The Circuit - Series 2
Aaron Pedersen, as Drew Ellis, treads familiar dramatic territory here, playing yet another solicitor. However, the setting - the Kimberley Circuit Court - and the regulars in this series distinguish The Circuit from his previous work.
In the Kimberley Circuit Court, many of the defendants are indigenous Australians. The quandary between administering formal justice and tribal justice is among the issues explored in this series 2. Drew Ellis's bi-racial origins, as well as his move from the big city to the outback, imbue his character with an interesting perspective.
One of the most moving story lines underpinning this series, is the death in custody, of a young indigenous man. The tragedy is compounded by his being homosexual.
Did he commit suicide because he was in detention, or was there another reason, potentially more difficult for his family to accept?
As with the first series, there are six episodes in series 2: just enough to lend satisfying complexity to the story and characters without either outstaying its welcome.
The Circuit, which first went to air in 2007, may be more fairly regarded as a mini-series, rather than a conventional TV series.