TV fans have raved over a ‘criminally underrated’ drama that has been dubbed ‘Australia’s answer to The Sopranos’. 

The award-winning series Underbelly first aired back in 2008 and stars Caroline Craig as police officer Jacqui James, Paul Tᴀssone, Dieter Brummer and Daniel Roberts.

It delves into the Australian underworld and follows figures including gangster Alphonse Gangitano, played by Vince Colosimo, and drug trafficker Carl Williams, portrayed by Gyton Grantley.

There are six seasons of the drama, and the first one was added to Amazon Prime Video this weekend, meaning it is now free to stream for subscribers.

Consisting of 13 episodes, the show is loosely inspired by the Melbourne gangland war that happened between 1996 to 2004 and is based on John Silvester and Andrew Rule’s book, Leadbelly.

When the series first launched in the early 2000s, a review on TV Tonight even described the series as Australia’s ‘own Sopranos’. 

The award-winning series Underbelly first aired back in 2008 and stars Caroline Craig as police officer Jacqui James, Paul Tᴀssone, Dieter Brummer and Daniel Roberts

It delves into the Australian underworld and follows figures including gangster Alphonse Gangitano, played by Vince Colosimo , and drug trafficker Carl Williams, portrayed by Gyton Grantley

Some fans have discussed the series online, with one praising it as ‘excellent, gritty and suspenseful’ on Google reviews.

One watcher commented on Reddit: ‘Australian show Underbelly about real gangland wars in Melbourne is (pardon the pun) criminally underrated and should be seen by an international audience.

‘Australia has always punched above its weight in terms of crime dramas both cinematically and televised, but after re-watching Underbelly (season 1, the others weren’t so good) there is a strong case to be made that we do it better than anyone else with a mᴀssively underfunded media industry.’

Someone else commented: ‘Yes agree. I was overseas working in Melbourne when the events in the first few seasons took place. 

‘It lost a little steam as it went on like anything does, but the first few seasons are bangers. For someone that likes crime and gangster shows this is well worth your time.’

Another added: ‘Season 1 of underbelly was great. Absolutely loved Kestie Morᴀssi in it. Rest of the seasons just weren’t as good.’

While one viewer on Google reviews wrote, ‘Very well done series depicting some of Australia’s historic criminals.’

Some fans have discussed the series online, including on Google reviews

‘Great stuff. Binged it bad. Gotta watch Fat Tony, it is the bomb.’; ‘Reels you in, will make you want to watch again.’

 However, not everyone agreed with the original poster and one person penned: ‘Australia has produced some awesome tv and films, but Underbelly is really just okay and doesn’t hold up well. It’s one of those shows that is “of its time” as they say.’

Someone else said: ‘Loved the storytelling, ambience and costumes and on the whole first class acting. 

‘However, we found it overkill on the music sequences and slow-mo; found they were not only distracting but unbottled the drama and tension that was painfully put together. Shame that it seemed to be more frequent as the series progressed.’

It comes as fans are also obsessed with a ‘phenomenal’ crime drama that ‘needs another series’ – but there are only days left to watch it.

Prime Video series, Caronte, follows the story of a wrongly convicted police officer Samuel Caronte who becomes a lawyer with a mission to help innocent people get justice and avoid his fate.

Prime Video series, Caronte, follows the story of a wrongly convicted police officer Samuel Caronte who becomes a lawyer with a mission to help innocent people get justice and avoid the same fate he faced

The Spanish drama consists of 13 episodes and is set to leave the streaming platform at the end of February.

It stars Roberto Álamo as Samuel Caronte, Miriam Giovanelli as Marta Pelayo and Álex Villazán as Guille, among others.  

Caronte first aired in 2020 and many fans have left positive reviews of the show online, with one describing it as ‘spectacular’.

Underbelly is available to stream on Prime Video now.