The Secret Life of Us follows eight twentysomethings sharing three apartments in a Melbourne residential block, and may well be Channel 4's best-kept secret. Buried in a mid-week late-night slot the show has nevertheless developed a cult following as an antipodean answer to This Life, though one mercifully free of amateurish shaky photography. This is actually a good-looking soap spiced with post-watershed language, sex, nudity and a refreshing dose of humour--think Sex and the City meets Coupling, or Dawson's Creek goes to The Book Group.

The show takes a while to get going, introducing too many characters too quickly in disorientating fashion, but becomes engrossing entertainment filled with realistically young, aimless and confused, if not very likeable characters. Central to the show is Alex (Claudia Karvan, soon to become much more famous in Star Wars: Episode III) giving a strong performance as an emotional insecure doctor who sets things rolling by having a fling with her best friend's boyfriend. Samuel Johnson meanwhile is the highly sexed struggling novelist whose work in progress, the titular Secret Life of Us offers commentary on the ever more tangled web of romance, deception and friendship. It's Australian drama for those who have outgrown Melbourne's Neighbours.

On the DVD: The Secret Life of Us comes to DVD in an anamorphically enhanced 16:9 transfer which looks fine, showing just a little graininess in the darker scenes. The sound is Dolby Prologic and is more than adequate given the small-scale, intimate nature of the production. There are optional subtitles. --Gary S Dalkin

Naw, actually a group of intriguing 20-somethings portrayed by talented young actors with great writing and incomparable music. I'm up to Series 2 now and still hooked.

This is very watchable and excellently written. We can all relate to the characters, all of whom are acted very naturally. This is totally addictive, which is why I'm dying to see the second series, which I missed when it was on TV. Amazon- when will you stock the second series dvd box set for the UK?
I need my next Secret Life of Us fix!

In the first couple of episodes it's hard to keep track of all the 9 main characters, but once you sorted out who does what and with who - and get used to the hectic Melbourne life and the hedonistic Melbourne (St.Kilda version) life - it all grows on you most irresistibly. Rooftop parties, casual sex almost ruining friendships and certainly dooming pre-doomed relationships, a wonderful episode mostly of flashbacks (but always using the grown-up actors even for flashbacks to childhood).
A certain spirit of matiness (or is it mateyness?) pervading the whole thing. And a certain cutting-edge urban living that can in moments revert to suburbia.
The voice-overs are original up to a point, but at times distracting.
The soundtrack is generally good, but a few 'godawful' pop-moments sleep in and I'm by no means sure they're all Australian.
Great acting all around. Claudia Karvan as Alex stands out from the rest at times (for me) but like all the others is an excellent team player.

You can't help but become addicted to it! You gradually get to know the characters in more depth as the series progresses. Its very well written and makes compelling viewing. The story lines are witty, hilarious, moving and intelligent. I can't wait to see the second part of this series..!

The Secret Life of Us is a show which will captivate you after 1 or 2 episodes and then won't let you go as you ride the highs and lows of your favorite characters.

The stars in a very strong cast are Alex the doctor, Miranda the budding actress and partime karaoke singer and Evan the writer. But the star attraction are the locations themselves set around fashionable St.Kilda. Whether it be drinking at the 'Fu bar', drinking on the rooftop balcony or drinking after soccer at the beach, the show paints an accurate portrayal of summer life in Melbourne town.