User Reviews

This has a wonderful cast. Some future Aussie stars I'm sure. Hunter Page-Lochard stands out in particular. The pacing of the series is slightly off at times and there are a few ropey American accents however what makes make up for it in other ways is the lush cinematography (makes me want to head to a warm beach asap) and the details in the seventies throwback costuming is very good also. The recent Daisy Jones and The Six adaption could've learnt a lot from this in terms of 70's vibes with feeling included. The series is not very long so it's a relatively easy watch if you want something that's easy to get into. I give it 7 out of 10.

... title's bit-misnomer... could have come up with a more suitable one... show though is fun.. yes, there's lots of surfing footage, too much decided by personal appeal... script's fairly standard, not bad not great

... this production is all about the cast chosen... and the entire ensemble makes the show as-good-as what it is.. some are better, all are good (Sophia Forrest mho someone-special to watch going forward)... had to have been a blast for all these young actors to be doing this work (work??)

... they left a few plot lines for the next season, we can only hope they get an opportunity to continue it all on.

I wanted to like this show but good grief, it exemplifies the failings of Australian script writing - characters are wooden, without depth and the dialogue is artificial and strained. Sure the surf shots are good but you can see just as good, if not better, on YouTube without the banal conversations. There's simply no nuance in how the characters are developed and plot arcs are telegraphed well ahead. It's amazing and exasperating this sort of wafer thin show gets produced - it compares embarrassingly against Scandi dramas and many other series on Netflix. When will Australian writers learn some subtlety instead of developing story lines which are so predictable? Also very interesting the numbers of other reviewers who have given this show 10/10 - all around the same day.

I really wanted to like this series but alas I'm once again disappointed in an Aussie drama. Great concept with the potential to be binge worthy but with a predictable script, cringey acting (some awful American accents) and some dumb sub plots this is just not worth watching. I've never made it through an episode of Home and Away or Neighbors and considering the quality is on par I'm amazed I actually got through the series. Equally amazing is the amount of 10 star reviews. Some people are easily pleased!

Quite reminiscent of time gone by. I only realised after watching the 1st episode that it's loosely based on the beginnings of these surf companies. Lots of potential, I just hope it doesn't go the way of indulgent melodrama.

Dull and uninteresting characters doing dull and uninteresting things in dull and uninteresting ways!

A self-indulgent retrospective with lots of attractive, yet pointless surfing shots.

I watched all 8 episodes in a couple of days - thanks to Covid. In my opinion this is a seductive drama with excellent acting and believable story. Stand out performances for me were Ben O'Toole, Jillian Nguyen, Hunter Page-Lochard, Sophia Forrest, Catherine Van-Davies and Sebastian Tang.

What I really appreciate is how the series tackles entrenched misogynistic beliefs, laws and behaviours. You see the women managing these aspects of their community with intelligence and stamina.

Well worth watching till the end.

Well I was in the surf around this time and this show is simply not realistic - terrible script and just not believable characters. Very poor television..

Who drank so many long neck beers in those days ?

Wow I had high hopes for this. It was meant to be the story of Rip Curl/Quicksilver/Billabong surfwear and a famous chapter in Australia's fashion and cultural history. But the writing was awful just minutes in. It always had the potential to go 'soapie' but to see it suck so hard so quickly made me sad.

I couldn't last one episode. Great idea, great concept, APPALLINGLY executed. I feel bad for the guy from Puberty Blues (which was an ok series) as he's now typecast as the dumb vacant blonde surfer dude.

The pitch would have looked good on paper. But on the screen this sucked so hard. Made me sad to see the potential wasted.

D+

Needed to be complete recast, rewritten and done again.

This is really interesting concept wise as Australian content. Barons is based on the history and culture surrounding the surfing empires Quiksilver and Billabong. Really fascinating. Visually - the costumes and design are mad, and the soundtrack's excellent. Performance wise, it's refreshing Aussie talent - Hunter Page Lochard is a highlight. Big recommend.

Yikes this was lame. If you're going to even begin a show like this, you need to get your main characters down - they need to be laid back, alpha male, Bodhi-esque types. That's what draws people in. Instead the characters seemed like a bunch of cringey nerds.

Loved this show to bits. I wondered if Barons would be able to make it feel real, make it feel like the 70s without lapsing into nostalgia, and they do it extremely well. It feels utterly real. And it looks beautiful without ever feeling like that beauty is a TV construct. And that sense of fun and reality is also through every performance - there are some real standouts, but everyone hits such a high bar. Full disclosure here - I'm a screenwriter, and I'd love to work on the show. But I'm also a former surfer who grew up during this era, so I'm a tough audience. I had so much fun watching, and was so involved. Watch it - you'll love it too.

But THIS wasn't that - and it's puerile and just - well its what you might expect - me personally, I just realized I have too much time on my hands - maybe I should try Jdate? Lol (nah but seriously)

Dull, uninteresting and plastic characters in a dull and uninteresting show. This epitomizes the worst of cringe-worthy Australian television. The half decent surfing sequences are constantly interrupted by the inane story line and dialogue. A soapbox drama that doesn't deserve the airtime. How in God's name this series gets so many 10's is beyond me.

This is not how it was for sure (outside the waves).

Good camera work. Shot in some of the richest parts of Sydney metro. Sure hard to look ugly. Will certainly awaken dreaming now that it is showing in USA market (sorry, you cannot afford to live there), Tourism Board of Australia will like it.

2020s casting certainly has certain dose of amnesia.

70s population of Australia was quite different from what it is today. It was before influx after Vietnam war, with all the migration restrictions.

Even those OZ-sales pitch series like Neighbours or Home and Away were still quite cleansed, and they were peaking in late 80s and 90s, almost 20 years later.

So, this overdone casting backflip makes it even funnier.

So, sure, enjoy the seascapes, dream of surfing (sans sharks) and endless summer, but this is not how it was.

Nowhere near. It was quite a no-go zone then. Just remember Cronulla riots which happened in this century. Westies not wanted.

Good commercial. For surf gear companies and "picture with koala by Sydney Opera House" tourism.

Went in wondering whether the surfing would be convincing and massive TICK in that box. Beautifully shot, and the surfing is integrated into the story seamlessly. And the origin stories here are fascinating, the people likeable and the set-up intriguing. You can see these guys dooking it out for years to come, as the wetsuit biz and the boardshorts biz vie for world domination. (Hmm, these companies feel vaguely familiar). Great characters - Dimma is a personal favourite, Great moments of humour and some genuine pangs.

Love how the show balances comedy and drama. It really catches the reckless wild times of 70s surf. Surf footage is amazing. It's about the rip curls and Quiksilver history I wonder how true it is. Either way it captures the tone of the time and is a fun ride.

I really liked the simple nature of this show, but it does have enough twists and turns to make it slightly more complex that you think. This is clever. Its fun and engaging and never pretends to be something it isn't. Acting was mostly strong, and the shots are great with particular reference to the surfing, so I would definitely recommend this one.

I don't think show has the budgets of the big US drama series, but look past that and simple enjoy the experience. I will be watching for Season 2 for sure.

A fun reflective series. Great concept and local Aussie talent which is always great to see. Was sucked in - the last few episodes really ride home. Some interesting issues tackled in a really clever way. The surf culture of the 70s is a fascinating world.

Barons beautifully paints a picture of a very specifically Australian Surf culture as it emerged in the 70's. The way this is shot and presented gives an immersive and sensuous window into that time, drenched in sun and film light leaks. The story and settings are well put together, but the casting choices are the real standout, with Sean Keenan, Ben O'Toole, Jillian Nguyen and the rest of the ensemble blending together beautifully to give a sense of the dynamics shifting between them, but also wonderfully portraying the period in which it is set.

Refreshingly authentic acting and storyline of Aussie culture, with a pleasantly nostalgic context for those of us who remember the 70's. Pleasant change from the usual feed of British and North American drama,

Barons has got to be one of the most entertaining series I have seen on the ABC for years. Great actors, engrossing plot and incredible surf cinematography. In fact the direction and visual style is excellent across the board (see what I did there?). If you are looking for a smart, fun entertaining ride then look no further. And it doesn't start with a dead body so that's a massive plus in my book.

Good to see ABC do something for a different. Thought it might be another Summer Bay however the acting was really good, really likeable characters and cleaver storyline. Hope there's a Season 2.