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The Messenger (TV series)
The Messenger is an Australian television series based on the eponymous novel written by Markus Zusak, broadcast on ABC. The eight-part series was released on 14 May 2023. The show follows a young taxi driver named Ed Kennedy as he starts receiving mysterious playing cards with addresses and times on them and the repercussions the cards have on Ed and his friends. Cast
ProductionThe Messenger's commission was announced in May 2022, as part of a suite of new original programming for ABC's 90th anniversary year, with production beginning in June 2022.[2][3] The series was co-produced by FabFiction, a 'scripted co-production initiative' between three German public service broadcasters.[4] The series received investment from Screen Australia and Screen NSW, and is a Lingo Pictures production (part of ITV Studios). International sales are managed by All3Media International.[5] Producer Jason Stephens spoke of the "delight" at obtaining the rights to the book, which were "much sought after for years" by American producers. Zusak had been reluctant for years to allow an adaptation of the book, but was keen to have it take place in Australia, and allowed those working on the show a heavy degree of creative freedom, embracing the differences between the original book and the show, commenting that it was "a really dangerous path to be too loyal" to the source material and praised the writers for using the book as a "step-off to greater heights".[6] EpisodesThe series began on May 14, 2023, in a 8:20pm timeslot, with all episodes were available to stream via ABC iView from that date.[7] Due to low viewership, the series was moved to a later 9:30pm slot from its fourth episode.[8]
BroadcastThe series premiered on 14 May 2023.[7] ReceptionThe show had a mixed critical reception, with the acting being praised, but the plotting criticised. In a four-star review of the first four episodes, The Guardian's Luke Buckmaster said that it took him time to "get accustomed to The Messenger's idiosyncratic rhythms, but soon I relished returning to this world", noting a "strange alchemy between setting and character", with "lean and uncluttered" plotting. He praised the directors and screenwriters for "deftly balanc[ing] comedy and drama, creating a subtle and strange quirkiness", and for "trust[ing] in the nature and strength of the story and the cast, allowing scenes to breathe while keeping things progressing at a good pace", as well as the efforts by the programme's cinematographer to ensure "retro flavour is baked into the show's aesthetic".[12] TV Tonight's David Knox, in a three-and-a-half star review of the first two episodes, said the series "effectively asks you to leave your logic at the door and go with its heightened mix of drama, dark comedy and magic realism", praising McKenna as a "likeable lead", and that the series impressed upon him an attempt by ABC to appeal to younger viewers, doubtful it "will connect with core ABC viewers, and perhaps it might be best framed as premium YA content".[13] Mel Campbell, for ScreenHub, was more critical. In a two-and-a-half star review of the first four episodes, she opined that the series "often seems to deliberately withhold sense-making from the audience in pursuit of its air of mystery", and found the series flipping between what she saw as "realist drama or magical realism", and inconsistent motivations of the characters, as exasperating, yet nevertheless said "the cast do their best with this flawed material".[7] References
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