User Reviews

Love the books and even loved the movie, but unsure why the writers felt the need to change this up and add so much storyline's regarding the parents.

A great story ruined by a terrible screenplay adaptation. I loved the books & thought that the earlier movie was a very good adaptation of the first book. But by the time I was watching the 4th episode I was laughing at the ridiculously far fetched alterations to the plot. Completely unrealistic scenes that at times reminded me of episodes of either Gilligan's Island, Skippy or even Hogans Heroes. What were the writers thinking?!! So much potential, so little delivery.

Great story that is unfortunately started and never gotten back the first instalment. Quite sad really, one of Australia's best novel series. All in all the cinematography is quite good, but acting is so so.

Since I loved the film, I thought I would absolutely love this series. I've never been so wrong in my life.

The plot was dull. I just forced myself to watch the next episode in the idle hope it would improve. Then it didn't. The characters were boring and one-dimensional with an acting talent that can barely rival with that of a sea sponge.

However, I do love the actual plot and I think that the story has the potential to become an awesome series in the hands of a great director

So please, have another go at it with a decent budget/actors without distancing it too far from the actual story.

Kind regards

Despite only reading the book series for the first time when I was well out of the 'young' adult age bracket, I adore the books. I was so looking forward to this series but, having now watched 4 of the 6 episodes, I'm really disappointed. I get that things have to be changed to work on television and I get the inclusion of the events happening behind the fence with the families but there are far more changes made than were at all necessary. New sub-plots introduced that add nothing to the story and detract from the overall drama and suspense, as well as changes that would mean the rest of the story (as per the books) couldn't possibly pan out. Despite having the benefit of 6 episodes to work with, the characters aren't developed in a way that makes you empathise with them or care what happens to them and somehow, despite the visual medium, the pace and tension of the book is lost and each episode for the most part drags. Unlike some of the other reviews here, I don't think the acting is terrible, I think it's actually the directing that is at fault - the long, drawn-out shots held on a character are no doubt meant to seem poignant and convey the emotion the character is feeling but instead they feel staged, fake and stilted. Ultimately, this series had huge potential and I feel it failed John Marsden pretty badly.

I am not sure what is going on with the complaints about this not being true to the book or 'things have changed' or perhaps the people reviewing it prior to me are expecting a continuation of the film or haven't read the books in years unlike me, but I don't see a massive deviation from the novels other than some modernisation of the tale.

When the books were written, it was a different political climate and youth culture, when the books were written it spoke to the teenagers of my time (90's) where mobile phones and social media weren't everywhere and the biggest threat was a far off distant war in Iraq.

In the movie, there wasn't even mention of The Hermit and yet, the kids mentioned him quickly as they went to enter Hell.

The relationship of the teens is presented exactly as I remember it and their discovery of the invasion feels like it came straight out of the books.

The highlighting of the joy these teenagers experienced in Hell is to prepare you for the stark realisation that these childish experiences are over before the teenagers are thrown into situations much more adult than they are, that their dreams and hopes are about to be shattered as much as their lives are.

I find it a wonderful updated, modern interpretation of a novel series I still read and adore even today.

Don't expect the movie here, whilst the movie was excellent and did take lines from the novel, the series has a lot more chance to play with the themes and events from The Tomorrow series and The Ellie Chronicles. It can take longer to reveal plot points and build the changing, growing nature of the kids relationships and how war will inevitably change them.

I look forward to seeing how it continues.

I am a native Californian, and Australia is my dream land. I love all Australians, the beautiful country, the beautiful beaches, the beautiful lakes, and the beautiful accents. I never read the books, but I did watch the movie that came out in 2010 and I loved it. THe only thing I didn't like was that they didn't make a second or third one! So when I saw that they made a series I was a little skeptical because they weren't the same actors, (so in a way, I guess I can imagine if you've read the books, you have a completely unique picture in your mind) but then I watched it, and I still loved it. I think they do an amazing job, the actors, the teens and the adults, even the invaders. I like how in the show, there are many more details than the movie alone. I think that TV shows based on books are GREAT for the people that enjoy watching TV more than they do reading. So all in all, if you've read the books, most likely nothing will be a better than or equal to what you've read. But for the rest of us who enjoy TV more, books converted to TV series are way better than books converted to movies. Plus TV series can include more, and go on to have many more seasons than the books themselves. Just look at the vampire diaries, started out from books but going strong over 7 seasons, or pretty little liars successful show going on for 9 plus seasons, and I've heard THOSE books were completely different as well.

I have read the books and seen the movie and absolutely loved them. When I heard that the series was coming out I was quite excited, I thought the void left by the lack of a sequel to the movie could finally be filled. Now after watching the first episode I'm beginning to think that that void will never be filled. I have found it quite utterly disappointing. Just seemed like the scenes of jubilation/slow motion happy happy joy joy were well overdone. Well i guess after hyping it up in my head it was always possible that it might not live up to my exceptions but i didn't think it was possible it would be this bad.

Anyway I will hang in there for the next few episodes *fingers crossed* Please get better.

It seems a lot of people are miffed at the changes this series has made to the book plot and hence see the TV series as being bad because of this. I completely disagree. I think the changes to the character relationships give the opportunity for some interesting situations in future episodes. This show explores the core themes of the books really well: the kids thinking they had years upon years to grow up, then suddenly being forced to do so and in such a horrible situation too; handling constant fear and dealing with the first encounters of death and grief. Ultimately, we all fell in love with the Tomorrow Series because of these themes, not so much the fact that 'CHRIS AND FI WERE DEFINITELY NOT SIBLINGS!!'

The cinematography is beautiful, capturing the Australian bush really well and the indie influenced soundtrack may be kind of cheesy at times, but this is a show about teenagers, everyone goes through the angsty music phase. The scenes with the parents in the showground are captivating, largely, due to the better acting compared to the young adults, but also because it is just plain interesting to know their side of the story. The books are good, but if the show exactly followed every single plot point, then the show would be just plain boring. Knowing every plot point before it happens eliminates the suspense and joy of eagerly awaiting the next episode to see just what happens to these characters we know and love.

I really love this series and am hoping for a second season where the actors can fully settle into their characters and introduce John Marsden's wonderful story to a new generation of teens.

I read the books as a kid and have good memories of them, although I can't remember enough specific details to draw direct comparisons between them and this TV series. I have read that they have changed certain details, but I am sure those are ultimately minor and irrelevant to the overall quality of this series as they have got the fundamentals of storytelling and character development so badly wrong.

The entire first episode is like a long sequence of short indie music clips tied together. Lot's of slow motion scenes of laughing when they should have been building tension or showing at least some suitable level of character development. The characters all seem to have the same shallow, fake, annoyingly positive, Triple J presenter-esque personality. I found them all completely unmemorable, unlikeable and almost indistinguishable personality-wise from each other.

The multi-cultural cast is also entirely unconvincing as a bunch of Australian country kids. They dress, act and talk like a bunch of city kids. To think that this group of ignorant hipsters would be even remotely capable of starting an armed resistance against an occupying foreign army requires far more suspension of disbelief than I was able to manage. That is, until you see the absolute incompetence of this ridiculous army in action.

They try hard to give emotional weight to particular scenes early on, but they have never earnt these moments. They are superficial and unconvincing, just like this entire production. Everyone involved should be ashamed of their work, except for the camera crew. They actually did some nice work.

If you are a fan of the Tomorrow series by John Marsden, do not bother watching this. It does not stay true to the series, portraying the kids as typical city teenagers rather than the down to earth country kids described by Marsden. Little details like the scenery, seemed to be more set in a rainforest than country Australia.

The acting wasn't terrible, but was very much let down by the script and direction. It is hard to look past the cheesy happy scenes. If you can manage to overlook the many many inconsistencies between the book and this series, you've done better than I could.

Perhaps Marsden simply wrote a series of books that could not be successfully turned into TV series, as no one has achieved it so far. As a die-hard John Marsden fan, I found this series unsatisfying.

Love it!

Did not read a book but I will now. I would like to have sequel of it, looks a bit unfinished (cliffhanger?) This is one of the rare series that major points are teenagers and they growing up. In this case in unexpected war time. I do love mix background of very young cast (Asian, Anglo, Aborigines, etc), Australian lifestyle, Australian panorama.

I would like to see more of the story. Love interaction between characters.

Yes, finally something Australian!

Have not seen the previous movie nor read the books.

Thought the first 3 episodes show promise.

The main actors are doing a reasonable job of establishing their characters.

Will continue to watch and hope the story and characters mature.

Time will undoubtedly make the cast more comfortable.

I think the selection of shooting sites has shown great talent.

Good to see an Australian series that is not jingoistic.

The script has included quite enough violence.

Well done to the entire team.

Who did the casting for this? Why is Homer casted as a skinny hipster who always seems to be wearing a cringey fedora? Homer is suppose to a buff meat-head, not an effeminate hipster who is always wearing some fedora that doesn't suit him. Who casted the commander too? A half white half asian dude that looks nothing like the soldiers he's commanding.... like... lol..... Geez. Very disappointing. Great book, good movie, AWFUL tv series adaptation. Lose the fedora.Jesus... Who's idea was that?

Like a number of other reviewers I have read all the books, but it must be over 7 years ago. The detail & character development in the books was fantastic & the action sequences were so well written that it was possible to believe you were living every moment with the group! The emotional impact of the events on the characters was also explored in detail, which could never occur in a movie or a TV series! I was extremely pleased to hear that there was an ABC series of the book(s) because I believe John Marsden to be an excellent & talented writer. I really enjoyed the series. I believe the characters were well developed & the action was great & reflective of that of the books. I was disappointed when the series ended & have been meaning to let the ABC know that we should have multiple follow-up series! I am quite disappointed that the ratings for the series is so low when it is an extremely enjoyable & highly satisfying TV drama!

This awesome book series has been failed twice now in attempts to convert it to the screen. This time its the huge deviations from the story line that did it.

There is no need to modernise it. The story took place in the time it took place. Its fiction not an account of real events so there is no need to make updates for modern times.

Character personalities were changed. Key events in the story line were either changed, left out or fabricated, and this is all in just the first 2 episodes.

The story was perfect. Just be true to it.