User:Raintheone/Tane

Tane Parata is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Ethan Browne. The character made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 10 February 2020. Tane is Browne's first television acting role after graduating from drama school. The character was introduced as a part of the first Māori family to feature in the show. The family consists of his brother, Ari Parata (Rob Kipa-Williams), his nephew Nikau Parata (Kawakawa Fox-Reo) and his sister-in-law, Gemma Parata (Bree Peters). The family arrive in the town of Summer Bay to begin a new life, despite concealing a tragic past. As part of the show's first Māori family, the actors involved strived to make the family authentic and a true representation of the culture. Tane is characterised as a "cheeky" and "mischievous" man, he is "family-orientated" but often rebels against his brother, Ari. Their grievances are explored during Tane's introduction via confrontation. Writers added more tension by making the siblings share the same love interest, Mackenzie Booth (Emily Weir). Tane has been well received by critics of the genre, partly due to his appearance and "bad boy" persona.

Casting
Browne had just completed his studies at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, when he decided to audition for the role of Tane. He described the experience and securing the role as "surreal". Browne's casting and character details were announced on 29 December 2019. Home and Away marked Browne's first television role. He admitted that his family are fans of Home and Away, saying "Grandma Minna is a massive fan and she couldn't believe I got the job." Browne told Ira Heyder of Gisborne Herald that he could not think of a better way to start his television career than playing a Whānau. Browne's character Tane is the brother of Ari Parata (Rob Kipa-Williams), who was introduced at the end of 2019. They, along with Nikau Parata (Kawakawa Fox-Reo), form the serial's first Māori family. Browne, like the other actors introduced, is New Zealand born with a Māori background. Browne auditioned alongside the actors, who began filming the following week. Browne began filming 2 months later because writers introduced Tane into the series last. Holly Byrnes of The Daily Telegraph reported that Tane's character brief was "a saucy one, with notes like 'most likely to be drunk and disorderly' and 'most likely to bring home a different partner every week.'"

Characterisation
Tane is cheeky and loves to have fun. He tends to joke around a bit with his family, particularly his older brother. He’s a free spirit and usually rebels against anyone trying to tell him what to do. He may come off as mischievous and at times cocky, but deep down he just wants to take care of his family in his own way.

Tane is characterised as "cheeky" and a fun-loving guy. Despite having a "mischievous" and "cocky" persona, Tane just wants to take care of his family. Browne described his character as "a mischief maker, the cheeky brother and quite free-spirited." Tane is Ari's youngest brother and a "lovable larrikin". Browne told Tamara Cullen from TV Week that he is "very similar" to Tane; they are both "cheeky" and "family-orientated" but Browne thought Tane was irresponsible. In an interview with Jackie Brygel of New Idea, Browne described Tane as "quite rebellious". He dislikes being told what to do especially by Ari. He added "deep down, he means well. All he wants is the best for his family." He told Kerry Harvey from Stuff.co.nz that Tane "does all this bad stuff" because he wants to take care of Ari and Gemma. Tane is sometimes portrayed as impolite and Browne believed he has more respect for other than Tane does. Browne mentioned that he added some of his own "cheekiness" and "sarcasm" into Tane's characterisation.

The actor told Sarah Ellis (Inside Soap) that Tane is a "determined young man" who rebels against Ari, but "really kind and loving deep down." Tane displays the stereotypical "tough guy persona" but he is actually a "very broken" character. When he is introduced, writers played Tane "eyeing up potential girlfriends" which "spiced up" scenes.

The collective form the show's first ever Māori family. Aside from their different accents, writers incorporated the difference in their cultural behaviour. Kipa-Williams told Rachel Lucas from What's on TV that "we do things slightly differently and our humour is slightly different. You’ll notice a bit of a different vibe, which I think is nice. Every family brings a new vibe but we’ll be bringing a piece of culture with us." All three actors worked with the script writers to make sure the family were authentic. While interviewed by Harvey, Bree Peters who plays Gemma Parata, stated that the actors fought hard to get a true representation of their culture on-screen. She added that authenticity was important because Māori, Pacific Islanders and other minorities would be able to better identify with the characters. Kipa-Williams revealed that one example of their efforts was adding in Māori words into scenes, which directors approved and included in episodes. Browne told Ira Heyder of Gisborne Herald that they were adding "Kiwi humour people back home will connect with." Producers also employed Scotty and Stacey Morrison to work as Te reo Maori language experts and tikanga advisers for the show. Browne told Pierra Willix of the Kalgoorlie Miner that he felt pressured to get the representation of Maori culture correct.

Introduction
Home and Away produced spoiler trailers to promote Tane's arrival in Summer Bay. The Parata family arrive in Summer Bay to start a new life following family tragedy and hide a secret. The Parata family consist of Tane, his brother Ari, his sister-in-law Gemma and her son Nikau. Peters told Brygel that "they've come to the Bay to build a new life, but all they have is each other. They are hiding some pain. Fox-Reo told Bethany Reitsma of The New Zealand Herald that "there's something back home they're trying to get away from and that does lead to some problems." Tane is introduced into the series a couple of week after the rest of the Parata family. Browne told Heyder that upon his introduction Tane "is the outcast of the whanau". It soon becomes apparent that he does not have "the most legitimate ways of earning money." His arrival also causes family tensions with Ari who does not want him around. Browne explained that Nikau visits Tane and asks for his help, which forms his introduction story.

His first scenes feature Tane letting Nikau and Bella Nixon (Courtney Miller) crash his party, after they arrive in a stolen car. He lets the pair stay over which leads to unrest with the Paratas. Ari believes that Tane is a bad influence on Nikau and wants him to leave. The pair end up getting into a fist fight over the their disagreement. Browne told Ellis that understood why Ari was reluctant to have Tane around Nikau. He explained that "Ari knows Tane does dodgy things for a living, because that's what Ari used to do." Ari worries that history will repeat itself and Nikau will copy Tane's behaviour, like Tane did from Ari.

Writers developed a love interest for Tane with restaurateur Mackenzie Booth (Emily Weir). Browne told a reporter from New Idea that "Mackenzie immediately catches Tane’s eye, there is an instant attraction." Tane is unaware that Mackenzie has been dating Ari and Nikau informs him. Browne said that Tane is not off-put by Ari's involvement and finds it more "interesting" to pursue romance her. He believes that it will annoy Ari, of which Browne commented "he likes to get under Ari’s skin whatever way he can." Mackenzie rebuffs Tane's advances, but his plan to aggravate Ari works and leads to confrontation about his behaviour around Mackenzie. Tane defends himself by suggesting his interest in Mackenzie is genuine.

Reception
Bethany Reitsma of The New Zealand Herald said that New Zealand viewers were excited about a "Kiwi family" joining the show. A writer from TVNZ was "thrilled" with the introduction of the Parata family. They believed that the family would "embody a taste" of New Zealand. Rachel Lucas from What's on TV said that the Parata's introduction "marks a milestone" in Home and Away's history, adding that their Maori culture would "bring something very special" to the show. Nick Everard and Jenny Ky from The Morning Show said that the Parata's arrival "rocked" Home and Away, adding they made "Summer Bay sizzle - and the fans can't get enough." Tahlia Pritchard from Punkee praised the introduction of Tane, adding that he "looks set to make some real waves at Summer Bay." She branded him attractive and that he filled the show's quota of "shirtless, good looking men." Pritchard concluded that Tane and Ari were "reminiscent of the River Boys but, well, sexier and with no shit tattoos." A writer from New Idea branded Tane a "hunky newcomer" who "immediately makes his presence felt" with Mackenzie. Alison Slade from TVTimes branded him Ari's "bad-boy brother". Digital Spy's Louise McCreesh called him a "hunky newcomer" and opined that "things are set to get interesting" because of his romance with MacKenzie.

Stephanie McKenna writing for The West Australian observed Tane to be more dangerous than the show had billed him as. Her first impression of Tane was that he was more interested in women than making amends with Ari. McKenna later described Tane as having a "fun personality, charming smile and never-ending supply of cash." She opined that the Paratas have an "ominous past" and were "the kind of people that use words like 'loyal' in a Tinder profile." In another review, McKenna branded Tane a "troublemaker" and "bad boy" who constantly shows off his "ripped bod and smooth charm". Jonathon Moran of The Daily Telegraph branded him "Home And Away's new hottie".