Young Lions (TV series)

Young Lions is an Australian TV police drama shown on the Nine Network in 2002 and in Ireland on RTÉ Two. The storyline of the series revolved around the professional and private lives of four rookie detectives, the Young Lions, of South West 101, an inner city Sydney police station.

The program rated poorly and was not renewed after its first season. Competition from other new drama series and several timeslot changes also contributed to the show's demise.

Main

 * Alex Dimitriades as Det Snr Constable Eddie Mercia
 * Alexandra Davies as Det Snr Constable Donna Parry
 * Tom Long as Det Snr Constable Guy 'Guido' Martin
 * Anna Lise Phillips as Det Snr Constable Cameron Smart
 * Penny Cook as Chief Inspector Sharon Kostas
 * Katherine Slattery as Madeleine Delaney
 * Alan Cinis as Phil Emerson

Recurring/guests

 * Socratis Otto as Justin Carmody (15 episodes)
 * Anna Torv as Irena Nedov (13 episodes)
 * Betty Lucas as Grace Beaumont (1 episode)
 * Brendan Cowell as Jason Doone (2 episodes)
 * Caroline Brazier as Gabrielle Hall (1 episode)
 * Chris Lilley as Mick Dwyer (1 episode)
 * Damien Garvey as William Solomons (2 episodes)
 * Daniel Frederiksen as Chris Doone (2 episodes)
 * Daniel Roberts as Ross Kennedy (1 episode)
 * David Campbell as Grant Fisher (1 episode)
 * Essie Davis as Julie Morgan (2 episodes)
 * Hayley MacElhinney as Mel Gilham (2 episodes)
 * Jack Finsterer as Tony Kennedy (1 episode)
 * Jeremy Sims as Rob Carne (3 episodes)
 * John Gregg as George Quinlan QC / Magistrate (4 episodes)
 * John Noble as Adam Gallagher (4 episodes)
 * John Waters as Snr Det Bill Martin (7 episodes)
 * Justin Rosniak as Noel Jarvine (2 episodes)
 * Kate Beahan as Emma Greer (2 episodes)
 * Kick Gurry as Danny (1 episode)
 * Kieran Darcy-Smith as Marty Charlton (2 episodes)
 * Leeanna Walsman aa Freda Larsen (2 episodes)
 * Leon Ford as Josef Pozinak (1 episode)
 * Loene Carmen as Sarah (1 episode)
 * Marta Dusseldorp as Catherine McGregor (1 episode)
 * Maya Stange as Sophie Rinaldi (6 episodes)
 * Michael Denkha as Paco (2 episodes)
 * Nadine Garner as Rebecca Ann Sharpe (2 episodes)
 * Peter Kowitz as Alan Destin (1 episode)
 * Peter O'Brien as Daryll Flynn (1 episode)
 * Rhys Muldoon as Justice Paul Bergan (3 episodes)
 * Ryan Johnson as Alex Brooks (1 episode)
 * Simon Burke as Rob Watson (3 episodes)
 * Steve Le Marquand as SPG Officer Stevens (1 episode)
 * Steven Vidler as Sgt Brian Graham (1 episode)
 * Susan Prior as Christine Malouf (1 episode)
 * Terry Serio as Det Shane Wesson (3 episodes)
 * Victoria Longley as Police Psychiatrist (4 episodes)
 * Zac Drayson as Jay Stubbings (1 episode)

Broadcast
The series ran from 17 July through 18 December 2002, and consisted of 23 episodes.

Critical reception
The Age television critic Ross Warneke criticised the show, writing, "it seems unable—or perhaps unwilling—to break the shackles of copshow cliche. ... It may be flashier, faster and more crowded than the cop shows of yore, but there's not much else." Comparing it to another Michael Jenkins show, Wildside, Amanda Meade of The Australian called Young Lions "another slick urban police drama with flawed cops, dark beautifully filmed cityscapes and, occasionally, characters who repeat their lines". The Courier-Mail's Jackie Sinnerton found the series to be "edgy, sexy and urbane, the 22-part drama has Jenkins written all over it".

Episode List

 * List of Australian television series
 * List of Nine Network programs