What A Trip

Even though I complained in this post about Tripping Over replacing the series return of The 4400 by being re-run late on Sunday nights, Wifey and I have been watching the show since it began about a month ago. And we quite like it.

We're not mad-crazy about it, but we certainly make the decision to watch it, and that says something.


Haha - get it?

The show is a joint ABC/BBC production, and features cast members from both Australia and England. The two Aussie guys are known to Australian audiences, and from what I hear, at least one (perhaps more) of the Pommy actors are known to British audiences. Actually, they know Daniel MacPherson as well, from his time on both Neighbours and The Bill.


The sexy young cast of Tripping Over.
Brits at the back; Aussies down under.

So what makes Tripping Over worth watching? Well, for starters, there’s the aforementioned Daniel MacPherson. Let’s not kid ourselves – he’s pretty. And frankly, I think he’s one of the better actors of his generation. So is Abe Forsythe, but he’s not as pretty. And the other three are all good actors as well. It’s a very strong cast all round, actually. The ‘parents’ and other incidental characters are all portrayed brilliantly by some very accomplished performers indeed. It’s quite impressive in that regard, and it never hurts to use attractive actors.

Then there’s the ‘modernness’ to the storytelling. It’s another of those clever series that showboats good writing with funky camera work and stylish design.

And of course the subject matter. Besides the usual ‘drama serial’ set-up of loves and turmoil, there’s the notion of young people travelling the world and having adventures while they 'search for themselves' on an overseas jaunt. It’s the way many people from Generations X and Y have spent a year or so of their lives, and the ‘travel bug’ is very addictive. For many, getting their ‘fix’ from watching this show would be a very real drawcard.

The appeal of national pride is smart work as well. The show is directed at both Australian and English audiences because characters from both countries act as international tourists and hosts at different points throughout the series. So no matter which of the two countries the viewers originate from, we get to see our own fellow countrymen and women in both roles ... at various points they host ‘the foreigners’ in the land we know so well (and tease them about their stereotypical foibles and make jokes about their heritage), and they find themselves lost in the travellers’ nightmare of being on an unknown continent at others.

Each episode caters to the age-old triple requirements for any drama: Humour, romance and angst. There’s always an amusing subplot going on, and there’s always a bit of a love story angle. But the majority of the show (and this is where the real ‘hook’ is, to get us back and watching the show again the following week) is in the dramatic and often tragic storylines that capture our sympathies and our interest ... and keep us wanting more (and hoping for that always-out-of-reach resolution). And it’s in this arena that Tripping Over does so exceptionally well.

Even though most of the characters are serial cheaters (which makes it hard to like them for many people … but I guess makes them feel ‘real’ and identifiable to many others), you can’t help but feel empathy towards them in their respective plights. And the liberal use of travel from Sydney to Thailand to London and back again makes it highly enjoyable to watch (and keeps us on our toes).

The scenery and locations used are refreshingly stark and the landmarks instantly recognisable (as you’d hope and expect), and the beautiful, specially built sets give the show a free and natural feel.

It appears to be the best thing since sliced bread, (at least according to Jellyfish in her comment at the above-linked previous post, ... although those aren’t quite the words she used), so if you’re not watching this show, perhaps it could be that you’re missing something really good?

Do me a favour; watch the Wednesday night episodes and boycott the Sunday night repeats ... maybe that’ll help Network Ten stop replaying the episodes so soon, and they’ll bring my other show back as originally intended and advertised!

You can download previous episodes of Tripping Over for $2.95 each at this site. An ingenious idea in this new age of multimedia TV ... but I wonder how many people are actually using that feature? Especially when Network Ten replays each episode for free four days later anyway!


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