Another excellent Show sacrificed on the altar of quick buck is this one from New Zealand. While the core premise - one person finds himself in a surreal situation and uncovers the machinations behind it - is not new and was quite well presented in a couple older shows like the prisoner or nowhere man,this shows approach and storyline is as well thought out and written as the show invasion which tackled the stone old sf-theme of an attempted "alien" takeover. Which means the story is densely written,with interesting and believable characters and a down to earth sf-technology-approach that paints a very convincing picture of the near future. Like in invasion the writers avoid pointing fingers at an evil power behind the curtain that pulls all the strings. In fact it seems that individual ambitions in the management are tainting the middle class eden project here. Sadly we are literally left in the middle of nowhere with this show because it was not renewed for the second season and sold out to ABC - which is a known HQ-SF-Show killer btw.. "This is not my life" is easily the best SF that came out of New Zealand in decades. Kudos to all who were involved in making this show and shame on all who killed it.
14 Reviews
Great series bad ending
phil-139330 July 2011
I'm from Portugal and this series begun here in the end of June. It was really catching in the beginning,the actors are great in their roles and they make us believe that the story is real. However, being a curious person, I searched on youtube and I just finished watching the series. I dare say that the writers didn't know what to do to make an accurate ending and they left the story unfinished, I guess they did that to leave the opportunity for a new season but the viewers deserved a better treatment.
My vote is 7 for the whole show but, for the last episode, it should be a 2.
My vote is 7 for the whole show but, for the last episode, it should be a 2.
Never a dull moment
harshalagrawal0325 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Alec Ross wakes up on a bed he doesn't recognize, with a family he doesn't remember, inside a town that seems too peaceful to be real. As, he discovers more and more people that feel the same way, he tries to find the reason behind all of this.
So, why this series is good? Because, some thriller series wait for the end of a season to reveal something big. This doesn't even wait for the end of an episode. And, if you blink an eye you will miss something. This is a very fast paced series with material of 2-3 seasons packed in one. Mysteries are fresh, creative and leads to more questions that will keep you guessing. Often with big conspiracies, everything is shown black and white. Our hero is portrayed as good and soldiers/employees of powers that be, are bad. But here, they have lots of gray area on both sides, which keeps the story realistic. Also, despite the plot being very huge, the writers of this show handled the script flawlessly. This series could have gone for 3-4 more seasons as many minor questions remain unanswered but the primary objective of season 1 was achieved so in a way it gives you closure at the end.
So, why this series is good? Because, some thriller series wait for the end of a season to reveal something big. This doesn't even wait for the end of an episode. And, if you blink an eye you will miss something. This is a very fast paced series with material of 2-3 seasons packed in one. Mysteries are fresh, creative and leads to more questions that will keep you guessing. Often with big conspiracies, everything is shown black and white. Our hero is portrayed as good and soldiers/employees of powers that be, are bad. But here, they have lots of gray area on both sides, which keeps the story realistic. Also, despite the plot being very huge, the writers of this show handled the script flawlessly. This series could have gone for 3-4 more seasons as many minor questions remain unanswered but the primary objective of season 1 was achieved so in a way it gives you closure at the end.
Surprisingly awesome!
pimplepopper29 July 2010
Being from New Zealand I have relatively low expectations for New Zealand TV, but both my partner and i were pleasantly surprised after the first episode and are excitedly waiting for more. The show has a slightly scifi side being set in the near future, however don't judge it for that, the acting is wonderful and the production values high. Just when you think you have it worked out the show throws a twist that leaves you confused but in a good way. I'm proud to say that NZ TV really has stepped up its game and if this continues down the same road Im sure this show could compete with the best of TV coming out of the states. GO TVNZ;)
Fantastic show
arodger-7760716 June 2015
I only discovered this show thanks to a mention in a review of Humans. To that reviewer - thank you so much!
The concept reminded me very much of "The Prisoner" (original series) - there's an overly happy village where everyone spouts platitudes but with an underbelly of mind control and serious menace; a central hero; lots of uncertainty about what's going on; and it's impossible to escape (or is it?).
The casting, acting, scripts and whole feel of the production were spot- on. I watched the whole show in the course of a couple of days.
Very surprised that it is not well known - I would have expected it to have a cult following. Tried hard to buy DVDs (including looking at online Kiwi shops), but it doesn't seem to be available anywhere. The good news is that the whole series is on Youtube.
Very highly recommended.
The concept reminded me very much of "The Prisoner" (original series) - there's an overly happy village where everyone spouts platitudes but with an underbelly of mind control and serious menace; a central hero; lots of uncertainty about what's going on; and it's impossible to escape (or is it?).
The casting, acting, scripts and whole feel of the production were spot- on. I watched the whole show in the course of a couple of days.
Very surprised that it is not well known - I would have expected it to have a cult following. Tried hard to buy DVDs (including looking at online Kiwi shops), but it doesn't seem to be available anywhere. The good news is that the whole series is on Youtube.
Very highly recommended.
Trueman Show, Total Recall & The Matrix all mixed into one!
Metallic-Sting16 September 2010
This show is brilliant! It's 3 plus movies all mixed into one brilliant TV series. It's The Trueman Show, Total Recall & The Matrix all mixed into one! Plus a bit of the movie Memento perhaps. Each episode gets better and better and you you learn more and more about where the heck they are. It's not annoying like Lost was eg 3 steps forward and 2 steps back! Truly brilliantly written show with surprisingly great actors! New Zealand has come a long way. I really hope this show has a season 2 and more story line permitting! Can't wait to find out who is good and who is bad Wont say any more as I don't want to spoil it. Watch this show it is brilliant! P.S. Writing 10 lines is kinda hard when all you want to write is one word. BRILLIANT!
1984 meets The Prisoner
Jiszmo2 October 2019
Wow! I just stumbled onto this show after doing a wiki search for Joel Tobeck (teh guy who played Srife on Hercules and Xena, as well as Baal on Ash vs Evil Dead). I didn't really know what to expect, as I hadn't ever heard of it. Looked up the reviews on here and got interested. A quick search on pirate sites, and I had the series downloaded. So glad I did.
Started watching last night at about midnight. Stayed up till 8am. It's that good. Haven't quite finished yet, still watching. Started when I woke up. lol
The show is like 1984 on steroids. It's a pretty scary yet believable future, based on current technology pushed to it's logical conclusion. In the show this guy wakes up in an idyllic town with no memory of who he is. His movements are all tracked and surveilled by those in charge, as he tries to unravel the mystery, with no small amount of opposition. It's very similar to the 1960's series The Prisoner, in this regards. Fortunately it kinda avoids the pitfalls of that show. In that show everything the guy does seems hopeless, and doesn't really advance the story any. Here it feels like the mystery is actually being solved. (Unfortunately I read that the show was cancelled before the end, so I guess it won't ever be solved >.<)
Anyways, I highly recommend this series. It's made in New Zealand, which is why I think it was so good. There's no way that this show wouldn't have sucked b#lls if it had been made in America. New Zealand shows just seem to have a better vibe to them, in my opinion. And, better writing.
All the actors seem perfect. There are a few other actors I recognized too from small roles in other series. I recognized Peter Mueller, an actor with roles in the Australian series The Brokenwood Mysteries. (Had to do a search to remember where I recognized him from.) I recognized another person from Young Hercules and Xena, Alison Bruce. (In those series she usually played an Amazon.) And, as mentioned before Joel Tobeck. (Also from Hercules, Xena, Young Hercules.) The other actors I didn't recognize, but they are very good also. I particularly like Tania Nolen. She plays the town doctor. So far, never can be sure if she is very bad or possibly a good guy. (Where I am in the story right now she is seeming to be a good guy, but the show has alot of twists. 8O)
Started watching last night at about midnight. Stayed up till 8am. It's that good. Haven't quite finished yet, still watching. Started when I woke up. lol
The show is like 1984 on steroids. It's a pretty scary yet believable future, based on current technology pushed to it's logical conclusion. In the show this guy wakes up in an idyllic town with no memory of who he is. His movements are all tracked and surveilled by those in charge, as he tries to unravel the mystery, with no small amount of opposition. It's very similar to the 1960's series The Prisoner, in this regards. Fortunately it kinda avoids the pitfalls of that show. In that show everything the guy does seems hopeless, and doesn't really advance the story any. Here it feels like the mystery is actually being solved. (Unfortunately I read that the show was cancelled before the end, so I guess it won't ever be solved >.<)
Anyways, I highly recommend this series. It's made in New Zealand, which is why I think it was so good. There's no way that this show wouldn't have sucked b#lls if it had been made in America. New Zealand shows just seem to have a better vibe to them, in my opinion. And, better writing.
All the actors seem perfect. There are a few other actors I recognized too from small roles in other series. I recognized Peter Mueller, an actor with roles in the Australian series The Brokenwood Mysteries. (Had to do a search to remember where I recognized him from.) I recognized another person from Young Hercules and Xena, Alison Bruce. (In those series she usually played an Amazon.) And, as mentioned before Joel Tobeck. (Also from Hercules, Xena, Young Hercules.) The other actors I didn't recognize, but they are very good also. I particularly like Tania Nolen. She plays the town doctor. So far, never can be sure if she is very bad or possibly a good guy. (Where I am in the story right now she is seeming to be a good guy, but the show has alot of twists. 8O)
Great show, too bad it ended.
jmw11108516 December 2020
This was a great show and much better than expected. Well done. I read in other reviews that ABC purchased the show, and let it die. Wow, another screw up by an American entertainment org. The shows on American tv are mostly bad, and I can say this because I'm an American. I'd recommend this show to anyone. Both my wife and I really enjoyed it.
Enjoyable Futuristic Tale
julezcourt2 June 2020
Really Enjoyed this Series, Disappointed it didn't run to a Second Season, I understood the Yanks were gonna do a Version, but heard no more about this, Anyway Quality Programs in small Doses, are far better than, Stretching it out and losing the Plot, worth a watch Guys.
waimoana the best little town ...
tim-sharp22 August 2010
New Zealand has an astounding amount of TV and Film talent for such a small population and This is Not My Life is a well acted and beautifully produced piece of TV. I think that the care that went into this goes beyond scriptwriting and acting (both of which are top notch).The sets and setting are detailed and consistent down to the graphical user interfaces on PDAs and office computers - an alternative but very plausible view of where 2010 technology is heading. The look and feel of the world we are being invited into here has details that describe a dystopian New Zealand down to the overly plastic 'Kia Ora' greeting. Although this is a very Kiwi futuristic drama I hope that this TVNZ production gets taken up by the international networks, it deserves as wide a showing as possible.
The plot owes something to the 1960s series 'The Prisoner' and also to 'Lost' given that the early episodes resolve nothing about how Waimoana came to exist. More than that there is a Kubrick feel to this production based on a tenacious attention to detail by the whole team.
The plot owes something to the 1960s series 'The Prisoner' and also to 'Lost' given that the early episodes resolve nothing about how Waimoana came to exist. More than that there is a Kubrick feel to this production based on a tenacious attention to detail by the whole team.
Excellent start
geraint-817-30264013 August 2010
I doubt I have watched a TV series end to end since From the Earth to The Moon' but at last a show that assumes some intelligence of it's viewers and setting and story line that leads you to want to know more.
Clever style making the most of real places, buildings and setting - so does not feel too far in the future. The NZ production (and hence I assume lower budget available than a US made series) seems to have led to more thoughtful writing and directing and probably works in its favor. It will be interesting if greater funding ahead will round off the edges.
Various levels of story it seems, so one suspects the story will actually become more complex as it goes along.
Also real-life modern NZ-English language and architectural style should add a level of interest to non-NZ audiences and so probably appeal to those looking for more thoughtful programs than most.
Could be the basis for a long running and trend setting sci-fi-ish series. Well done guys.
Clever style making the most of real places, buildings and setting - so does not feel too far in the future. The NZ production (and hence I assume lower budget available than a US made series) seems to have led to more thoughtful writing and directing and probably works in its favor. It will be interesting if greater funding ahead will round off the edges.
Various levels of story it seems, so one suspects the story will actually become more complex as it goes along.
Also real-life modern NZ-English language and architectural style should add a level of interest to non-NZ audiences and so probably appeal to those looking for more thoughtful programs than most.
Could be the basis for a long running and trend setting sci-fi-ish series. Well done guys.
The best sci-fi series since the original Star Trek has begun...
mark-newman-13 August 2010
I've only seen the first four episodes but if the remaining nine are similar then intelligent Sci-Fi lovers have finally found something to look forward to. Much better than the likable yet confusing 'Life On Mars.' More comprehensible than the silly melodramatic 'Heroes.' This TV series is from New Zealand so you'll have to be, erm... creative in how you get a hold of this series. I suspect that this will change, though, and world wide distribution will follow quickly.
This Is Not My Life is an absorbing sci fi drama featuring Charles Mesure, Tandi Wright, and Miriama McDowell. It is set in the future in a Utopian leafy suburb of Waimoana in New Zealand.
Don't let the fact that it's a TV program from NZ put you off. The production features some fine international heavyweights and UK viewers especially will enjoy this. The American fans of network TV are gonna be left wondering when the bombs and bullets are ever gonna start so they won't like this at all.
The script is top notch and you'll have to listen to every word because there is no exposition thrown out for an inattentive teenage crowd.
The clever placement of gadgets and gizmos are blended into the unfolding drama and not thrown in your face. The dialog is seductively menacing and at times chilling to listen to.
Pencils and paper are things of the past. The 'greenies' and tree huggers won! 'Carbon credits' for driving and flying are a privilege and you'll get a stern finger wagging if you go overdrawn.
The performances, direction and effects are universally solid. There was an annoying moment when the little girl was running down the hall away from her father and it was obvious to the dead that she was looking directly at someone and not where she was running, but maybe I'm quibbling.
I'll leave you to figure out the story for yourself... much like the lead in the story is having to do! If you are a fan of John Wyndham then you'll ease right into this.
My personal view is that if this standard of programming can sustain itself for the entire series then it will be as important for science fiction as the original series of Star Trek.
If it loses direction, gets sentimental or silly then it will be forgotten very quickly.
But for the moment I am for the first time in decades genuinely thrilled about watching science fiction on TV...
This Is Not My Life is an absorbing sci fi drama featuring Charles Mesure, Tandi Wright, and Miriama McDowell. It is set in the future in a Utopian leafy suburb of Waimoana in New Zealand.
Don't let the fact that it's a TV program from NZ put you off. The production features some fine international heavyweights and UK viewers especially will enjoy this. The American fans of network TV are gonna be left wondering when the bombs and bullets are ever gonna start so they won't like this at all.
The script is top notch and you'll have to listen to every word because there is no exposition thrown out for an inattentive teenage crowd.
The clever placement of gadgets and gizmos are blended into the unfolding drama and not thrown in your face. The dialog is seductively menacing and at times chilling to listen to.
Pencils and paper are things of the past. The 'greenies' and tree huggers won! 'Carbon credits' for driving and flying are a privilege and you'll get a stern finger wagging if you go overdrawn.
The performances, direction and effects are universally solid. There was an annoying moment when the little girl was running down the hall away from her father and it was obvious to the dead that she was looking directly at someone and not where she was running, but maybe I'm quibbling.
I'll leave you to figure out the story for yourself... much like the lead in the story is having to do! If you are a fan of John Wyndham then you'll ease right into this.
My personal view is that if this standard of programming can sustain itself for the entire series then it will be as important for science fiction as the original series of Star Trek.
If it loses direction, gets sentimental or silly then it will be forgotten very quickly.
But for the moment I am for the first time in decades genuinely thrilled about watching science fiction on TV...
an intelligent program
edumacated18 August 2010
i've read reviews of this show by NZ viewers, and they seem surprised that such a show is produced in NZ. i hope that is because they are glad to see such good entertainment, and not because most of the NZ programming is rubbish.
now, this is a well written show, well thought out and well acted. as said before, it proves that good programming is not dependent on cash, but on good writing, good actors dedicated to the project, and a good production team which is dedicated to the quality and authenticity of the series.
it makes no matter where a series is made, if there is intelligent use of existing locations, then with a small budget one can create an alternate reality, especially if it is not too far removed from the present.
but the most important factor--just ask any competent actor--is the writing. in television, more so than film, the writing must be tight. a two-hour film allows for more fat in the dialog than a one hour show, but that being said, a TV series allows for more character development, but also invites--if poorly made--more filler without advancing the narrative and plot-line.
this show is a tight project. i recommend it to anyone of above average IQ, and those who are burned out on the recycled plot-lines most producers fob onto their mass audience.
most TV runs on the premise that cash is king, but not this one. somebody cared about this series, and thank goodness.
now, this is a well written show, well thought out and well acted. as said before, it proves that good programming is not dependent on cash, but on good writing, good actors dedicated to the project, and a good production team which is dedicated to the quality and authenticity of the series.
it makes no matter where a series is made, if there is intelligent use of existing locations, then with a small budget one can create an alternate reality, especially if it is not too far removed from the present.
but the most important factor--just ask any competent actor--is the writing. in television, more so than film, the writing must be tight. a two-hour film allows for more fat in the dialog than a one hour show, but that being said, a TV series allows for more character development, but also invites--if poorly made--more filler without advancing the narrative and plot-line.
this show is a tight project. i recommend it to anyone of above average IQ, and those who are burned out on the recycled plot-lines most producers fob onto their mass audience.
most TV runs on the premise that cash is king, but not this one. somebody cared about this series, and thank goodness.
Can you say the prisoner?
smallrage118 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Can you say the prisoner? The prisoner was also released this year but the similarities are uncanny and the prisoner to others and myself was a major flop. I love international shows its great to be able to see life in different counties as I don't travel much
Don't get me wrong although there are major similarities "This is not my life" is so far well done and intriguing, its got my attention. The acting is what makes this show as the characters are believable unlike The prisoner I will continue to follow this series before I give it a rating as it would be unfair to all who read my comments if I rate it as it wouldn't be accurate after 1 episode. However I will say that the comments I read about the show are very accurate. I'll update my comments after I have viewed more because its so far got a hook in me and I'm nibbling at it
Don't get me wrong although there are major similarities "This is not my life" is so far well done and intriguing, its got my attention. The acting is what makes this show as the characters are believable unlike The prisoner I will continue to follow this series before I give it a rating as it would be unfair to all who read my comments if I rate it as it wouldn't be accurate after 1 episode. However I will say that the comments I read about the show are very accurate. I'll update my comments after I have viewed more because its so far got a hook in me and I'm nibbling at it
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