Danger 5
Australian surreal comedy series about spies hunting Hitler.
Danger 5 is an Australian action surreal comedy television series that premiered on SBS One on 27 February 2011. Created by Dario Russo and David Ashby, the series is inspired by men's adventure magazines and follows a group of five international spies on bizarre missions to kill Adolf Hitler. The first series is set in a campy, intentionally ahistorical 1960s interpretation of World War II, while the second series moves to a similarly surreal version of 1982, with Hitler returning as the villain.
- Premiered
- 27 February 2011
Lore & Background
Danger 5 was developed after the success of the web series Italian Spiderman by Alrugo Entertainment. Australian broadcaster SBS initially sought to turn that project into an interstitial show, but due to ownership and copyright issues, the deal fell through. SBS remained interested in creators Dario Russo and David Ashby, offering a development deal in 2009. The pair submitted three concepts; Danger 5, the most ambitious and dense, was chosen. A prologue web series titled Danger 5: The Diamond Girls was released weekly on YouTube in late 2011 leading up to the broadcast. The second series was delayed primarily due to funding and scheduling issues, with its trailer released on 10 September 2014; it began airing on SBS 2 on 11 January 2015.
Reader's Guide
Danger 5 is significant for its distinctive blend of surreal humor, intentional low-budget production values, and satire of dated television tropes. The series uses obvious studio sets, poor model work with visible strings, and stock footage—most notably a reused shot of Hitler jumping through a glass window. Characters treat their absurd universe seriously, never questioning inexplicable elements such as a bird-headed colonel or a cel-animated anthropomorphic dog named Kilroy. The show also comments on sexism through the character Claire, whose intelligent observations are routinely ignored. After its broadcast, Danger 5 was released on Netflix in several countries but was removed globally in March 2017. A new series of audio stories featuring the original cast was released in 2020 via Audible, extending the show's legacy beyond its television run.
Did You Know?
- The character Kilroy is an anthropomorphic dog, not a bird-like creature.
- Pierre is played by the same actor, David Ashby, in both series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Danger 5?
Danger 5 is a team of five international spies who serve as the central characters of the Australian comedy series. Their one fixed, recurring objective across both seasons is to carry out increasingly absurd missions to kill Adolf Hitler.
What are Danger 5's powers or special abilities?
The team isn't given any supernatural gifts; their 'abilities' are the over-the-top spy and action-magazine tropes the show deliberately parodies, from gadget-laden set pieces to globe-trotting intrigue. Their real edge is the surreal, genre-bending tone that turns every assassination attempt into a comedy sketch.
Why is Danger 5 important in Australian television?
It offered a bold, irreverent parody of 1960s spy thrillers and men's adventure magazines through a deliberately ahistorical lens. The series gave local audiences a surreal, genre-satirizing comedy that hadn't really been attempted on Australian TV before.
Who created Danger 5 and where did it originally air?
The series was created by Dario Russo and David Ashby and first premiered on 27 February 2012. Series one broadcast on SBS One, while series two moved to the SBS 2 channel.
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