Utopia Series 4

29 “The Blame Game”
Tony is forced to defend himself when Jim and Rhonda try to blame a failed project on the NBA. Nat and Ash prepare for an important overseas trade delegation. And the new office security system proves a little too ‘secure’.

30 “Ticks Of Approval”
A routine urban development project proves surprisingly difficult for Tony when multiple Government departments get involved. Nat is forced to assist the Minister with a major challenge – choosing this year’s Christmas cards.

31 “Levers of Power”
Tony is on the verge of completing a major report when Rhonda invites an ABC documentary crew to spend a week in the NBA offices. And the NBA staff are divided over an important issue of office catering.

32 “The Ghost Of Christmas Future”
Following a trip to Canberra Tony finds himself at loggerheads with Rhonda and Jim after he refuses to back a major new government initiative. Nat and Ash are forced to break some bad news to the Minister.

And that’s it ! The forth series ended 9 Oct 2019 and there is no sign of another.

Utopia Series 4

25 “The Law’s The Law”
Tony and Jim clash over the best way to tackle high level company tax fraud. Keen to launch a major Government report, Rhonda seeks help from a well-known television personality.

26 “Working With Children”
The arrival of a work experience student leads to unexpected Ministerial developments. Nat is invited to join a prestigious board but soon finds herself clashing with the Chair.

27 “Pipe Dreams”
Tony’s opportunity to pitch an important proposal is undermined by computer issues. Nat and Rhonda are forced to deal with community backlash from a prematurely-announced construction project.

28 “Mission Creeps”
Tony is asked by the Minister to oversee the implementation on a new electronic I.D card scheme. Nat and Ash must face the fact that their expensive wildlife project preservation may not have actually preserved any wildlife.

Utopia Season 3

21 “Start Up”
Fresh from a trip to Silicon Valley, Jim asks Tony for help getting the Government involved in the world of start-ups. Meanwhile, a complaint from an ex-employee sees Nat accused of bullying.

22 “Snouts In The Trough”
Jim and Rhonda ask Tony for help building a new airport rail link, but Tony’s proposal shocks them both. Meanwhile, Nat has her entire week derailed by a tweet.

23 “On The Defence”
With a major defence white paper about to be launched Jim and Rhonda ask Tony for help. Meanwhile Nat is summoned to Canberra for an exciting new job. Back at the office it is time for a Risk and Safety audit.

24 “Independence Day”
After threatening to resign Tony is offered his own independent infrastructure board but Jim has his own ideas about the word “independent”. Rhonda & Beverley decide it’s time for a new office reporting structure.

Brokenwood Series  7 Episode 6

A party goes wrong and two people are killed. It seems that everyone from all the previous episodes know each other.

And a second plot is added regarding Mike’s past. This adds nothing to the mystery and just seems to pad out the thin story.

And the final twist is that the reason given for the second murder is just ridiculous and adds nothing to the weakest episode of  the series.

17 “Blue Sky Thinking”
Jim and Rhonda force Tony to help step in and save a flawed government scheme. Nat is driven mad by a local council worried about a proposed development’s artist impression. The staff of the NBA also run a local talent contest.

18 “Smart Cities”
Rhonda forces Tony to be keynote speaker at the Smart Cities conference. Nat is looking set for a promotion until Beverley from HR decides to step in. The arrival of a new couch has unintended consequences.

19 “Nation Shapers”
Nat is asked to help out the Minister with a problem-plagued I.T. project. Meanwhile, a poor radio interview sees Tony forced to undertake media training.

20  “Clause For Concern”
The NBA team is asked to help out with the sale of a port, Rhonda decides it is time for a digital upgrade and Tony is forced to spend a night outdoors in the name of charity.

13 “Terminal Problems”
After conducting over six months’ work on a proposal for Sydney’s second airport, Jim asks Tony to find a way to kill the project due to electoral pressure on the Prime Minister. Rhonda nominates Nat as the keynote speaker for a Women In Power conference, and enlists Karsten to ‘improve’ Nat’s story.

14 “Starting the Conversation”
Jim is pressured by a band of housing developers to rezone large swaths of farmland – a request he palms off to Tony. Rhonda’s recent attendance at a conference on social media engagement creates a bit of a distraction for the NBA employees.

15 “Reporting for Duty”
Tony and the team work to somehow justify a cross-city tunnelling project that all experts agree is not viable. Angered by the incompetence of an employee, Nat attempts to fire her. Amy becomes the barista of the office.

16 “Summit Attempt”
Tony is determined to take his vacation, but is consistently thwarted by a host of problems in the office. An infrastructure conference is coming up, but Karsten and Rhonda’s involvement causes complications.

Utopia Series 2 Episodes 1-4

9 “A Fresh Start”
Back with a vengeance, Tony is determined to kick off the newly expanded NBA with efficiency, however is foiled at every turn by office distractions, fitness initiatives and tech issues. Nat is touched by Katie’s hometown banding together to raise $30,000 to fix their local swimming pool, and vows to help, inadvertently triggering a billion-dollar rural health initiative in the process.

Spotted at a meeting was Peter Rowley, best known in NZ as co-conspirator on the McPhail & Gadsby Show

10 “Shovels Ready”
Tony is excited to finally get started on a tunnelling project on the verge of construction, however Rhonda’s insistence on a fanciful launch event jeopardises the entire project. Exhausted from constant commuting back and forth from the NBA’s Brisbane office, Nat asks the human resources department to hire a colleague as a manager there, but HR have other ideas.

11 “Keep Out – Public Property”
Faced with questions about why a new parkland project has no parkland, Tony and the Authority have no answers. Nat is desperate to receive contracts from Adelaide, but the NBA’s new courier isn’t as efficient as she would have hoped. Healthy Heart Week hits the office.

12 “Dot Dot Dot”
After the Prime Minister foolishly promises an ‘Education Nation’ initiative to the media, Jim asks Tony to create one for him. Nat receives a Freedom of Information request, and goes to Rhonda and Hugh for help.

Utopia Series 1 Episodes 5 to 8

5 “Arts and Minds”
A government initiative to commemorate the completion of a new road by installing roadside art creates a host of problems for Nat and Hugh; Tony is asked to visit a local primary school, which somehow puts into motion the possibility of Australia’s first space program.

6 “Then We Can Build It”
Jim fields complaints that the Authority’s developments have largely ignored Tasmanian interests, so he sends Tony, Katie and Scotty to Tasmania to host a series of community suggestions for a new project. Rhonda and Amy organise an internationally-renowned motivational expert to conduct a week-long incursion at the NBA offices.

7 “The First Project”
Disillusioned by the modus operandi of the NBA – announce big projects and then do nothing to actually complete them – Tony reflects back on his first week on the job: a mess of angry cyclists, teething problems and plumbing issues.

8 “The Whole Enchilada”
The complete and utter failure of the Northern Food Bowl project leads Jim to ask Tony to take a look. Nat deals with delays in a Perth freeway upgrade and the Western Australian public relations departments. Jim announces a big shake-up at the NBA.

Utopia, is aa Australian television series that follows the working lives of a team in the fictional Nation Building Authority, a newly created government organisation. The Authority is responsible for overseeing major infrastructure projects, from announcement to unveiling.

I only leaned about his as it appeared when I accidently enabled by tablet to automatically download programs similar to those I had seen. The main guy sounded familiar, but not the face. He had changed a bit since Frontline ,

1 “Wood for the Trees”
Tony’s attempts to close a huge international deal are thwarted by Rhonda’s insistence on a new logo; Jim’s department inadvertently adds a community garden to the list of promises in an urban renewal scheme and asks Nat to intervene.

2 “Protected Species”
A massive new project for the NBA is jeopardised by the discovery of a rare grass on the proposed site; Rhonda decides the NBA website needs a dramatic overhaul, enlisting Karsten and his film crew to do it.

3 “Very Fast Turnover”
Jim pushes Tony into investigating the feasibility of a very fast train connecting Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane despite nearly 50 years of studies positing its lack of viability. Amy audits the office’s safety protocols.

4 “Onwards and Upwards”
An in-demand residential developer asks the NBA to step in and help him to add 35 more stories to his proposed apartment building. A new employee asks Nat to conduct a performance review of him, which creates tension between Nat and the human resources department.

The series takes a while to find it’s feet and establish the characters. But by the forth episode, it’s on target and having a good poke at developers and business speak.

 Exposed to the Light

A fundraising evening at the historic Brokenwood Empire Cinema turns deadly when a fire breaks out, and when the smoke clears, a local businessman is found strangled.

The always excellent Jennifer Ward-Lealand plays an older lady.

But a rather pedestrian plot.

Written by: Roy Ward
Cast:
Mike NEILL REA
Kristin FERN SUTHERLAND
D.C. Chalmers JAROD RAWIRI
Gina CRISTINA IONDA
Reverend Greene ROY WARD
Kimberly ZARA CORMACK
Dr Carlton ASCIA MAYBURY
Glenn RYAN O’KANE
Patricia JENNIFER WARD-LEALAND
Charlotte LISA HARROW
Colin ERROLL SHAND
Lyall JOHN GLASS
Oliver IAIN REA
Kane HENRY BEASLEY
Briony MIRANDA WILSON
Cherie GRACE PALMER
Dr Plummer CAMERON RHODES
Walter CALVIN TUTEAO
Ben TIM CARLSEN
Todd KAURI WILLIAMS
Patu TE RONGOPAI CURREEN-TUKIWAHO
Carlotta JAZMYNE VAN GOSLIGA
Warrior WHITI TUMAI
Teen Patricia ISLA JACKSON
Teen Lyall BEN GRAHAM
Teen Oliver PHOENIX BEACHAM