Nina and Billie Proudman - I want to play dress ups in your wardrobes. I adore the Offspring wardrobe. Offspring started back on Australian TV last night. While I hadn't loved the first season as much as I'd anticipated (I think it all came down to Nina's repetitive ringtone), I enjoyed it enough to watch all episodes and really warmed to it in the last episode. So I snuggled on the couch for the first episode of the second season. I did enjoy it, but I realised the aspect I enjoyed most about Offspring was the fashion. So here's a lazy cut and paste job-blog of the fashions that I've loved on the Proudman sisters. The best dressed women on TV.
Even after my excitement fueled review of the first episode of Offspring, I did not warm to the show as much as I'd hoped.
This photo sums up my feelings.
I didn't know whether it was a medical dramady with mild slapstick, or a supernatural fantasy - based on Nina's inner mind/outer body experiences almost each episode? Was it a strict rom-com? Or was it a romantic musical comedy cross medi-drama, with characters sometimes kissing, Eddie Perfect sometimes singing and babies sometimes being delivered? Shrug.
The show provided me with a few laughs, and tears too. But the continued will-they-won't-they? situation between Nina and Chris made me frustrated. I found it repetitive. I was much more interested in the side stories of the other characters, specifically the way Jimmy drifts through life doing drug trials for money and having adventures with really attractive women.
To be honest, the only thing keeping me from changing the channel was Nina and Billie's clothes.
Well actually, the whole damn cast is stylish. I remained loyal because I couldn't wait to see what they'd wear next.
However, I think the pub song scene in the last episode of the season finally won me over.
I laughed so hard at this. Friends were talking about it on Facebook, and even the next day, I saw a reference to the song at work. It's so romantic, yet so awkwardly cringeworthy. What an apology!
Six At Best
Babe, I know it’s crazy that I slept with your sister
We got drunk on vodka and I totally kissed her
Things got out of hand
I felt rejected and pissed, hurt and lonely
But as far as sex with your sister goes
There’s something you should know
Your sister’s a 6, the sex was 6 at best
A 6 at the most, and maybe even less
‘Cos her desperation wrecked the mood
She made love like a starving person clutching at food
And it’s difficult to stay aroused
When you’re surrounded by a thousand owls
Baby, it’s impossible to overstress
Your sister’s a 6, and that’s being generous
She must have nervous 'cos she couldn’t stop talking
She told me ‘bout the doctor that she’s borderline stalking
In bed your sister’s less active than Steven Hawking on Prozac
And I know it’s no excuse, but, baby, it’s the truth
Your sister’s a 6, the sex was 6 at most
You’re like a 12 course banquet, and she’s just toast
‘Cos she wanted feedback on whether she was getting it right
She’s got more baggage than a Quantas flight
It was rarely hit and mostly miss
And the weirdest bit – she kept calling me Chris
And I swear to god, it will never happen again
You’re sister’s a 6 and you’re a perfect 10
You’re sister’s a 6 and you’re a perfect 10
You’re sister’s a 6 and you’re a perfect 10
You’re sister’s a 6 and you’re a perfect 10
You’re sister’s a 6 and you’re a perfect 10
And I know you think you’ve gotta be tough
That you’re never really good enough
Well the truth is, girl, that you’re not her
And in fact, you’re the woman that I prefer
And I know we don’t often get things right
I just wanted the chance to say to you tonight
You’re my everything, you’re my lover and my best friend
You’re sister’s a 6 and you’re a perfect 10
You’re sister’s a 6 and you’re a perfect 10
You’re sister’s a 6 and you’re a perfect 10
Eddie Perfect, the actor who plays Mick in Offspring writes and composes songs for the show.
Offspring: you aren't my new Secret Life of Us or Love My Way, but I'll give you another go next year. Thanks Mick/Eddie Perfect for finally drawing me in whole heartedly.
I must be in the minority because I love Australian movies and television drama programs. Hell, I even like some Australian comedy, particularly of the ABC ilk. Not many people I know enjoy, or admit to enjoying Australian made film and television.
You know my thoughts about Secret Life of Us. Adored it back in the day. I watched the first series again recently and loved it. Especially Claudia Karvan, Sam Johnson and Deb Mailman.
I've been watching Heartbreak High on ABC3. The younger Callan Mulvey melts my heart. As does the present day Callan.
I watched five episodes of season 1 of Underbelly. Mainly because of Callan Mulvey. See below.
I stopped because Callan's character died and I needed time to recover from seeing his wonderful acting in the coffin, and the excessive violence and sex. I don't know if I've recovered yet – I might just perpetually watch the first five episodes.
Rush is wonderful. It's fast paced, full of action, a little romance, and funny. You know that I think the men of Rush, or the Sunnyboys, as I refer to them in my tweets, are the hottest ever.
And I regard Love My Way as the best TV show of all time.
I once watched the entire first season of Love My Way on DVD one New Years Eve. Alone. I bawled my eyes out. Because I was alone on New Years Eve and because I was exhausted from the drama. I was once again in love with Claudia Karvan because of Love My Way. Love love love this!
I want to watch Tangle and Spirited but these are on pay TV. And I don't have enough time or money for that. I will wait for the DVDs.
So when Offspring was advertised on Channel 10, I was excited. I loved Asher Keddie in Love My Way, and in Rush. And I loved her dress in the Offspring ad (I have searched and searched on Google but can't find it for your reference.
The show looked quirky. Like Secret Life of Us. Only grown up. I especially love TV shows set in Melbourne. And this one is. I find something identifiable about shows set in Melbourne – not only the setting, but the way the characters live. I think in these shows, you see characters similar to people you really know.
The cast is good looking. Extremely good looking.
I was super excited about Offspring until last week when my excitement levels dropped lower than a rapper's jeans. It was because it was advertised EVERY FRIGGIN' FIVE MINUTES. Seriously, Ten. Every friggin five minutes. I was seriously thinking that I wouldn't need to watch the show with the amount of advertising Channel 10 was throwing at me.
So I was delighted to find that I could download the episode for free from iTunes yesterday, so I could watch it ahead of time, without ads – I actually feared Channel 10 would advertise Offspring DURING Offspring. The advertising was that damn excessive. It was on par with the election campaign.
My expectations of Offspring were met. It was quirky. Funny. Well written. A great cast. And I loved Asher's clothes. She is gorgeous.
Asher plays slightly neurotic Nina. A lot less neurotic than Julia in Love My Way. Waaaay less. But still neurotic.Offspring also stars Don Hany as Dr Chris (niiiiice), Deb Mailman as Cherie (love) and Kat Stewart as Billie (beautiful and versatile).
Nina is a successful obstetrician who has a lot of self doubt. The story revolves around her slightly dysfunctional family - though I expect most families are like hers. All three adult children have not achieved in certain areas of their life.
I enjoyed the music, especially the bits performed by Eddie Perfect's character.
The setting was not instantly recognisable as Melbourne though. And there was excessive use of the iPhone ring tone. It's the xylophone one. That shitted me. There was too much ringing of the iPhone. Me, I prefer the harp. There was also quite a bit of Apple placement. Macbooks galore. I saw at least two, and an iPod too.
I also thought it was far less sexual than the ads insinuated. The sexual innuendo in the ads was probably to sell the program to women and men.
I can see a few openings for some good storylines in Offspring. Cherie's situation with Darcy, her baby's unexpected father. Chris's missing wife. Billie and Mick's on-again-off-again thing may get repetitive though.
As a whole, I enjoyed Offspring. I don't think it will match Love My Way, and I don't think I can hope for another Secret Life. But I think I will enjoy it.
Read a proper review at The Age. (Click on all pictures for their source.)
