The new Australian crime drama 'Run', now streaming on Binge, attempts to chronicle the infamous exploits of Brenden Abbott, better known as the 'Postcard Bandit'. Despite a compelling true-crime story and a solid lead performance from George Mason, this six-part series struggles to find a consistent rhythm, ultimately missing the mark as a gripping caper.
A Notorious Criminal Brought to Screen
The series focuses on Abbott's criminal career, which peaked in the late 1980s and early 1990s with dozens of bank robberies. His notoriety was cemented by two audacious prison escapes, the first from Fremantle prison in 1989. After this escape, he remained on the run for several years, continuing his spree. George Mason portrays Abbott with a flinty, clever charisma, presenting him as a street-smart operator rather than a criminal mastermind.
The supporting cast includes strong performances from Ashleigh Cummings as Abbott's girlfriend Jackie, Oscar Redding as his volatile fellow escapee Reynolds, and Robyn Malcolm, who brings significant gravitas to the role of Abbott's mother, Thelma. On the law enforcement side, Keiynan Lonsdale plays Detective Gary Porter, the officer determined to track Abbott down.
Structural Issues Undercut Momentum
Where 'Run' stumbles is in its execution and pacing. The series employs a non-linear narrative, jumping between time periods, which often feels disjointed and stalls the story's natural momentum. A key example is the Fremantle prison escape, a well-staged and suspenseful sequence that closes the first episode. Many viewers may feel this high-stakes breakout would have served as a more dynamic opening.
Instead, the series begins with quieter character moments before flashing back to earlier crimes. This stop-start approach creates an erratic rhythm that the show never fully overcomes. The second episode, which follows Abbott and Reynolds on the run, shows promise with sizzling tension, but the pacing inevitably slows again.
Thinly Drawn Pursuit
Another missed opportunity lies in the police investigation storyline. While the real-life manhunt for Abbott was famously protracted and frustrating, the series fails to translate this into compelling screen drama. The police characters, including Lonsdale's Detective Porter, feel peripheral and underdeveloped, lacking the narrative weight to create a truly gripping cat-and-mouse dynamic.
The show's promotional material, featuring a composite face of Mason and Lonsdale, suggests a dual narrative focus. In reality, 'Run' is overwhelmingly Abbott's story, leaving the police procedural elements feeling like an afterthought.
Verdict: A Caper That Doesn't Quite Gel
Created by a writing team including Matt Cameron, Anthony Hayes, Sarah Walker, and Scout Cripps, 'Run' possesses all the raw ingredients for a cracking crime drama. The source material is rich, and the central performance works. However, the series is foiled by its uneven structure and inability to maintain suspense.
The lurching pace could be interpreted as a reflection of Abbott's rootless, chaotic life on the run. Yet, as television drama, it results in tension that dissipates just as it should tighten. For viewers intrigued by one of Australia's most notorious criminals, 'Run' offers a glimpse, but it lacks the focused, propulsive energy its title promises.
