Season 1

Episode 2 

Producers: Michael Jenkins & Peter Schreck
Directors: Ian Barry
Written by: David Phillips

First aired July 24th, 2002.

Well... the episode began with a series of flashbacks from the previous weeks pilot.
Then scenes from the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras interwoven with Guido and his female companion having sex, it's a very confronting beginning to the episode. (Well I double checked it was actually 8.30 and not 9.30... glad I packed underage child out of the room before I had to answer questions!!)
Guido is one dark individual, and we are treated to his musings after leaving the little tryst.

Donna Parry is having an equally sleepless night, being kept awake by noisy neighbours, before having a hole blown through her boarding house bedroom wall and her thong ( shoe not underwear) - more on that later.  She then has to arrest the gun wielding neighbour in her underwear.  All in a days work eh? <g>
Guido is certain that Eddie Mercia is a corrupt cop - and is obsessed with proving it.

Cases this week - Eddie and Donna are investigating a series of convenience store robberies by 2 transvestites.
Guido is dragging Cameron along on his quest to uncover the truth about the  murder of Carlos Martinez (once she figures out which is her desk).  The case was previously investigated by Wesson  who had since been suspended for corrupt activities.  Guido is not subtle in his questioning, when he finds out Cunningham's girlfriend was involved with the murdered man.  Cameron is constantly having to smooth over tempers.  She's not happy!  Guido is sure that Eddie and his lawyer friend Madeleine, who is defending the accused (a thug Chris Maitland - under the orders of Cunningham) in the case, are involved in a cover up.  He believes that Wesson faked the brief to water down the charges.

Eddie confronts Guido on rumors that he's corrupt and heavily involved in a local crime family - his girlfriend is the daughter of a well known crime boss.  Inspector Kostas has had enough of Eddie and Guido warring against each other.  So much so that she makes them work together on the case to prove or disprove that Wesson was involved in a cover up.  Are they happy about this??  What do you think!

This of course leaves Donna and Cameron to investigate the robberies.  They have a few suspects and seem to work well together.  They quickly uncover the reasons behind the crimes.

Guido and Sophia Rinaldi have another soul-searching discussion where Guido is offered the choice to stay on the straight and narrow or join the crime family in their activities.

After a fairly harrowing day in court, Guido gets his private life aired in public.  That night, whilst back in his dark, alcohol induced musings, he just happens to be in the right place at the right time and stops an attempted robbery by the transvestites from the other case.

Wesson turns up dead, and Guido knows he's on the right track to find the truth behind the murder they are investigating.  He gets Cunningham's girlfriend to testify to the knowledge that Carlos was murdered, and Wesson's partner to testify to the cover-up.

Amidst the mood music at the end of this episode, we find Guido pondering his future, and watching his girlfriend (ex-girlfriend now) drive past - not stopping.

Reviewer personal rating:
7 out of 10.

Oh wow!
Angst - thy name is Guido Martin.  I enjoyed the dialogue between Guido and Cameron.  She puts him in his place well.
Cameron and Donna fit together well too.  They will make a formidable pair when given the opportunity to work together.  The writing was strong in this... direction great.  Loved the camera work.

Did we really need... (...or eye rolling clichéd moments)
Ice down the bare back of his girlfriend?  Guido what were you thinking? It didn't fit the character - cringe!
Cockroach (they're still there), thong, hole in wall moment - predictable.

other side notes:
 - I'm getting used to the narrative along the way.  It's not as over bearing as I thought it might be.

Quotes:
Cameron <with a smirk> to Guido (after words between Guido and Eddie):
"That seems to be going well."

Donna to transvestite:  "Monica... do you mind if I ask you something personal?  Who does your hair?"

Guest Actors (alphabetical listing)
James Berlyn - Lover 1
Michael Butcher - Det. Dave Murphy
Leonie Carmen - Sarah
Jon Claire-Lee - Mr. Tang
Essie Davies - Julie Morgan
Slava Grigoryan - Caprice
Adam Hedditch - Jim Taylor
Anthony Jensen - Drunk
Sean Lynch - Braca
Simon Maiden - Kate
Antonietta Morgillo - Emille Martinez
Tai Nguyen - John
Shane Pascoe - Lover 2
Duncan Piney - Chris Maitland
Daniel Scott - Monica
Terry Serio - Det. Shane Wesson
Robert Somosi - Brian Cunningham
Maya Stange - Sophia Rinaldi
Helen Tolkin - Magistrate

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