The Slap

Star-studded, you'd think there'd be a lot to like about this show for that reason alone. But the stars don't seem to be used to their full potential, with weak dialogue and a less-than-inspiring flow to the narrative. The parents of the slapped child, especially the mother, are such over-the-top negative, unlikable, fringe characters that it's nearly impossible to find any common ground to feel empathy for them. The 'bad' guy is too bad, the 'injured' family is too unlikable, and the stories behind the other characters seem to have no bearing on the main story line. I'll finish it because it's only 8 episodes and I want to see how it all comes out in the wash, but it's an overall disappointment.

I am looking forward to this American adaptation. I saw the Australian production and thought the story was universal so now that it is here it will be interesting to see how it is received. The story is based on Christos Tsiolkas' best-selling novel. Each episode exposes each person involved in the SLAP, giving a back story of the character as well as their motivation/involvement in the SLAP. As in the Australian performance, a stellar cast has been assembled. Melissa George plays Rosie in both productions.