Ten reasons to love Offspring Louise Rugendyke
For the uninitiated, it is easy to dismiss Offspring‘ s Proudman family as neurotic, annoying whiners with a heroine as the worst offender.
But the truth is, they are amazingly functional, with big hearts, forthrightness and forgiveness as the cornerstone of their relationships. Here are 10 reasons we love Offspring, the Proudmans and their extended family. 1. Hope springs eternal She can sometimes wear too many scarves and can be infuriatingly neurotic, but Nina Proudman (Asher Keddie) is a woman built on hope. Example one: your former husband (Brendan, remember him?) blows up a car, but that car belongs to the hot doctor at the hospital. See, four doors blow up, another one opens ...
reveals why the Australian drama has proved to be such a hit with audiences.
2. Weare family How many other families could survive the break-ups, breakdowns, babies and flings with parking inspectors and the local GP that this lot have put each other through? The important thing is that they all have each other’s back. Who else will band together to vandalise the car of your latest love rat? That’s right: your mum, your biological father (the GP who was flung) and your dad (aka the man you thought was your biological father, until mum revealed said fling with GP). 3. Sister act You couldn’t have Nina without Billie (Kat Stewart) and vice-versa. Billie is the voice of truth (‘‘Oh come on, Nines, you’re not wearing that’’) and the voice of love (‘‘I’ll love the baby until you are ready to’’). Oh, their relationship also survived this little hiccup too ... 4. Six but not out What do you do when you accidentally sleep with your sister’s boyfriend Mick (Eddie Perfect)? Submit to this roasting by song that perfectly captures Offspring‘ s humour: ‘‘As far as sex with your sister goes, there’s something you should know. Your sister’s a six ... she couldn’t stop talking about that doctor she’s borderline stalking ... Your sister’s a six and you’re a perfect 10’’.
5. That doctor she was stalking
With all the fuss about Dr Patrick Reid, Offspring‘ s original hot doctor has been overlooked. When Don Hany steamed onto the screen as paediatrician Dr Chris Havel, hearts melted. Who can forget the fantasy pash (oh, and all the other pashing) in the lift filled with balloons? Pity he returned to his former wife ...
6. That doctor she was stalking, part II
He was the bad-boy anaesthetist with a one-time addiction to prescription drugs, but as Dr Patrick Reid, Matthew Le Nevez smouldered, smouldered some more and melted hearts everywhere when he told Nina ‘‘I choose you’’ and then broke hearts when ... 7. Look both ways How could the writers do this? Nina was happy. She and Patrick had a baby on the way and all he had to do was cross the road. Except that he was bumped by a car and fell to the pavement. It didn’t seem so bad, except ... 8. The watercooler moment They killed off Patrick. It was a bold move and again showed why Offspring is more than a mere romantic comedy. It’s life, it’s death and it’s top-notch acting from a cast that brings genuine emotion to everything they do. A later fantasy scene with Nina saying goodbye to Patrick in their lounge room (‘‘thank you for being my lover, thank you for living, thank you for giving me our beautiful daughter’’) was heartshredding. 9. Funny business He said he was an astronomer researching space junk. She said she was a florist. They met at the airport. It was to be Nina’s first dip into sex since Patrick’s death. Except it was terrible. Welcome Leo Taylor (Patrick Brammall), the most uncomplicated man/ midwife yet to walk into Nina’s life: ‘‘I don’t love you as a friend, I have plenty of friends in my life. I love you.’’ 10. Just say yes Much as this list began, season five ended with hope (see Leo’s declaration above). Hope for the Proudmans (I didn’t even get to Jimmy and Zara or Geraldine or Ray), Billie and Mick together (again), the work family (Martin Clegg and Cherie kind of, almost, living together) and Lawrence (the counsellor, remember him and his splendid collection of cashmere jumpers?). Let’s hope season six continues the love, laughs and craziness that is the Proudmans at their best. Fairfax
8.30pm, Thursday, TV One.