# Mako: Island of Secrets (2013)

> Exiled mermaids on Mako Island must get legs and reclaim a land boy's powers to earn back their place in the pod.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/38442

## Facts

- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 68
- Episode runtime: 24 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: fantasy, family, comedy
- Created by: Jonathan M. Shiff
- Network: 10, Eleven
- Cast: Amy Ruffle, Allie Bertram, Lucy Fry, Isabel Durant, Ivy Latimer, Linda Ngo, Chai Hansen, Gemma Forsyth
- TMDB rating: 6.8/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2548214/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: none
- Tone: breezy, playful, whimsical, comedic, adventurous

## What critics say

Mixed audience reception, with the show's family-friendly mermaid fantasy praised for its charm and appeal to younger viewers while its uneven storytelling draws criticism.

## Synopsis

Mako: Island of Secrets (2013-2016) is an Australian family fantasy series created by Jonathan M. Shiff for Network Ten and Eleven. Set around the waters of Mako Island, it follows three young mermaids, Sirena (Amy Ruffle), Nixie (Ivy Latimer) and Lyla (Lucy Fry), who are cast out of their pod after neglecting their duty to guard the Moon Pool. Their goal is to walk on land, win back the powers that sixteen-year-old Zac Blakely (Chai Hansen) gained when he entered the pool and became a tailed boy, and so earn a way back into the pod. Each episode turns on everyday obstacles on the island, from school and friendships to rivalries and mischief, while the girls scheme their way through the human world. The show runs across three seasons and sixty-eight episodes, each episode about twenty-four minutes long, and it plays as a breezy, playful mix of comedy, adventure and light romance. Its sunny, colourful coastal look and gentle humour make it a comfortable pick for younger viewers and families. Fans of H2O: Just Add Water and Charmed will find a similar mix of youthful magic, teen friendship and fantasy mythology.

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