# 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.

## Cast
### 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

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

## Release
### 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

| No. | Episode Title | Synopsis | Premiered |
| 1 | Pilot | Donna's first day on the job is challenged when the station is rocked to its core by a convicted cop-killer intent on exacting revenge. | 17 July 2002 |
| 2 | Mardi Gras | Guido is forced to deal with his yearnings: for his job, and the woman he loves. | 24 July 2002 |
| 3 | Lick Me Baby | Cameron's new lover accuses her partner, Guido Martin, of stealing money while he is working undercover. | 31 July 2002 |
| 4 | Boy School Bullies | Donna's positive outlook is challenged as she deals with elitism and prejudice. | 7 August 2002 |
| 5 | Fruit Market Underworld | Guido's undercover past threatens his job at South West police station. | 14 August 2002 |
| 6 | Asylum Seekers | Eddie, Donna and Madeleine investigate a riot at a detention centre and the escape of a teenage refugee. | 21 August 2002 |
| 7 | The City and the Taxi Driver | The detectives spend a night on the streets amid simmering tensions, while Cameron plumbs the depths of her own soul to connect with a killer. | 18 September 2002 |
| 8 | Kickboxer Kills Rapist | Donna defends a woman who is charged with murder after she kills a rapist. | 25 September 2002 |
| 9 | Arson Case | An arson case is reopened, because an alleged police cover-up sent the wrong man to prison. Guido is forced to confront the truth about his detective father and his role in the conviction. | 2 October 2002 |
| 10 | The Priest | Eddie's faith and his friendship with Father Paul Moran are tested when Irena's sister goes missing and foul play is suspected. | 9 October 2002 |
| 11 | China Town | Cameron is torn between Guido and his father, Senior Detective Bill Martin, and she soon finds her integrity and a boy's life are on the line. | 16 October 2002 |
| 12 | Nursing Home | Eddie finds himself in contact with a former neighbour during an investigation into a suspicious death at a nursing home. | 23 October 2002 |
| 13 | Kickboxer on Trial | Cameron is torn between Guido and his father, Senior Detective Bill Martin, and she soon finds her integrity and a boy's life are in the line. | 6 November 2002 |
| 14 | The Navy: Part 1 | Guido's Naval Captain brother returns home a hero, and tensions surface as a female naval officer is found murdered. Cameron works with Bill to nab a Chinese gang leader. | 13 November 2002 |
| 15 | The Navy: Part 2 | Guido and Cameron each face a personal crisis-and their friendship is tested-as Guido's father and brother come under suspicion. | 13 November 2002 |
| 16 | Lone Star Blues | Eddie's integrity is tested as the father of Irena's son is released from prison. Eddie wants to reunite the boy with his father-but could lose Irena. | 20 November 2002 |
| 17 | Drag Racing | Donna loves the police force and Crime Scene Examiner, Justin Carmody. Her feelings for both are tested as she investigates a fatal car smash involving police. | 27 November 2002 |
| 18 | Grand Prix | Paul Bergin asks Guido's father for help to bring down a Chinese gang boss. Cameron seeks justice for a girl found dead in a hotel because of the indifference shown by the partygoers and investigators. | 11 December 2002 |
| 19 | Bill's Death | Guido's friends rally to his side as his father faces a terminal illness - and a murder charge. | 11 December 2002 |
| 20 | Serial Killer: Part 1 | The investigation into the suicide of an Olympic swimming hopeful escalates when those around the investigation begin to be killed off. | 18 December 2002 |
| 21 | Serial Killer: Part 2 | The search for the serial killer continues. Donna's life is put on the line when she becomes involved in a hostage situation. Guido has to decide his future with Sophie. | 18 December 2002 |
* List of Australian television series
* List of Nine Network programs