Love My Way: articles


Love My Way

A credit to writers and cast

A FAMOUS television producer once said creating a hit TV show was like capturing lightning in a bottle. The team behind Love My Way must have a lot of bottles lying around because even after three years, the award-winning drama has lost none of its spark.

It's a story that began with a quirky, complicated modern family and progressed into a heart-wrenching, soul-searching journey after the death of eight-year-old Lou (Alex Cook).

If they'd been characters on a normal TV show, they'd have bounced back before you could say cookie-cutter script.

But LMW has never compromised honesty for simplicity and the characters spent much of the second season grappling for normality. There were break-ups and breakdowns and a whole lot of emotional conflict.

At some point, though, LMW risked becoming a melodramatic parody of itself.

It may have been bold and confronting, but how much death and despair can a bunch of 30-somethings really take?

Fortunately, tonight's double-episode premiere relieves some of that pressure and affirms that coming through the fire was worth it.

There's a terrific energy and a fresh dynamic, which is a credit to the writers and the cast who seem to have mastered that fine line between indulgence for art's sake and just bloody good television.

Frankie (Claudia Karvan) has a new husband, a new stepson and a new house. Charlie (Dan Wyllie) and Julia (Asher Keddie), above, have a newly reconciled relationship and Tom (Brendan Cowell) has a new—if not pragmatic—approach to his past.

But TV's most angst-ridden family hasn't gone all Waltons on us just yet.

After their quickie wedding, Frankie and Lewis (Ben Mendelsohn) cop a major setback in their pursuit of domestic bliss and face a reality check about who they really are once the honeymoon phase wears off.

Tension is also starting to emerge between Frankie's old "family" and her new kin.

When Charlie and Julia think they've found their dream home next door, Lewis tries to sabotage their plans and isn't too pleased when Tom enters Frankie's life again, either.

Notions of family loyalty are also tested when Julia has an encounter with her estranged sister, triggering a spectacular Julia-wobbly at the hairdresser's.

It all points to another round of storylines that will make you laugh, cry and appreciate the people you love a whole lot more.

By Erica Thompson
The Courier Mail, Page 036
Februay 26, 2007