Cleverman is an Australian-New Zealand-American television drama series based on an original concept by Ryan Griffen. The series premiered on 1 June 2016 on SundanceTV in the United States and on ABC in Australia the following day.
The six-part drama series reimagines several stories of the Aboriginal Dreamtime in a modern, superheroic context, and reflects on racism, asylum seekers and border protection. Its central story revolves around two estranged Gumbaynggirr brothers who are forced together to fight for their own survival when one of them is passed the mantle of the "Cleverman". Creatures from the Dreaming also feature in the series' real world dystopian landscape.
The series was renewed for a second season on 2 June 2016, and received A$450,000 in funding from Screen NSW.
The Cleverman is an important figure in many Australian Aboriginal cultures. Series creator Ryan Griffen describes the Cleverman as "like the Pope of the Dreamtime ... the conduit between the present and the Dreaming". The version in the television series combines many Cleverman traditions from different Aboriginal clans to create a superheroic version, with powers relating to the Dreaming's connection to past, present and future.
The Hairypeople or "Hairies" are designed by Jacob ("Jake") Nash, production designer for the Australian Aboriginal Bangarra Dance Theatre, and realised by the Weta Workshop, known for their work on The Lord of The Rings and other fantasy and science fiction films. The Hairypeople in Cleverman are inspired by Australian Aboriginal mythology of hairymen drawn from multiple Aboriginal peoples, including the Gamilaraay and Bundjalung people of northern New South Wales. In the series, they speak Kumbainggar, another language from northern New South Wales.
In the world of Cleverman, Hairies are stronger and hardier than humans, covered in thick facial and body hair, and have tough, sharp fingernails. They also have much longer lifespans. They share some things with Aboriginal Australians, including a knowledge of land, culture and the Dreaming. Their DNA differs enough from humans to be considered a different species. They come to the notice of modern human society six months prior to the beginning of the series, in an event known as "Emergence Day". Those who choose to live their lives as they always have – covered in a coat of hair and speaking their traditional languages – are confined to "The Zone" by a fearful government. To escape, some Hairies become "shavers", learning to speak English and removing their body hair in order to blend in with human society.
Hunter Page-Lochard as Koen West, Waruu's half brother, owns a pub named 'The Couch' with friends Blair and Ash. He has ensured his business by giving up Hairypeople to the CA for rewards by tricking them with a false safe house setup. His actions inadvertently set up the death of Jyra causing doubt within himself. Koen becomes the titular, yet initially reluctant Cleverman after the passing of his uncle who was the previous Cleverman. Koen gains abilities such as healing, the left eye of the Cleverman, the ability to see visions when touching others or from the dreaming, along with the war club 'The Nulla Nulla' He has a toxic relationship with his half brother Waruu as they share the same father but different mother with Koen's being labeled as 'white whore' due to the affair between their father and his mum. He was than since abused by Waruu most of his childhood till he ran away from the zone and was found by Blair were they become friends. He has a secret affair with Blair's girlfriend Ash which causes a rift in their friendship later when McIntyre kills her trying to capture Kora and Koen. Over the course of the series he begins to gradually accept his role as Cleverman finding redemption in his previous actions evening fighting Waruu to prove his worth during a fist fight when Waruu could not accept him as the Cleverman. In the end of season 1 Koen returns to the zone were after Waruu unsuccessfully tries to kill the spirit 'namorrodor' Koen defeats it with the Nulla Nulla and beings to lead the Hairypeople against the advancing CA
Rob Collins as Waruu West, Koen's older half brother, activist for equal rights amongst humans and subhumans who initially hoped to be chosen to be the next Cleverman. Married to Nerida and father of Alinta; having an affair with Belinda Frosche. Lives in the Zone.
Deborah Mailman as Aunty Linda, estranged mother of Waruu and adoptive mother of Koen; dying of cancer and is knowledgeable of the Dreaming. Lives in the Zone.
Iain Glen as Jarrod Slade, married to Charlotte and an enterprising man whose agenda involves the Hairypeople and Koen.
Frances O'Connor as Dr Charlotte Cleary, married to Slade yet is unsuspecting of his agenda. A humanitarian, she runs a free clinic in the Zone.
Ryan Corr as Blair Finch, Koen's childhood friend and the boyfriend of Ash.
Tasma Walton as Araluen, a Hairy woman, caring wife of Boondee and mother of Djukara, Latani and Jyra. Was captured and forced to work in Frankie's brothel, servicing Geoff Matthews.
Tony Briggs as Boondee, a Hairy man, protective husband of Araluen and father to Djukara, Latani and Jyra. Still held in containment.
Stef Dawson as Ash Kerry, Blair's girlfriend who is in a complex relationship with Koen.
Jada Alberts as Nerida West, Waruu's wife and Alinta's mother. Has a strong relationship with Linda and knows of her husbands adultery. Lives in the Zone.
Tamala Shelton as Alinta West, Waruu and Nerida's daughter. An ally to the Hairypeople and resentful of her adulterous father. Lives in the Zone.
Rarriwuy Hick as Latani, a young Hairy woman, daughter of Araluen and Boondee, sister to Djukara and Jyra. The only member of her family to avoid capture. Makes her way to the Zone and befriends Alinta.
Tysan Towney as Djukara, a young Hairy man, son of Araluen and Boondee, brother to Latani and Jyra. Very hot-tempered, vengeful and easily influenced. Makes his way to the Zone with Mungo and Kulya.
Andrew McFarlane as Geoff Matthews, a politician who is against the Hairypeople. A client of Frankie's who is regularly serviced by Araluen.
Marcus Graham as McIntyre, in the employ of Matthews who directs the Containment Authority. A sadist.
Alexis Lane as Kora, a Dreaming spirit who was summoned by Uncle Jimmy prior to his death; needs Koen to send her back to her dimension.
Leeanna Walsman as Belinda Frosche, a Channel 8 reporter; having an affair with Waruu.
Jack Charles as Uncle Jimmy West, the original Cleverman who chose Koen to succeed him over Waruu. Was in league with Jarrod Slade before he had himself killed by a Dreaming creature called "Namorrodor."
Adam Briggs as Maliyan, a violent-minded Hairy man who clashes with Waruu. A community leader in the Zone.
Lynette Curran as Virgil, a reclusive yet inventive woman who aids Latani, making her human contact lenses.
Robyn Nevin as Jane O'Grady, a talkshow host who discusses the Hairypeople with Waruu and Matthews.
Josh McConville as Dickson
Mansoor Noor as McIntyre 2IC
Rhondda Findleton as Frankie, a vicious brothel madam who purchases Araluen.
Isaac Drandic as Harry, a Hairy man and Waruu's right hand. Lives in the Zone.
Katie Wall as Rowena, a drug addict working as Frankie's assistant.
Miranda Tapsell as Lena, a Hairy woman who defeats several would be attackers on a bus.
Rahel Romahn as Ludo
Sam Parsonson as Taki
Val Weldon as Jyra, a Hairy girl, daughter of Araluen and Boondee, sister to Djukara and Latani. She is killed following her family's capture; her spirit possesses another Hairy child until Koen releases her, earning her forgiveness.
Aileen Huynh as Dr Everick, a scientist in Slade's employ, experimenting on Kora and Hairypeople.
Nancy Denis as Eve, a nurse working with Charlotte.
Trevor Jamieson as Uncle Max, an Aboriginal elder who runs a gym in the Zone.
Kamil Ellis as Mungo, a Hairy boy who escapes capture with Djukara and Kulya and hides in the Zone.
Waverley Stanley Jr. as Kulya, a Hairy boy who escapes capture with Djukara and Mungo and hides in the Zone.
The show has been met with favorable reviews on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, where the first season was given a rating of 91% based on reviews from eight critics. The first season of Cleverman received generally favorable reviews on Metacritic scoring a rating of 61/100 based on reviews from seven critics.
A review from the Boston Herald stated, "Cleverman is unlike any other TV miniseries you've seen before. The gritty Australian production uses a sci-fi backdrop to test notions of racial identity and integration with a twist of supernatural terror." and went on to say "The first episode is confusing, introducing a multitude of characters and agendas. Stay with it. The second episode brings several of the characters and the conflicts into focus."
Mike Hale of The New York Times stated that "Cleverman has a rough immediacy in its pacing and cinematography that helps to make up for its deficiencies elsewhere, and if you have an appetite for sci-fi conspiracy thrillers, it's worth sampling." While a review from The A.V. Club said "Cleverman is full of potential."
The American premiere on 1 June 2016 gained 197,000 viewers, and an 18–49 demo rating of 0.04, while the Australian premiere the following day was watched by 452,000 viewers.
