The Code: Season 1

This Australian series serves up a solid political thriller about a government conspiracy that is uncovered by web reporter Ned Banks (Dan Spielman), who investigates with the help of his younger brother, Jesse (Ashley Zukerman), a genius and borderline autistic hacker who is on parole for cybercrimes. The Code opens with a car accident in the Outback that leaves two Aboriginal students critically injured, and there's a video recorded by one of the students that their teacher (Lucy Lawless) sends to Ned. His investigation leads him to a biotech company conducting secret illegal activities, which results in Nick and Jesse being attacked and intimidated into dropping the story. But this ultimately only makes them more determined to uncover the truth, which eventually reveals connections to the government and a cover-up. Created by Shelley Birse, The Code combines a drama about corporate corruption and government complicity with a journalistic high-tech investigation in the information age as the series moves back and forth between the city, the halls of Australian government, and the dusty, empty Outback. Well-written and effectively directed, this should appeal to fans of sophisticated thrillers. Compiling all six episodes from the 2014 first season, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)