It’s Wednesday night after a holiday weekend. You’ve made it through your version of a Monday and Tuesday with Friday a mere 2 days away. You turn on a streaming service and get lost in the platform. After 10 minutes of indecisive scrolling based on algorithms that allege to know you, you give up and decide to fall asleep to an old episode of something you’ve seen before. You’re not alone. This is entertainment in 2018 and with new platforms emerging frequently and more content available than ever before, allow me to help you on your quest to stream the good stuff that perhaps you’re not being recommended.
Fire up your Roku, Apple TV, or player of choice and get down with these two Australian imports – streaming now on Netflix.
Sisters
Billed as an Australian drama, Sisters (which aired late last year on Network Ten) stars talented actress Maria Angelico as the lovable Julia Bechly, only child of renowned Melbourne fertility scientist and Nobel Prize winner Julius Bechly (Barry Otto). On his deathbed, Julius has his daughter unknowingly submit an op ed in which he confesses he supplemented his own sperm in place of many infertile fathers, resulting in the births of potentially more than one hundred children during his thirty year career – and this is just the first 5 minutes of the pilot. Over the course of 7 episodes secrets are exposed, lies are told — there are betrayals of trust, and one very intense addiction to pain medication.
Imagine you had a family you didn’t know about…
Antonia Prebble, Lucy Durack, and Maria Angelico in Sisters
While the series takes time introducing us to would-be brothers and sisters as well as parents, spouses and love interests, at its core, Sisters focus is on three genetically related females with entirely different lives – each grappling with not only their newfound identity, but their own issues that are becoming more apparent as a result of being a “Bechly Baby.” Julia (Angelico), who has spent her 20’s hiding behind the needs of others and ignoring her own – enough to sabotage a past relationship in heartbreaking fashion, Roxy (Lucy Durack), troubled star of the children’s show Farmyard Frank whose growth and development has been stunted by an overbearing mother and an all too supportive father – one of whom hides a dark secret, and Edie, a class-action lawyer with her marriage to co-worker (Dan Spielman) on the rocks who also has a sordid past with Julia.
“This is about the story of who we are and where we belong…” – Julia
Lucy Durack, and Maria Angelico in Sisters
Fueled by outstanding performances and a great soundtrack, Sisters is a touching yet funny series that feels raw, honest, and sincere – grounded in the reality of being a human. Created by Imogen Banks (prolific producer heading up drama at Endemol Shine Australia) and Jonathan Gavin (award winning Australian play-wright), there has yet to be an indication as to whether the show will be renewed for a sophomore season by Network Ten but there is A LOT more story to tell – not only with our leads but with Edie’s husband (guys, I stan for Tim). Be prepared to fall in love with these flawed characters and go on an emotional journey as they find not only each other, but themselves.
The Letdown
From creators Sarah Scheller and Alison Bell (who also stars as lead character Audrey), The Letdown is what I imagine to be an all too realistic look at the first year of motherhood. Over the six-part half hour series, we see Audrey trying to find the balance between being a new parent, partner to a work-stressed boyfriend (Duncan Fellows), daughter to an often insensitive and eccentric mother (Sarah Peirse), and friend to childless adults while trying like hell not to allow motherhood to define who she is as a woman.
While attending the mothers parents group she swears she doesn’t need but inevitably leans into, we hear Ambrose, the group leader explain, “You’re not number one anymore. There’s no point winging about what you’ve lost – your muscle-tone, sleep, freedom. It’s looking still at what you’ve gained – rounder bones, stretch marks, acne, hemorrhoids, and a small, helpless child. This is motherhood. You’re all in this together.” Welcome to The Letdown, Scheller and Bell’s play on words referring to both the reflex that causes a release of milk from breasts and also, the realization that no one bothered to tell you just how hard this whole parenting thing was going to be.
Having a new baby is a mother of a job…
Allison Bell in The Letdown
While the series revolves around Audrey, we get a glimpse into the lives of her parents group who are fighting their own battles while easing into parenthood – Ruben (Leon Ford), a man who would rather be a stay at home dad then return to work, his work obsessed wife, Ester (Sacha Horlerand), who would prefer he be employed. There is also Martha (Leah Vandenberg), a woman who lives her life in fear that her sperm donor (who leaves pre-made meals on her doorstop) may take custody of her son, and Sophie (Lucy Durack), the unicorn of the group who has carefully crafted a narrative and an Instagram feed that to the naked eye, would indicate her life is perfect.
“If you keep looking back, the only thing you’ll think about is what you’ve lost.” – Ambrose
Exploring topics of anxiety, mom shaming, sleep training, “in-laws” who know better, lack of mental stimulation, loneliness, and mommy brain, The Letdown is anything but. It’s a heartwarming and unflinching ride into the parenthood you’ve either personally experienced or your closest friends have told you about – but don’t let the accuracy of its depiction stop you from climbing aboard. Part of a 2016 Comedy Showroom on ABC Australia for potential pilots, it received a full order with Netflix on board as its distributor. While the series premiered in 2017 in Australia and in April of 2018 here in the states, there has yet to be an indication of a season 2 coming anytime soon. Still, it’s worthy of a binge for its charming cast and the way it handles the delicacy of life after baby.
MARISSA MONTICOLO 