Ground Up: A Pleasant Satire of Sports Project Management

The Australian series 'Ground Up' provides a tonally pleasant satire centered on the ambitious launch of an AFL team in Tasmania. This six-part show navigates the intricate bureaucracy involved in such a project, including familiar elements like pointless meetings and complex approval processes. It draws parallels to real-life events, as Tasmania's parliament recently approved a significant stadium project for the new team, the Devils.

Sam Pang leads the cast as Hugh Shen, an administrator tasked with establishing the club, from uniforms to stakeholder meetings. The series humorously depicts the challenges faced, including disagreements over a team song and tensions with the finance department. The actors skillfully deliver rapid-fire dialogue, characteristic of the genre, keeping the pace brisk and engaging.

While 'Ground Up' avoids becoming overly strained, some moments approach this territory. The narrative incorporates amusing small scenes, such as a discussion about drinking non-alcoholic wine at work. Despite not reaching the heights of outright hilarity, the series offers a comfortable and engaging viewing experience within the bureaucracy satire genre.