Devil's Playground

2014
Devil's Playground

Seasons & Episodes

  • 1

EP1 I Will Bring Fire Onto This Earth Sep 09, 2014

The year is 1988, and psychiatrist Tom Allen is still recovering from the death of his wife and an ill-fated love affair with Alice. When a boy at the local Catholic school goes missing, questions are asked of many in the community. Two popular clergy members – Father Andrassi and Brother Warner – launch a desperate search to find the missing boy. But the church is also facing internal moral problems, and Tom is called in to counsel a number of the priests dealing with a range of personal issues. As Cardinal Neville prepares to retire, his time in the position is celebrated by state MP Margaret Wallace, but a battle has also begun for the top job in the Sydney archdiocese.

EP2 The Tail of the Serpent Sep 09, 2014

A body is discovered, and a cryptic note suggests the death is not an accident. Father Andrassi becomes a new client of Tom’s. A meeting between Quaid and Brendan causes Quaid to question the secrets being kept within his church.

EP3 He Maketh My Way Perfect Sep 16, 2014

Quaid decides to commence an investigation of his own into the allegations made by Margaret and Brendan. Brendan infiltrates Tom’s world when he meets his son, David. Elliot becomes the target of new unwanted attention.

EP4 The Forgiveness of Sins Sep 23, 2014

Tom takes his concerns about the ongoing case to Bishop McNallly but later finds that his house has been broken into. Meanwhile, another boy goes missing.

EP5 The Whirlwind and the Storm Sep 30, 2014

In the wake of the investigation, Tom discovers his own past is also under public scrutiny and his life is being threatened from unknown quarters. Bishop Quaid reveals the results of his own investigation to Margaret, and Alice learns the truth.

EP6 Matthew 18:6 Oct 08, 2014

Tom confronts Bishop McNally and threatens to leak the results of his investigation beyond the confines of the institutional church. Margaret, Tom and Quaid attempt to end the Church's corruption and internal concealment of it, but they could risk their personal relationships and professional careers as they do so.
7.7| 0h30m| en| More Info
Released: 09 September 2014 Ended
Producted By: Matchbox Pictures
Country: Australia
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

The year is 1988. It is 35 years after the events of Fred Schepisi’s classic film, The Devil’s Playground. Tom Allen, now in his 40s and recently widowed, is a respected Sydney psychiatrist and father of two children. A practicing Catholic, Tom accepts an offer by the Bishop of Sydney to become a counselor of priests. During these sessions, he will uncover a scandal and become embroiled in the Church’s attempts to cover it up. Tom’s quest for justice will push him to his limits, and reveal a side of Church power and official corruption he could never have imagined.

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Reviews

willandferg An interesting series that tries to create a personal story around the Catholic Church's paedophile scandal. I found that the series succeeds in compelling the viewer to feel for the victims in a way that media reports have failed to do. Although we are all disgusted by the behaviour of the priests and brothers in newspaper reports it takes a series like this to bring the full horror home to the public on an emotional level because we get involved with the children depicted. All acting was extraordinarily good and the writing was sound, despite the other reviewers criticism of it. I found each episode compelling viewing and recommend it to all.
Fiona Brone Fred Schepsi and Thomas Keneally spoke a similar dialogue,and made the original titled film as an Australian masterpiece.This 2014 TV series never reaches the writing delicacy of the original story. Just horrible dialogue writing in a cliché-driven script. If you were drinking a shot for every cliché you would fall off your recliner by ep one.Other films have since tackled the theme with style and grace. This one lacks both.
chazview Sheds some light on a sensitive topic. The series has it's share of creepiness, something unavoidable when dramatizing widespread sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. At times it feels like an attempt to capitalize on the subject rather than inform or entertain -- like the exploitive sexual encounter between 2 consenting male characters thrown in that contributes nothing to the plot.Spreads itself a bit thin by trying to turn the subject into a murder mystery, and adding a dash of social commentary without fully committing to either. Overall it falls short of being a top-notch crime thriller or an awareness raising drama.Interesting series, however, I think it would have had more punch in the hands of a Nordic production company.
pikapiktsueletsuven-20059 Brilliant mini TV series. Devil's Playground is inspired from the 1976 film Devil's Playgroung and it is kind of a sequel to it. I haven't watched the 1976 film (although after watching the series I would like to) and didn't find any difficulties following the narrative of the series. It is a mystery situated in 1988 Australia, after the disappearance of a thirteen year old boy from a Catholic school. A beautifully made psychological thriller about the 1980's society and the church. Very realistic. The plot unravels really smooth, there are plot twists and what I enjoyed most about this series is that the characters are not what they appear to be, like in real life. The acting is great and I absolutely loved John Noble as Bishop Vincent Quaid (he is a great actor and I wish he had his own show). I couldn't stop watching, as I was so intrigued to see what happens next. I highly recommend it.