Frayed (TV series)

Frayed is an Australian-British comedy-drama television series on ABC TV and Sky UK (later Sky Max). It premiered in the United Kingdom on 26 September 2019 and in Australia on 16 October. The series was created and written by Australian comedian Sarah Kendall, who also stars in it. The first series of six episodes is set in 1988 London and Newcastle, New South Wales. Kendall portrays Sammy, who is an affluent Australian-born British resident with two teenage children. After her husband dies disgracefully and leaves a bankrupt estate, Sammy returns home to live with her mother Jean (Kerry Armstrong) and younger brother Jim (Ben Mingay). She encounters former boyfriend Dan (Matt Passmore) and works for politician Chris (George Houvardas), while fending off Jim's abrasive girlfriend Bev (Doris Younane).

Frayed is produced by Nicole O'Donohue and directed by Shaun Wilson and Jennifer Leace. Merman Television's Sharon Horgan and Clelia Mountford, Guesswork Television's Kevin Whyte and ABC's Rick Kalowski and Que Minh Luu serve as executive producers. In February 2021, it was announced that the series was renewed for a second season of six episodes. It began airing on 29 September 2021 in Australia on ABC TV. It aired in the UK on Sky Max from 23 February 2022. This season is set in 1989 and has Sammy briefly return to London to try to recover her former home from a corrupt probate lawyer. However she must return, with her children, to Newcastle to answer questions about the disappearance of a policeman.

In November 2023, Kendall announced that Frayed would not be returning for a third season.

Plot
Frayed's first season is set in 1988 and follows the story of Sammy, a wealthy housewife in London. She is forced to return to her hometown of Newcastle in Australia after the disgraceful death of her husband Nick, when she is told his accumulated debts leave her almost penniless. Sammy returns to Newcastle 20 years after leaving, with her privately educated teenage son Lenny and daughter Tess, who have never visited Australia before. The children learn their mother has lied about her previous life. All three move into Sammy's childhood beachfront home with her mother Jean, a recovering alcoholic and infantile brother Jim. Sammy seeks work from local politician and former schoolmate Chris as the kids attend the local high school. Her children are bullied but eventually gain support and friendship from Abby and Bo.

Sammy revisits her past and the events, which led her to fleeing the town as a teenager. Her former boyfriend Dan teaches sport to her children and is bitter at having been deserted. She meets Jim's sometime girlfriend Bev, who schemes to take over Jean's home. After encountering other former schoolmates, Sammy realises that everyone in her hometown hates her and she tries to get back to London, but finds numerous personal and financial obstacles. Tess and Lenny protect neighbour Abby from her emotionally and physically abusive father Terry, who is a policeman.

Series Two sees the family briefly returning to London in 1989, but in very reduced circumstances. Sammy tries to prove her lawyer Rufus swindled her on settling Nick's estate – Rufus now resides in her grand house. Both Lenny and Tess want to return to Australia. Sammy's new lawyer recovers the house but diverts it to a charity. Back in Newcastle, the accidental killing of Terry in Jean's house is investigated by an under-resourced pair of police officers, Fairbank and Emily. Bev is pregnant and Jim believes its his baby. Police interview Jean, Jim and Bev but receive conflicting stories. Sammy is recalled to Australia to answer questions about Terry's disappearance. Upon their return, Lenny and Tess find it difficult to reconnect with Bo and Abby – all of them have changed.

Cast
Credits:
 * Sarah Kendall as Simone Burbeck Samantha "Sammy" Cooper: Jean's daughter, Jim's sister, mother of Lenny and Tess; wealthy socialite living in London; becomes bankrupted after husband Nick's death; returns to mother's home in Newcastle, New South Wales; takes job as Chris' secretary. Returns to London to try to get her home back; recalled to Newcastle to answer questions over Terry's disappearance.
 * Kerry Armstrong as Jean Cooper, Sammy and Jim's mother; widowed after husband Frank's drowning; recovering alcoholic.
 * Ben Mingay as Jim Cooper, Jean's son, lives at home; runs driving school; becomes Bev's love interest; delivers Bev's baby; still wants to raise child after learning its not his.
 * George Houvardas as Chris George Christos Georgiades: Steve and Wade's father; independent local member of parliament (MP); boss of Fiona and Sammy; divorces Ruth; becomes Sandy's lover.
 * Matt Passmore as Dan Atkins: former champion amateur surfer, Sammy's ex-boyfriend; shattered after Sammy left; imprisoned for theft; became Physical Education teacher; Trish's boyfriend.
 * Doris Younane as Beverley "Bev" Spray: local criminal, becomes Jim's love interest; tries to take-over Cooper residence; convinces Sammy to return to London; becomes pregnant; resumes romance with Jim after having her baby.
 * Frazer Hadfield as Leonard "Lenny" Burbeck: Sammy's son; bullied at Newcastle school; befriends Bo and Abby.
 * Maggie Ireland-Jones as Tess Burbeck: Sammy's daughter; initially bullied by Abby, but eventually befriends her; adopts goth style.
 * Alexandra Jensen as Abby Harris: Terry's daughter; Scott's love interest; befriends Tess and Lenny.
 * Diane Morgan as Fiona: Chris' secretary; collaborates with Sammy; becomes Fairbank's love interest.
 * Robert Webb as Rufus Fenshaw: corrupt probate lawyer; partner in prestigious London firm.
 * Trystan Go as Bo: bullied at school; Lenny's school mate.
 * Christopher Stollery as Terry Harris: father of Abby; policeman; Coopers' neighbour; disappears.
 * Hamish Michael as Darren Fairbank: plain-clothes detective sergeant; investigates Terry's disappearance; demoted to constable.
 * Pippa Grandison as Trish: school receptionist; Dan's girlfriend.
 * Jane Hall as Sandy McIntyre: Newcastle Tribune reporter, George's new love interest.
 * Georgina Symes as Deanne Harris: Terry's wife, Abby's mother, Coopers' neighbour.
 * Dalip Sondhi as Peter: dates Jean.
 * Emma Harvie as Emily Sutherland: police constable; works with Fairbank on Terry's disappearance.
 * Maggie Dence as Mrs Atkins: Dan's mother, has dementia: believes Dan's dating Sammy; placed in aged care.
 * Joshua McElroy as Scott Drummond: Abby's secret boyfriend; they separate.
 * Gemma Whelan as Hannah: Sammy's new lawyer; puts money from house sale into charity.
 * Kerry Godliman as Bambi/Bunny: London prostitute.
 * Susan Prior as Ruth George Nelligan: Chris' wife; Steve and Wade's mother; Sammy's former school mate.
 * Challito Browne as Wade: Chris and Ruth's son; bullies Lenny and Bo.
 * Lukas Whiting as Jude: Scott's older brother.
 * Ted Wilson as Duncan: parking inspector, dates Bev.
 * Gareth Davies as Aaron Gideon King: Alcoholics Anonymous moderator, Bev's cousin.
 * Tina Bursill as Cathy Pascall: Jean's long-estranged former friend.
 * Shaun Anthony Robinson as Dean Farrell: runs fast food van.
 * Sarah Aubrey as Mrs Porter.

Critical reception
Reviews for the series have generally been mixed to positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a rating of 86% based on reviews from 14 critics. The website's critical consensus states: "Frayed's intentionally cringe humor may be squirm-inducing, but solid performances and a surprisingly sweet center will keep viewers watching - even if it's through their fingers."

In a review for website Chortle, Steve Bennett praised Kendall's performance, commenting that "Kendall, whose winningly dry performance is central to the show's appeal, has said she wanted to offer an alternative view of 1980s Australia than the one portrayed in the sun-soaked scenes of Neighbours and Home And Away, and she’s certainly paints a much less romantic picture." He went on to mention that "Once Frayed’s premise is finally established, it offers plenty to suggest this is worth sticking with".

In a favourable review by Steve Dessau of website Beyond the Joke praised the cast performances and he said "It's not all laughs – some of the best laughs come via pop culture gags about The Thompson Twins – but there is more than enough that is funny and intriguing here to justify setting up a series link in your schedule."

Anthony Morris of Screenhub rated the series 4 stars out of 5 as he was favourable of the opening episode, pointing out that the series gets dramedy right and that it is evident from the first episode. He said that "Frayed isn’t perfect: it slows down a lot once it hits Newcastle and Sammy (initially) is the kind of character it takes time to warm to. Almost all the characters are either angry or ditzy; eventually somebody’s going to have to have something going for them. But unlike a lot of dramedies, it seems likely the characters will be given the chance to grow. This feels more like it’s the start of a story than just setting up a situation."

In a more mediocre review from Jasper Rees of The Daily Telegraph, he criticized the first episode, stating that "[Frayed is] a pungent Eighties-set comedy that doesn’t know how far to take the joke" and gave it 3 out of 5 stars.

International release
In May 2020, it was announced that Frayed had been picked up in the United States as an HBO Max exclusive. The series was released on 30 July 2020. The second season was released on HBO Max on 4 November 2021.

Home media
"Frayed: Season One" was released on DVD in Australia (Region 4) on 27 November 2019 from Roadshow Entertainment and in the United Kingdom (Region 2) on 2 December 2019 via Spirit Entertainment.