Inspired by John Ibrahim's best-selling autobiography, this series is an operatic story of two brothers, Sam and John Ibrahim who organize the street but lose each other in their ascent to power. The story tracks John Ibrahim's rise from a poverty-stricken immigrant with no education, no money, and no prospects, to Australia's most infamous nightclub mogul in Sydney's Kings Cross — a mini-Atlantic City, barely half a mile long with every form of criminality on offer.
Last King of the Cross, is a very Australian brand of crime drama. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It offers up a very different flavour of gritty crime, when compared to the standard American fare.
My only criticism of this production, is it feels like its trying "a little too hard". Its Aussie vibe feels somewhat overcooked and perhaps, even, a little self indulgent.
The larger than life characters who populate the red light district of Kings Cross in Sydney, feel a little too large, when compared to the reality of who these people were or are. Perhaps that's what recounting a story, inevitably, does but still, that feeling, remains.
If you can accept the handling, there remains, a lot to like. An insight into desperate, scheming, of often darkly interesting characters, who populate a societal underbelly, ordinary people only get to glimpse superficially, from the brash, garishly neon, street level of Kings Cross.
Acting is top shelf, with a cast of talented Australian actors.Sets are well rendered and entirely convincing, too.
In summary, this reviewer would categorise Last King of the Cross, as more, a rollicking, Aussie crime soap opera, than true crime expose. Nonetheless, this remains a fascinating tale that has, clearly, had a lot of money spent, bringing it to life. For my money, it remains, a must watch.