Young Lions is an Australian TV police drama shown on the Nine Network in 2002 and in Ireland on RTÉ Two. The storyline of the series revolved around the professional and private lives of four rookie detectives, the Young Lions, of South West 101, an inner city Sydney police station.
Young Lions | |
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Genre | |
Created by | Michael Jenkins |
Written by |
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Directed by |
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Starring | Alex Dimitriades Alexandra Davies Tom Long Anna Lise Phillips Katherine Slattery |
Composer | Peter Best |
Country of origin | Australia |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 22 |
Production | |
Executive producer | Michael Jenkins |
Producer | Peter Schreck |
Production locations | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
Editor | Martin Connor |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | Nine Network |
Release | 17 July 18 December 2002 | –
The program rated poorly and was not renewed after its first season. Competition from other new drama series and several timeslot changes also contributed to the show's demise.
Cast
editMain
edit- Alex Dimitriades as Det Snr Constable Eddie Mercia
- Alexandra Davies as Det Snr Constable Donna Parry
- Tom Long as Det Snr Constable Guy 'Guido' Martin
- Anna Lise Phillips as Det Snr Constable Cameron Smart
- Penny Cook as Chief Inspector Sharon Kostas
- Katherine Slattery as Madeleine Delaney
- Alan Cinis as Phil Emerson
Recurring/guests
edit- Socratis Otto as Justin Carmody (15 episodes)
- Anna Torv as Irena Nedov (13 episodes)
- Betty Lucas as Grace Beaumont (1 episode)
- Brendan Cowell as Jason Doone (2 episodes)
- Caroline Brazier as Gabrielle Hall (1 episode)
- Chris Lilley as Mick Dwyer (1 episode)
- Damien Garvey as William Solomons (2 episodes)
- Daniel Frederiksen as Chris Doone (2 episodes)
- Daniel Roberts as Ross Kennedy (1 episode)
- David Campbell as Grant Fisher (1 episode)
- Essie Davis as Julie Morgan (2 episodes)
- Hayley MacElhinney as Mel Gilham (2 episodes)
- Jack Finsterer as Tony Kennedy (1 episode)
- Jeremy Sims as Rob Carne (3 episodes)
- John Gregg as George Quinlan QC / Magistrate (4 episodes)
- John Noble as Adam Gallagher (4 episodes)
- John Waters as Snr Det Bill Martin (7 episodes)
- Justin Rosniak as Noel Jarvine (2 episodes)
- Kate Beahan as Emma Greer (2 episodes)
- Kick Gurry as Danny (1 episode)
- Kieran Darcy-Smith as Marty Charlton (2 episodes)
- Leeanna Walsman aa Freda Larsen (2 episodes)
- Leon Ford as Josef Pozinak (1 episode)
- Loene Carmen as Sarah (1 episode)
- Marta Dusseldorp as Catherine McGregor (1 episode)
- Maya Stange as Sophie Rinaldi (6 episodes)
- Michael Denkha as Paco (2 episodes)
- Nadine Garner as Rebecca Ann Sharpe (2 episodes)
- Peter Kowitz as Alan Destin (1 episode)
- Peter O'Brien as Daryll Flynn (1 episode)
- Rhys Muldoon as Justice Paul Bergan (3 episodes)
- Ryan Johnson as Alex Brooks (1 episode)
- Simon Burke as Rob Watson (3 episodes)
- Steve Le Marquand as SPG Officer Stevens (1 episode)
- Steven Vidler as Sgt Brian Graham (1 episode)
- Susan Prior as Christine Malouf (1 episode)
- Terry Serio as Det Shane Wesson (3 episodes)
- Victoria Longley as Police Psychiatrist (4 episodes)
- Zac Drayson as Jay Stubbings (1 episode)
Release
editBroadcast
editThe series ran from 17 July through 18 December 2002, and consisted of 23 episodes.
Critical reception
editThe Age television critic Ross Warneke criticised the show, writing, "it seems unable—or perhaps unwilling—to break the shackles of copshow cliche. ... It may be flashier, faster and more crowded than the cop shows of yore, but there's not much else."[1] Comparing it to another Michael Jenkins show, Wildside, Amanda Meade of The Australian called Young Lions "another slick urban police drama with flawed cops, dark beautifully filmed cityscapes and, occasionally, characters who repeat their lines".[2] The Courier-Mail's Jackie Sinnerton found the series to be "edgy, sexy and urbane, the 22-part drama has Jenkins written all over it".[3]
Episode List
editNo. | Episode Title | Synopsis | Premiered |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Pilot | Donna's first day on the job is challenged when the station is rocked to its core by a convicted cop-killer intent on exacting revenge. | 17 July 2002 |
2 | Mardi Gras | Guido is forced to deal with his yearnings: for his job, and the woman he loves. | 24 July 2002 |
3 | Lick Me Baby | Cameron's new lover accuses her partner, Guido Martin, of stealing money while he is working undercover. | 31 July 2002 |
4 | Boy School Bullies | Donna's positive outlook is challenged as she deals with elitism and prejudice. | 7 August 2002 |
5 | Fruit Market Underworld | Guido's undercover past threatens his job at South West police station. | 14 August 2002 |
6 | Asylum Seekers | Eddie, Donna and Madeleine investigate a riot at a detention centre and the escape of a teenage refugee. | 21 August 2002 |
7 | The City and the Taxi Driver | The detectives spend a night on the streets amid simmering tensions, while Cameron plumbs the depths of her own soul to connect with a killer. | 18 September 2002 |
8 | Kickboxer Kills Rapist | Donna defends a woman who is charged with murder after she kills a rapist. | 25 September 2002 |
9 | Arson Case | An arson case is reopened, because an alleged police cover-up sent the wrong man to prison. Guido is forced to confront the truth about his detective father and his role in the conviction. | 2 October 2002 |
10 | The Priest | Eddie's faith and his friendship with Father Paul Moran are tested when Irena's sister goes missing and foul play is suspected. | 9 October 2002 |
11 | China Town | Cameron is torn between Guido and his father, Senior Detective Bill Martin, and she soon finds her integrity and a boy's life are on the line. | 16 October 2002 |
12 | Nursing Home | Eddie finds himself in contact with a former neighbour during an investigation into a suspicious death at a nursing home. | 23 October 2002 |
13 | Kickboxer on Trial | Cameron is torn between Guido and his father, Senior Detective Bill Martin, and she soon finds her integrity and a boy's life are in the line. | 6 November 2002 |
14 | The Navy: Part 1 | Guido's Naval Captain brother returns home a hero, and tensions surface as a female naval officer is found murdered. Cameron works with Bill to nab a Chinese gang leader. | 13 November 2002 |
15 | The Navy: Part 2 | Guido and Cameron each face a personal crisis-and their friendship is tested-as Guido's father and brother come under suspicion. | 13 November 2002 |
16 | Lone Star Blues | Eddie's integrity is tested as the father of Irena's son is released from prison. Eddie wants to reunite the boy with his father-but could lose Irena. | 20 November 2002 |
17 | Drag Racing | Donna loves the police force and Crime Scene Examiner, Justin Carmody. Her feelings for both are tested as she investigates a fatal car smash involving police. | 27 November 2002 |
18 | Grand Prix | Paul Bergin asks Guido's father for help to bring down a Chinese gang boss. Cameron seeks justice for a girl found dead in a hotel because of the indifference shown by the partygoers and investigators. | 11 December 2002 |
19 | Bill's Death | Guido's friends rally to his side as his father faces a terminal illness - and a murder charge. | 11 December 2002 |
20 | Serial Killer: Part 1 | The investigation into the suicide of an Olympic swimming hopeful escalates when those around the investigation begin to be killed off. | 18 December 2002 |
21 | Serial Killer: Part 2 | The search for the serial killer continues. Donna's life is put on the line when she becomes involved in a hostage situation. Guido has to decide his future with Sophie. | 18 December 2002 |
References
edit- ^ Warneke, Ross (18 July 2002). "Compromised cops fail to win conviction". The Age. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ Meade, Amanda (8 August 2002). "Will we cop it dark and dirty?". The Australian. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ Sinnerton, Jackie (7 July 2002). "Young at heart". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
External links
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