Top of the Lake Review (no spoilers)
I just finished watching this and personally, I loved it - although I can see how it will be one of those shows that will be quite divisive in people's opinions of it.
It's definitely an atmospheric piece and doesn't hand everything to you on a silver platter. Although some aspects were telegraphed a mile away, like a true life mystery, there are many questions left unanswered or open to speculation by the end of it. It's eccentric, quirky with some rather subtle but good black humour in it and doesn't run at an even pace, but these are all things I found entertaining although I realise it will drive some people up the wall. The performances are fantastic - ranging from larger than life to very still, but all are very well done, right down to the smallest part. Campion really got the best out of her players and the cinematography in it is just superb. I'm sure that the cast would have had a wonderful time working on this and it shows.
One of the things I loved about it was the way the teens were portrayed in it - they weren't scaled down smart mouthed adults with a pithy humour beyond their years; they were very realistiic in that they were wary of adults, sullen and secretive, uncommunicative except amongst themselves and still had an element of childhood innocence about them, especially when they were in each others' company away from adult eyes - like most young teens, they were running on instinct a lot of the time and it was refreshing to see.
I've noticed that many reviewers have tried to categorise it or compare it to other works - most often Twin Peaks (which I loved) and I'm surprised by that as apart from the fact that it's original in its feel and concept, it is nothing like David Lynch's work. I think that this seems to be a foilable with many reviewers in that they try to find a category to place everything in and some shows just stand alone, and this is one of them.
Like Carnivale (another show I loved) and Twin Peaks, it really is a law unto itself on the whole.
If you've watched this in weekly format, or haven't watched it yet, I'd recommend that you watch the episodes as closely together as you can (online or via DVD when it comes out) to get the most out of it.
I'd appreciate hearing what others think of it - it won't be for everyone but I'd like to hear other people's opinions on it.
It's definitely an atmospheric piece and doesn't hand everything to you on a silver platter. Although some aspects were telegraphed a mile away, like a true life mystery, there are many questions left unanswered or open to speculation by the end of it. It's eccentric, quirky with some rather subtle but good black humour in it and doesn't run at an even pace, but these are all things I found entertaining although I realise it will drive some people up the wall. The performances are fantastic - ranging from larger than life to very still, but all are very well done, right down to the smallest part. Campion really got the best out of her players and the cinematography in it is just superb. I'm sure that the cast would have had a wonderful time working on this and it shows.
One of the things I loved about it was the way the teens were portrayed in it - they weren't scaled down smart mouthed adults with a pithy humour beyond their years; they were very realistiic in that they were wary of adults, sullen and secretive, uncommunicative except amongst themselves and still had an element of childhood innocence about them, especially when they were in each others' company away from adult eyes - like most young teens, they were running on instinct a lot of the time and it was refreshing to see.
I've noticed that many reviewers have tried to categorise it or compare it to other works - most often Twin Peaks (which I loved) and I'm surprised by that as apart from the fact that it's original in its feel and concept, it is nothing like David Lynch's work. I think that this seems to be a foilable with many reviewers in that they try to find a category to place everything in and some shows just stand alone, and this is one of them.
Like Carnivale (another show I loved) and Twin Peaks, it really is a law unto itself on the whole.
If you've watched this in weekly format, or haven't watched it yet, I'd recommend that you watch the episodes as closely together as you can (online or via DVD when it comes out) to get the most out of it.
I'd appreciate hearing what others think of it - it won't be for everyone but I'd like to hear other people's opinions on it.