNaughton (Jonathan LaPaglia) on how the patients and the babies are treated at Kings Cross General Hospital finds an ally in ex boyfriend in Philip Page (Ryan Johnson) a lawyer who helps fight Joan's cause. Bring on season 2!!
5 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
This show is almost too sad to watch
jk-692-23639423 August 2016
Since I am American, when I watch certain Australian shows, I often end up doing some research to understand and learn what is happening or if it is based on real facts or history. I watched the first season of this show, but never checked on it until the 2nd season. I found this show upsetting in the way they seemed to force these poor girls to give up their babies. It felt different from maternity homes in our history. Or if you looked at the Call the Midwife show from the UK. I was shocked when I found out this was a forced government situation/program from the 1950's-1970's in Australia. It is truly beyond my comprehension how this was done to these women. It was their parents, the nurses and doctors and I guess the places they sent them, some of them church based, but it appears it was not a religious movement, it was a misguided, parental moralist government movement against out of wedlock women. I find this very sad and depressing. The show is depressing to me because of this as well. It makes me want to time travel back and help these women and I feel helpless watching it. One lady said in a newspaper article she cannot watch it because she is one of the children who was taken from her mother, and it is too upsetting for her to watch. I can certainly see that.
7 out of 17 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Love, Love, Love It!
hmarmstrong28 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I was born in 1957, so I have a vague memory of the Vietnam War and how it divided my country. I wasn't old enough to consider how it affected other countries around the world. I'm not sure but that I even knew that Australia sent military there. I always find I learn something from the shows and movies produced in Australia and Great Britain. I'm a huge fan of the 1960's, early 70's music and this show is packed with it. I'm even quite impressed with whoever is really singing. Nothing but the highest praise for the costuming, sets, props, etc. Very authentic. After watching 3 seasons, it appears that Australia was very much a part of the sexual revolution! Babies, babies, everywhere!I can't wait for Season 4!
4 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
And a half
Headturner123 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I found this searching an actress in this after I saw her in something else( forget her name in this). It's not usually the type of show i'd watch. I don't usuallt favour nurse/doctor stuff. But I'm really liking this. I love things from the 60's and 70's and I love the visuals and memories I get. I love lapaglia( talented family didn't realize Anthony was his brother for a while. Funny how the women run from him I'd be running to hum. Lol. I liked Shirley and Johnny's story too bad it ended. I just stared season 4 and I enjoy it. I did recommend to my sister but she didn't like it. This is going to be very personal if you do because even people who like Dr shows may not like this. I like it for the 70's theme and other reasons...
2 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Hidden Gem
quinsledge30 September 2021
I found this show on peacock and ended up really liking it. Australian has some really good shows nobody knows about. If I had one complaint about the show it would be Annie's singing her voice literally had no soul to it and I dreaded her singing parts lol. Other than that it was a super good show.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
Amazing
cjandt27 January 2021
Started watching after my dad died and my mom slept over on the weekends. We didnt get the whole thing at times and it was hard to catch in Canada so I ordered all 4seasons from amazon Australia. I cant watch this in the entirety. Its relateable and classy. It tells a big picture with many secrets but not far fetched. Gravity in friendship. All actors are amazing. Honestly its incredible. So fortu eate to have this video. Cant wait to pass it around. Better than netflix series.
2 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Predicable storyline's, unlikable characters with questionable morales.
natashajamos-013156 February 2022
Wish I could give it a zero. 1 is being generous.

Predictable storyline's, questionable morales of the cheaters, dark and depressing storyline's where nothing good happens.

The actress who plays Joan always look like she's swallowed a lemon. You can tell the actress was pregnant in real life with the weight she was piling on.

Awful show have no clue why this is rated so highly. Shows lack of morales and intelligence if you actually enjoyed this.
0 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed