Sydney, the 1920s. In a possibly unique situation, the two most powerful figures in organised crime are both women. Kate Leigh runs the illegal 'grog shops' - illicit businesses that sell alcohol after the mandatory closing hours - while Tilly Devine runs the brothels.
Kate and Tilly have never been friends, and as their list of personal grievances with each other increases, and pressures from other quarters increase, they each take more and more dramatic actions to (a) preserve their own criminal enterprises and (b) take down the other woman. Hiring triggermen, equipping their respective gangs with straight-razors (from which the series takes it name) and quietly tattling to the police about each other's activities.
Each season of Australian 'true crime' series Underbelly recounts a particularly notorious - or at least salacious - period of criminal activity. The first season was particularly controversial because it came out at a time when the real-life crimes were still being prosecuted. It was actually prohibited from screening in the state of Victoria for seven months because of it.
Razor is ably anchored by strong central performances from the leading women playing Australian-born Kate and UK-born Tilly (though both actors, ironically, are from New Zealand). It needs that anchor, I think, because the actual narrative is a little meandering with many secondary characters who rotate in for a few episodes, then disappear again.
Razor also continues a trend, originating in the second season, of containing a considerable amount of incidental sex and nudity. I suspect this came about as a way to maintain notoriety and 'edginess' in the absence of court orders and injunctions.
Ultimately, if you have an interest in true crime shows, this will probably scratch the itch fairly well.
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