''Informer 3838'' is an Australian television series focusing on criminal barrister-turned police informer

Nicola Gobbo Nicola Maree Gobbo, sometimes known as Nikki Gobbo, (born 16 November 1972) is an Australian former criminal defence barrister and police informant. Drug charge at law school In 1993, while she was a law student, police raided a house owned by ...

(codenamed informer 3838) and her involvement in the

Melbourne gangland killings The Melbourne gangland killings were the murders of 36 underworld figures in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, between January 1998 and August 2010. The murders were retributive killings involving underworld groups. The deaths caused a power vacu ...

. It is a spin-off of the ''

Underbelly Underbelly is the side of something that is not normally seen. Figuratively, it means a vulnerable or weak part, similar to the term Achilles' heel, or alternatively, a hidden, illicit side of society. This term could refer to: Business * ...

franchise Franchise may refer to: Business and law * Franchising, a business method that involves licensing of trademarks and methods of doing business to franchisees * Franchise, a privilege to operate a type of business such as a cable television p ...

, with various actors reprising their role from previous series. Commissioned by the

Nine Network The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...

and produced by

Screentime Screentime is an Australian television production company, which develops and produces scripted and unscripted television programs in Australia and New Zealand. The company has produced numerous popular series including ''Popstars'', the ''Under ...

, it was broadcast between 20 and 27 April 2020.

Cast

The following cast members and characters have been confirmed: *

Ella Scott Lynch Ella Scott Lynch (born 27 September 1982 in Sydney) is an Australian actress. Her notable roles include Shirley Ryan in the series '' Love Child'' and Melbourne gangland barrister Nicola Gobbo in the Channel Nine mini-series ''Informer 3838''. ...

Gyton Grantley Gyton Stephen Grantley (born 17 July 1980) is an Australian actor and comedian, best known for his portrayal of convicted murderer and drug trafficker Carl Williams in the hit Australian television show '' Underbelly'', for which he was nomin ...

as Carl Williams *

Hollie Andrew Hollie Andrew is an Australian film, television and stage actress. Early life and education Andrew was born and raised in Adelaide. She graduated from Flinders University (SA) in 1999 with an Honours Degree in Drama. She then attended the Wes ...

as Roberta Williams *

Robert Mammone Robert Mammone (born 1969 in Adelaide, South Australia) is an Australian actor. He is known for his role as AK in ''The Matrix'' movies, as Sid Walker in the soap opera ''Home and Away'' and as Tim Palmer in '' Sons and Daughters''. He was also ...

Tony Mokbel Antonios Sajih Mokbel (Arabic: طوني مقبل) (born 11 August 1965) is an Australian criminal who has been convicted of a number of offences, most prominently commercial drug trafficking. He has spent most of his life in Melbourne, Australia ...

Rhys Muldoon Rhys Muldoon (born 17 October 1965) is an Australian actor, writer and director who has worked extensively in film, television, music, theatre and radio. Since 2012 he has starred as Mark Oliver in ''House Husbands''. Career Television Muldoon ...

as Terrence Hodson *

Jacquie Brennan Jacqueline Brennan is an Australian stage, television and film actress with a career that has spanned over 30 years appearing in film, theatre and voice-over roles. Jacquie Brennan is known for her roles on '' Bullpitt!'', '' The Hollowmen,''an ...

as Christine Hodson * Stephen Peacocke as Paul Dale * Richard Davies as Kevin 'Juicy' Jucirovic *

Olympia Valance Olympia Montana Valance (born 7 January 1993) is an Australian actress and model, whose roles include Paige Smith in the soap opera ''Neighbours'' (2014–2018, 2020, 2022) and Tahlia Woods in '' Playing for Keeps''. For her role as Paige, Vala ...

as Emma *

Jane Harber Jane Harber is an Australian actress who is known from her role as Zara Perkich in the television series ''Offspring''. Career Television Harber's television roles have included Susie Money in the series ''Underbelly'', Zdenka Milanovic in ''Th ...

as Susan Reichert *

Les Hill Les Hill (born 1 August 1973) is an Australian actor who has appeared in many Australian television productions including '' Rescue: Special Ops,'' ''Home and Away'' and ''Underbelly.'' Early life Hill was born in the Royal Hospital for Women ...

as Jason Moran (archive footage)

Plot

Part 1

Opening during her days studying law at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...

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

were in full flight and Gobbo was building a strong reputation as a criminal lawyer. Her early clients include

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 Simon James Overland (born 19 March 1962)
2 March 2009, www.premier.vic.gov.au is the for ...

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.

Cast

Plot

Part 1

Part 2

Controversy

Ratings

See also

References

Further reading