Informer 3838

*Informer 3838*
Informer 3838
Genre	Crime; Drama
Directed by	Ben Lucas; Geoff Bennett;
Country of origin	Australia
Original language	English
No. of episodes	2
Production
Executive producer	Rory Callaghan
Producers	Kerrie Mainwaring; Anna Molyneaux;
Production location	Melbourne
Production company	Screentime
Original release
Network	Nine Network
Release	20 April –; 27 April 2020

Informer 3838 is an Australian television series focusing on criminal barrister-turned police informer Nicola Gobbo (codenamed informer 3838) and her involvement in the Melbourne gangland killings. It is a spin-off of the Underbelly franchise, with various actors reprising their role from previous series. Commissioned by the Nine Network and produced by Screentime, it was broadcast between 20 and 27 April 2020.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Cast

The cast for the series including returning names such as Gyton Grantley, Robert Mammone and Hollie Andrew.:^[5]^[6]

Ella Scott Lynch as Nicola Gobbo
Gyton Grantley as Carl Williams
Hollie Andrew as Roberta Williams
Robert Mammone as Tony Mokbel
Rhys Muldoon as Terrence Hodson
Jacquie Brennan as Christine Hodson
Ian Bliss as Simon Overland
Tim Ross (Australian actor) as Gary Berich
Stephen Peacocke as Paul Dale
Richard Davies as Kevin 'Juicy' Jucirovic
Olympia Valance as Emma Darlington
Jane Harber as Susan Reichert
Salvatore Coco as Steve Moore
Luke Lennox as Prison Inmate
Kaden Hartcher as Matthew Johnson
Kevin Hofbauer as David Miechel
Robert Rabiah as P.K

Plot

Part 1

Opening during her days studying law at the University of Melbourne, Nicola Gobbo is arrested by police who raided her house and discovered drugs seemingly belonging to her housemate. Under pressure from police, she agrees to provide evidence against her housemate and avoids conviction as a result. Moving forward a few years, the Melbourne gangland killings were in full flight and Gobbo was building a strong reputation as a criminal lawyer.

Her early clients include Tony Mokbel and Carl Williams as well as their associates. On top of her legal successes, Gobbo parties, socialises and becomes involved with her clients and their friends. Around this time Terence Hodson, a person heavily involved in the drug trade, faces a dilemma when his children are arrested and facing prison. He becomes an informant and develops a relationship with detectives within the drug squad, including Paul Dale and David Miechel. A while later, David Miechel (an off duty drug squad detective) and Terence Hodson rob a drug house in Oakleigh containing large amounts of drugs and cash after it is staked out by Paul Dale. They are arrested while fleeing the scene of the robbery and Hodson subsequently agrees to give evidence against Miechel and Paul Dale, the latter of which is subsequently arrested and jailed. During this time, Gobbo speaks to Dale on several occasions, both during and after his incarceration, though is not engaged fully as his attorney at this time. They hold a somewhat friendly, but mutually cautious relationship with each other.

Shortly after, Terence Hodson's informant file is taken from the police station and distributed throughout the criminal underworld. Gobbo becomes aware of this and warns Hodson as well as speaking to the Ethical Standards department in an attempt to have them provide protection, but they state that Hodson has actively rejected all offers of any form of witness protection. Fearful, though remaining at home, Hodson and his wife are visited by their old friend Rodney Charles Collins, who indicates he is there for a friendly visit and manages to convince Hodson to let him in. Once inside, he forces Terence and his wife into their living room at gun point and executes both of them. The episode concludes with Gobbo at the Hodson's house, providing support for his devastated children.

Part 2

Reeling from learning about the Hodson's murders and being so devastated that she got so close to them Nicola goes to Reichert and tells her that she can give her and the police Carl Williams as Carl was leading the gangland wars "he was the war", during this time Nicola speaks with Mr L and tries to get him to give up Mokbel and Williams as he refuses to help them, he finally does, but during this time Nicola is asked to turn Informer by Reichert which sets off a chain of events, including Mr L giving evidence to the cops which leads to Carl's arrest and Nicola's stroke.

While recovering Mokbel gives Nicola a client to defend but the client Kipiani is sent to jail which makes Mokbel happy. But as the situation deteriorates even more Nicole meets up with Commissioner Simon Overland who tells Nicola she must meet with Paul Dale to see if he knows anything about the murders.

When Dale denies that he had anything to do with the murders, all blame is placed on Williams' hitman Rodney.

Overland furious that the Hodson murders would be an unsolved Cold Case, he tells his team to instead focus on destroying Mokbel's drug empire.

Later on Carl is killed in prison by an inmate and the Hodson murder case falls apart and Dale is free to go on with his life, the commissioner and the police force comes to terms with Nicola's deal for recompense and agree to it, leaving Berich to tell Reichert if Nicola's informing came out crims would be screaming for release due to tainted evidence.

The episode ends with a show of Carl's death, Mokbel appealing his 30-year sentence, Paul Dale never being charged, the Hodson's murders never being solved and Nicola's whereabouts unknown at the time.

Controversy

During an amendment made on the DVD version of Informer 3838 Simon Overland made a complaint to Channel 9 over his portrayal in the mini series, the end on the DVD includes the removal of the Hodson Murders, and Overland's information placed saying he had not had any contact with Gobbo during the Gangland War.^[7]

Ratings

No.	Title	Air date	Timeslot	Overnight ratings		Consolidated ratings		Total viewers	Ref(s)
No.	Title	Air date	Timeslot	Viewers	Rank	Viewers	Rank	Total viewers	Ref(s)
1	Part 1	20 April 2020	Monday 8:45pm	644,000	16	128,000	12	772,000	^[8]^[9]
2	Part 2	27 April 2020	Monday 8:45pm	574,000	17	188,000	12	762,000	^[10]^[11]

References

^ Wahlquist, Calla (7 April 2019). "Channel Nine begins work on drama based on Lawyer X scandal". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
^ Quinn, Carl (16 October 2019). "Nine upfront: First look at Ella Scott Lynch as Nicola Gobbo in Informer 3838". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
^ Blackiston, Hannah (16 October 2019). "Nine in 2020: MAFS, Lego Masters, The Voice, Ninja Warrior and The Block all returning as network champions 'pillars of proven consistency'". Mumbrella. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
^ Knox, David (6 April 2020). "Airdate: Informer 3838". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
^ "Upfront's 2020: Nine: Informer 3838, Halifax, returning reality juggernauts". Tvtonight.com.au. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
^ "Informer 3838 Nine". ninebrands.com.au. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
^ "Nine, Screentime settle Informer 3838 complaint. | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au/. 10 May 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
^ Knox, David (21 April 2020). "Monday 20 April 2020". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
^ Knox, David (1 May 2020). "Timeshifted: Monday 20 April 2020". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
^ Knox, David (28 April 2020). "Monday 27 April 2020". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
^ Knox, David (8 May 2020). "Timeshifted: Monday 27 April 2020". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 May 2020.