Ranking Every HBO Miniseries From Worst To Best
34. All The Rivers Run
This adaptation of a swashbuckling Australian novel was a huge hit in its native down under, but decidedly less so elsewhere. It’s now a little remembered, somewhat un-HBO like romance with serious pacing issues and costumed period drama qualities that feel at their worst like ITV 4 quality slosh.
It starts out so promisingly, too, with protagonist Philadelphia Gordon shipwrecked off the Victoria coast. The sweeping scenery and rugged direction gives the opening salvo a real sense of urgency and there’s clearly significant money behind the project.
Once Philadelphia returns to society, though, it swiftly becomes a dippy love story in the mannered style of Victorian storytelling. While it’s still enjoyable to take in the vistas of Australia and the acting is of a decent standard, the series is ill fitting with what HBO would go on to create a few years down the line.