Wild Boys

Wild Boys is an Australian television period drama series that began airing on the Seven Network on 4 September 2011. It is produced by Julie McGauran and Sarah Smith from Southern Star and John Holmes. The series is set in and around the fictional town of Hopetoun and principally filmed in Wilberforce on the Hawkesbury, Nelson, and Glenworth Valley on the New South Wales Central Coast. The series premiered in the UK on TCM UK on 3 March 2013.

Not to be confused with The Wild Boys (novel), The Wild Boys (song), The Wild Boys (film), or Wildboyz.

Wild Boys
GenrePeriod drama
StarringDaniel MacPherson
Zoe Ventoura
Michael Dorman
David Field
Nathaniel Dean
Alexander England
Anna Hutchison
Christopher Stollery
Jeremy Sims
Krew Boylan
Colin Friels
Mathew Burn
ComposersMichael Lira and David McCormack
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
ProducersJulie McGauran
Sarah Smith
Production companySouthern Star Entertainment
Release
Original networkSeven Network
Original release4 September (2011-09-04) –
20 November 2011 (2011-11-20)

The series was not renewed for a second season due to low viewership.[1]

Plot

The pilot episode establishes the character of Jack Keenan and his friend Dan Sinclair, bushrangers in 1860s' colonial New South Wales. Their robberies target those travelling by horse and cart as they usually carry with them a large amount of valuables. One such robbery attempt proves to be unsuccessful and another bushranger, Hogan, (who is usually at heads with the morals of Jack and Dan) assists them but lets his identity slip.

One of the victims of this robbery is the new Police Superintendent of Hopetoun, Francis Fuller and he wants to kill Jack and Dan at any cost. Jack returns to the town and stays at the inn owned and run by Mary Barrett with whom he has a relationship. Mary however is angry at Jack as he hasn't been back for about three months. Fuller searches the town for Jack and Dan and almost catches them at the inn, but does catch and kills Hogan who he recognised from the robbery. Fuller ambushes Jack and Dan on another robbery attempt and they are captured.

On the way to their trial at court Fuller plans to kill Jack, Dan and an innocent farrier Conrad Fischer who is arrested under the pretence that he stole a horse. He wishes to eliminate Conrad as he knows that Emelia Fife, the mayor's daughter has feelings for Conrad and Fuller too likes her. When the three men realise that they are about to be killed, they escape from the cart, hijack the horses and ride off. In order to pay for new guns they decide to rob the Hopetoun police station of the police payroll.

Conrad refuses to help them claiming that he is not a bushranger and will not take part in criminal activities but when he sees that they are in trouble he creates a diversion and saves them. Hence the boys decide to give him a part of their earnings and he decides to go try his luck with the Gold Rush and heads off away from town as it is now unsafe to return. Emelia is informed by Francis that Conrad has been killed and she is distraught and knows that Francis accused him due to his anger that she rejected him. However Conrad later visits her before departure and they both admit their feelings for each other and Conrad tells her that he will return for her and will try and strike it rich at the gold mines.

Dan too decides to take a break for a few days and meet up later with Jack. Jack heads off to another family house who offer him a place to stay and a warm meal however later that night he hears screaming only to see the head of the family killed and as he walks out to take a look he is shot and knocked out by a masked figure.

Cast

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateAustralia viewers
(millions)
1"Episode 1"Jeffrey WalkerJohn Ridley4 September 2011 (2011-09-04)1.827[2]
Bushrangers Jack Keenan and Dan Sinclair are on the new Police Superintendent Francis Fuller's hunt list after they unknowingly robbed his cart. Conrad Fischer, a local black-smith, has to flee with them, after Fuller accuses him of stealing a horse, having taken a shine to Conrad's girlfriend.
2"Episode 2"Jeffrey WalkerJohn Ridley11 September 2011 (2011-09-11)1.504[3]
Shot and left for dead, Jack Keenan is accused of murders he didn't commit. He tries and finds the real killer, while avoiding getting captured and hanged.
3"Episode 3"Ken CameronJames Walker18 September 2011 (2011-09-18)1.366[4]
When Jack, Dan, Charlie and Gunpowder discover that the bank they are trying to rob is empty, they decide to take the bank manager and his wife hostage until the money arrives.
4"Episode 4"Arnie CustoDave Warner25 September 2011 (2011-09-25)1.222[5]
As the Hopetoun Cup is running in town, Jack intends to ride and win the event – of course he also has stolen the favourite, painted it up and entered it as his own.
5"Episode 5"Michelle OffenKen Cameron2 October 2011 (2011-10-02)0.986[6]
6"Episode 6"Arnie CustoJohn Ridley9 October 2011 (2011-10-09)0.946[7]
7"Episode 7"Ian BarryJames Walker16 October 2011 (2011-10-16)0.89[8]
8"Episode 8"Ian BarrySarah Smith23 October 2011 (2011-10-23)0.922[9]
9"Episode 9"Shirley BarrettMichelle Offen30 October 2011 (2011-10-30)0.899[10]
10"Episode 10"Shirley BarrettJohn Ridley6 November 2011 (2011-11-06)0.907[11]
11"Episode 11"Mark JoffeSam Meikle13 November 2011 (2011-11-13)0.896[12]
12"Episode 12"Mark JoffeDave Warner20 November 2011 (2011-11-20)0.86[13]
13"Episode 13"Ian WatsonJohn Ridley20 November 2011 (2011-11-20)0.86[13]

References
  1. Knox, David (8 November 2011). "Seven not renewing Wild Boys". TV Tonight. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  2. "Consolidated Metropolitan Top 20 Programs 5 City Ranking Report – Free To Air Only Week 37 2011" (PDF). OzTAM. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  3. "Consolidated Metropolitan Top 20 Programs 5 City Ranking Report – Free To Air Only Week 38 2011" (PDF). OzTAM. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  4. "Consolidated Metropolitan Top 20 Programs 5 City Ranking Report – Free To Air Only Week 39 2011" (PDF). OzTAM. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  5. "Consolidated Metropolitan Top 20 Programs 5 City Ranking Report – Free To Air Only Week 40 2011" (PDF). OzTAM. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  6. Dale, David (3 October 2011). "The Ratings Race: Week 41". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  7. Dale, David (10 October 2011). "The Ratings Race: Week 42". The Age. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  8. Dale, David (17 October 2011). "The Ratings Race: Week 43". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  9. Dale, David (24 October 2011). "The Ratings Race: Week 44". National Times. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  10. Dale, David (31 October 2011). "The Ratings Race: Week 45". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  11. Dale, David (7 November 2011). "The Ratings Race: Week 46". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  12. Dale, David (14 November 2011). "The Ratings Race: Week 47". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  13. Dale, David (21 November 2011). "The Ratings Race: Week 48". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 30 January 2012. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
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