MovieChat Forums > Redfern Now (2012) Discussion > Here we go again

Here we go again

posted 11 years ago by Drewy
7 replies | jump to latest

Currently, with episode 6 to go to air tonight, viewers have given this an average rating of 8.3 on IMDb. Most Sydney TV critics have listed this series in their top productions of the year - many have it number 1.

Yet the stupid IMDb weighted average formula reduces the 8.3 all the way down to 5.3!!

So how does this look? The best series on Australian television is worth 5.3. This series may not have huge worldwide appeal and may never get sufficient number of voters to bring that weighted average to a number that it deserves (in the eye of the voters).

Sad. A real deficiency in IMDb as a serious database.

[–] wandaful 11 years ago

Agreed

[–] LookinGood 11 years ago

My guess after watching this kind of down-rating for a while around IMDb is that the ratings by users located in the USA are valued higher in the IMDb algorithm (7 people from the USA, so around 10%, rated this around 3.5 --it hasn't been shown in the US, right?).

What possessed them to insert that kind of weighting, I don't know.
It's either a half-baked assumption that Americans are mainly interested in American stuff (IMDb doesn't take other markets and target groups into consideration, really). Or (conspiration theory ;-) ) that by keeping stuff from abroad out of view, the stuff from home will be more visible (and thus will sell better).

Whatever --I learned about this series without the help of IMDb (thank you, ABC Radio online :-) http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/awaye/redfern-now/4359422 ).
--
"Nobody ever said the IMDB was polite company." MichaelD on the Luther (2003) board.

[–] musicalollipops 8 years ago

I learned about this series through Netflix. As an American, I love this show. Aborigines are basically non-existent in the west, so I thought it was refreshing to see aborigine Australians acting. I've recognized a few actors from other television shows, as well.

They always say that crap about what will sell better, but the Fast and the Furious franchise is one of the most successful, as diverse as it is.

[–] slmailouts 11 years ago

Well, I just gave it two stars. I doubt that will help.

[–] studentrl 10 years ago

I watched the first episode of this series and it was just OK for the type of series it is. Our government run TV station, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, will produce TV shows about the aboriginals, Inuit, etc. and generally not have too much success promoting them. This is likely the result of being next door to the USA and having to compete with major networks there. Our other major networks, CTV and Global TV do produce very good shows that are often picked up by the American networks. Many people in the USA do not realize that shows such as Flashpoint, Rookie Blue, Saving Hope, and Motive to name a few are produced by the Canadian Networks and are situated in Canadian cities usually Toronto or Vancouver.

[–] theredhairedcrow 8 years ago

TV series like Redfern Now or those in Canada about indigenous or aboriginal peoples don't succeed very often NOT because of lack of promotion or being next door to the USA. It is because most non-indigenous peoples like seeing the stereotypes, as in jokes or not too serious portrayals, or those primarily from the European or Anglo-North American perspectives.

Watching real-life portrayals of the difficulties and often horrendous lives and dailly challenges of indigenous people caused by European invasion or "colonizing" and which are still very much and daily generating negative after effects (systematic, institutional racism, discrimination and racial bias, etc.) is uncomfortable at best to their descendants who still benefit from those acts. Be honest. This reply skirts over real facts and realities in the same way indigenous produced, written, directed and perspective driven series or films are also skirted over by many non-indigenous viewers, but especially any bigger studio where they might get wider exposure.

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe..." Roy Batty, Blade Runner.

[–] draftdubya 8 years ago

It's on Netflix in the US now