Watch Wide Open Road

Wide Open Road is an insightful, in-depth, six-part documentary television series that aired in 2011. Commissioned by ABC1 and based in Australia, the series captures one of Australia's most potent symbols - the car on the open road. It embarks on a highly evocative cultural exploration that not only delves into personal histories associated with the country's extensive network of roads but also examines how this network has shaped the nation, its people, and their identities. The series verbally 'maps' Australia's history through a unique lens - asking viewers to contemplate how the country's vast distances, punctuated with cities and pockets of habitation, have influenced cultural, political, and social shifts over the decades.

Taking a comprehensive look at the road as a cultural artifact, the series meticulously traces how Australia was transformed from wide-open spaces to a network of roads, highways, and vehicular routes. Each episode has a distinct focus, making sense of subjects as diverse as the first car in Australia to the burgeoning road trip culture that changed the face of travel and tourism across the nation.

The show has an impressive scope and depth, covering both the macro view of Australia's shifting landscape and the granular personal stories of its people. These stories range from race car drivers battling extreme conditions for supremacy to ordinary families who took to the highways to explore their majestic homeland; from road construction workers changing the physical outlook of the continent to the tragically high accident rates that led to safety campaigns and measures. Wide Open Road is a poignant depiction of not just the connection between Australians and their cars but also the love of freedom and the spirit of discovery.

Produced by Australian icon Paul Clarke, the series is built upon his deep knowledge of pop culture and Australian history. The production quality is high, utilising immersive and highly cinematic visuals that truly highlight the beauty of Australia's diverse landscapes from the outback to the coastlines. Coupling this visual narrative with an incredibly engaging storytelling style, it manages to grip viewers' attention and evoke relatability, even amongst those who have no prior knowledge of Australia.

The show carries a sense of nostalgia brimming with historical artifacts and references, but also vividly explores the present-day impact of the open road on Australia's growth and transformation. As nostalgic as it is educational, Wide Open Road redefines Australia's local stories and historic events into a tangible timeline of progression and change through the extraordinary lens of motoring history. The decisions of politicians, the struggle of indigenous people, the stories of migrants, the dream of the outback, the leisure culture of road trips, and the tragedies and triumphs of everyday Australians interweave to form the fabric of this unique series.

Each episode of Wide Open Road is introduced by Barry Otto, a lauded Australian actor, who brings gravity and respect to the stories being told. His voice-overs are used not only for narration but also to set the tone of each distinct period in Australia's rich history. The series also incorporates interviews with a range of Australians – everyday people, motoring experts, historians, celebrities, road and traffic analysts – their personal anecdotes, expert perspectives and socio-cultural insights combining to paint a vivid picture of a nation seen through the windshield.

Incorporating riveting archive footage with stylish art direction, Wide Open Road is an engaging blend of social history and cultural commentary. It balances the nostalgic appeal of Australia's road history with relevant, contemporary issues, thereby attracting a diverse range of viewers. Through the series, the road becomes a metaphor for progress, a testament to technology's impact on society, and a symbol of the ultimate Australian dream - the freedom, the journey, the wide-open spaces at your disposal.

Overall, Wide Open Road is devilishly entertaining while being deeply informative, hitting the perfect equilibrium between visual lure and intellectual stimulation. For history enthusiasts, car lovers, wanderlust adventurers, or simply those intrigued by Australia's unique culture and landscape, Wide Open Road is an enchanting and enlightening journey down the memory highway.

Wide Open Road is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (3 episodes). The series first aired on October 16, 2011.