‘Cleverman’ Is Going Full ‘X-Men’ In The First Trailer For Season Two
The second season is right around the corner.
We’ve known since before the show’s first episode went to air that Cleverman would be getting a second season – such was the ABC’s faith in the strength of Ryan Griffen’s dystopian drama, which is heavily rooted in Aboriginal mythology and is led by a predominantly Indigenous Australian cast.
It’s faith that they’ve been rewarded for, by the way, with the first season garnering strong reviews and a loyal contingent of fans. It even made our list of the 60 Greatest Australian TV Shows of all time.
In particular, the show has been praised as a bold political allegory about the violence and discrimination faced by Indigenous people, refugees and countless other marginalised groups that have been othered under the pretext of keeping the rest of society safe. And based on the first trailer for season two, that seems unlikely to change.
To be honest, it’s not a great sign when the villain in a sci-fi show about a brutal totalitarian government sounds exactly like your actual Immigration Minister. Don’t tell me you can’t imagine the words “we get to say who lives here, and who doesn’t” slithering out of Peter Dutton’s mouth.
Political commentary aside, the trailer also delivers big on action, while the rivalry between brothers Koen (Hunter Page-Lochard) and Waruu (Rob Collins) is clearly alive and well. Combine that with Jarrod Slade (Iain Glen) and his quest to strip the Hairies of their power, and I can’t be the only one getting an X-Men vibe off of this thing.
Cleverman 2 premiere on ABC TV on June 29. The first two episodes will also be screened at this year’s Sydney Film Festival on June 17.