Rush

Channel: Ten
Day & time: Thursday, 8.30 p.m.
To watch full episodes of Rush, CLICK HERE

We love our lamb, and we love our crime, though one bloodier than the other. It doesn’t matter what side of the criminal line, Australians are keen for anything about cops and robbers. From Blue Murder to Underbelly, Australia has an affinity for the law and outlaws. But do they feel the rush?

Rush is the latest, flashiest and probably most expensive cop show on television, now in its third season. It promises to bring the big screen action to the small screen. Set on the streets of Melbourne (there’s just something about that city) and following the day to day lives of members of the Police Tactical Response team, Rush is non-stop action. An ensemble of reasonably well-known Australians star, but it often feels like the action overtakes the actors.

The newest season begins with a quick overview from the last, where Senior Constable Stella (Nicole da Silva) shot an innocent and was discharged from the team. The first episode has the incident bearing down on the rest of the team, most notably Senior Sergeant Lawson (Rodger Corser, who also starred in Underbelly). The idea of ‘reasonable force’ will be a major theme, as well as what a police officer can get away with. After the initial flashback, the episode opens with Lawson and Sergeant Brendan "Josh" Joshua (Callan Mulvey) sharing a meal, but doing a runner afterwards. It’s small scene, but one that effectively questions the roles and powers of police. The theme may end up being overplayed, but hopefully the script writers can reel it back from self-importance.

The overarching theme plays on the relationships between the officers, and a few possible plot points are foreshadowed quite nicely. The characters are interesting enough, but don’t do enough to hold that interest, which is mostly thanks to stiff, superfluous dialogue. It doesn’t help that the actors often don’t feel convincing, with forced or lazy delivery. Saying that, some characters do shine, such as Lawson the guilt-ridden leader, or Intelligence Officer Leon Broznic (Samuel Johnson) who maintains the humour. But then there’s Inspector Kerry Vincent (Catherine McClements). For some reason, as she oversees the action, everything about her is infuriatingly annoying.

In regards to the action, the first episode alone has car bombings, an expert heist with hostages, and even a near miss on a runway. Rush never lacks in adrenaline moments, and it manages to do so while retaining an Australian feel. While I would expect an American crime show to have characters break the rules with a shoot first, ask later mentality, Rush is all about the rules and keeping that trigger finger steady. When a character does cross the line it’s all the more poignant, particularly when they are reprimanded or calmed by a team mate. Again this ties back into the theme that will surely be strong throughout this season.

Is this approach to conflict enough to warrant the tagline of ‘big screen action’? It isn’t the most explosive show around, but it does have its moments, in particular that airport scene. While it does feel Australian in the way the squad responds to threats, this makes it a little anti-climactic. The first episode had the bad guys with an advantage the whole time, even at the end where they make a successful getaway. It feels cheap, but then again, it’s truly an Aussie show if there’s a bit of tall poppy syndrome going around.

If you want your action with a little more realism than the average Hollywood blockbuster, all delivered tidily to your television set, then Rush is for you. While the acting does feel unnatural, even awkward, at times, the characters are sound enough, especially after two seasons. It’s the action that will make this a must-watch every Thursday at 8:30. There’s a pace and flow to it, and the Aussie flavour will give viewers a rush of adrenaline as well as one of pride.

Thomas Wilson