First, the cell phone story... you know the one. Cell phones in 1989 were enormous, and that story with her husband cracked me up. This has everything I love about Australian comedies. Diane Morgan always makes me laugh. Some of her lines are so crazy.
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staciarose2019 February 2021
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chris-7403019 October 2019OK I am the first to admit that people who were born in the 80,s or later probably are probably to young to appreciate the humour. But I and my wife laughed until we cried at some parts of this show Only seen the first episode but gagging for more as they say
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bjarias28 October 2021... Sarah Kendall's brilliant ... women doing it all are the new face of programming ... creating-writing-starring ... &-doing-it in-top-form ... entire cast in this show is outstanding ... a comedy that's-actually-funny ... more than just an-occasional-chuckle
... most those not appreciating Frayed more than likely felt similar about Fleabag ... one of the best-of-its-genre ... please let's-let these-grand-folks continue on their-merry-wacky-way more-seasons. -
robbobconn4 October 2019I did not expect much when I started watching this, thinking it was another run of the mill comedy. But, the more I watched the more I fell in love with this absolute gem. It became one of my favourite TV shows. It has just the right blend of comedy and drama, moves at a good pace, just enough story lines and characters that it is not too much too follow. I really hope this pearl gets a second season, because it has so much more to offer. Brilliantly written by Sarah Kendall, who does a great job of portraying every facet of her character. To be honest, the story line descriptions do not do this series justice. It is so much more than "a wealthy woman loses her fortunes and moves back to Australia". We are addicted to it and are binge watching it but with only 6 episodes, one runs out of episodes very quickly. Looking forward to the next installment.
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erumeh27 October 2019Just had to contradict the people who just don't get it. Best thing I've watched this year. A laugh out loud work of art. Next...
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matthewbrewster99922 October 2019Gutted there were only 6 episodes of this, to be fair to some of the people who have given it low ratings based on the 1st show, it does get better the deeper you get into it, once the characters have landed in Australia you see different sides to them and I liked that the storylines focus on not just the 3 original members of the family but also the extended family and friends based in Australia. Everyone has their own story to tell and is experiencing some kind of traumatic life event in some way. The humour isn't laugh out loud jokes and simplistic misunderstandings or wordplay but based around a sense of awkwardness and a sense of real life situations and interactions between the characters, which makes them even more engaging. The ending leaves a mass of loose ends so I really hope a second season is commissioned soon!
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delphinoz12 November 2019London to Newcastle in the 80's! They nailed it well .. seriously there were a lot more 'over the top' characters around back then anyway, including 'larrikin' females. The show is irreverent, brash and hilarious with some depth and empathy in there too. Kudos to the cast, writer and director for a very funny and entertaining season, hope there's more to come.
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Arweljos20 March 2020Really enjoyed this, quirky show, very entertaining and funny. Great acting and very natural, hope they get a second series, cant understand the odd low rating from some, they must not understand subtle humour, they probably prefer shows with canned laughter so they get prompts to know when to laugh!
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Headturner18 May 2021This. I had tried to watch it a while ago and turned it off about 10 minutes in well I watched 4 episodes last night and then the 5th wouldn't play. There is a lot of unnecessary stupid humour( especially when Jim and Sam fight) but then there's some really funny stuff. I saw the actor who plays Jim in another Australian series recently and He's a great actor( funny as heck) and I really like the actress who plays the mother tho she looks too young to have kids their ages. Any ways reminds me of something Waller Bridge would write. I loved Catastrophe and that's why I decided to give it another go. Glad I did. Wish their was more than 6 episodes.
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laurabenzel2 August 2020This is a hilarious show, I binged watched all the episodes in one night. The lead actress (Simone/Sammy) is excellent, as are the actors who play her children. I sure hope there is a second season. Highly recommend it.
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KrionZed22 October 2019I think I went into this expecting a snappy and funny comedy. What I got instead was a humorous and quirky drama. Once I accepted that, I was then able to enjoy it. Just don't expect to be rolling on the floor the whole time. It wants parts of its storyline to be taken seriously (which it then subverts, thereby supplying some of its humour). It also reminds me a bit of Keeping Up Appearances, the main character being somewhat of a Hyacinth Bucket (this is another source of this humour).
Overall, a weakish start, but it has potential and I love the 80s, beachy aesthetic. It's a little crass as someone else pointed out, but I love the Inbetweeners, so I obviously enjoy that. To each their own.
May revise this review once further along. It feels like the kind of show that gets better as it matures. I also find her big head of red hair hilarious for some reason, so I'll keep watching just for that lol! -
mrouse-920848 November 2019If you have some inkling of Australian life in the 80's, today and visited Newcastle (NSW) at least once, you will love this. Particularly liked the performances of the secretary, Diane Morgan and the dear lady with dementia, Maggie Dence
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owen-watts4 November 2020I was a big fan of Sarah Kendall's darkly intricate biographical comedy monologues - so the idea of her getting a series seemed a pretty interesting one. She plays a recently widowed wealthy housewife returning to her hometown in Australia with her kids in tow. There's baggage all over the shop, both figuratively and literally. Hers is a bleak comedy world bristling with dark secrets - the characters are strong and help keep the thing afloat alongside some familiar Brit comedy faces.
Kendall's Sammy Cooper is easily the strongest and most rounded character here and she has a great deadpan presence (and amazing hair) but the generally compelling ensemble cast can go whole episodes without getting a look in. Tonally it shifts and stumbles often, frequently missing just as many emotional landings as it sticks - the sudden existential twists and turns can give you serious dramatic whiplash. Not a great series but an interesting one, certainly. -
jgxenakis13 June 2022Some great actors and engaging story lines. But after the first four episodes it accelerates downhill. The creative team can't conjure up a balanced amalgam of comedy and drama and the series fails at both. The humor is obvious, never clever; and is an ever present cloak all over the human drama to render those scenes tedious or worse, irritating. The story lines with the mother, played by Kerry Armstrong and nicely crafted, are an exception.
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somethingreal8120 May 2020I happened to stumble across this show accidentally and am so glad I did. It's hilarious, heartwarming, and I really hope it comes back for a second season!
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leoalexanderscott10 November 2019Frayed has become one of my favourite weekly Australian comical-style series. There is something about this well written drama yet satire of early Eighties life in Australia that gets you hook. The family, their friends, the era, the political and social climate, the fashion and icons of the era. You can start watching from any episode. All you need to know about the "riches to rags" story is that Sammy Cooper brings her two children to live with her mother and brother in the beachside mansion of the northern Sydney suburb of Newscastle, while waiting for the settlement of a will when her husband suddenly dies from a heart attack during fitness training. Except that Newcastle isn't a suburb, the mansion is just a small old beach home, the suspicious brother suspects Sammy being up to no good, and she is forced to become a secretary for local bribe-influenced member of parliament. Did I mention that meanwhile back in UK, she getting her estate screwed over, getting taken advantage of because her husband died after a brick mobile was shoved up the backside by a prostitute.
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hanaahbraan16 January 2020This show is a definite grower. I started watching it on a plane and got hooked after three episodes. The story develops really well, but all too closely towards the end. The characters are honest and a good representation of Australia even in the present day. I want and need to see more of this!
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lucienm-6032115 October 2021Frayed screenplay is absolutely brilliant and soooo funny !!!
What it's not... It's not a drama at all, it's pure comedy.
Casting is really great !
Sarah Kendall is hilariously funny in playing the main character !
Supporting cast really wonderful
Can't wait for each episode to come to air ! -
christophersarles7 August 2020The characters were fresh and zany and never boring or stereotypical, the acting was superb, and there were several comedic situations and gags that made me laugh out loud.
Like when the brother keeps getting random crap thrown on him.. I found myself wishing they had done six more episodes for first season, and I pray they bring it back, as hbo/max isn't too popular OR easily available.
They should release it on the main network that cable subscribers can access. So many of these networks don't promote great shows and then they get cancelled.. Can't wait for more FRAYED! -
andrew-115728 October 2019Creating a three dimensional character from a small amount of material, she's on another level compared to the lead. Maggie Dence is great in just a few scenes bringing real poignancy as a character with dementia. Matt Passmore looks GREAT in some era appropriate short shorts, sadly no Speedos though - DILF Dalip Sondhi wears those. Diane Morgan is great in a supporting role, as expeced. And the Dynasty references are amusing, especially name-checking Kerry Armstrong's role.
Sarah Kendall just isn't on par with Sharon Horgan or Julia Davis etc playing outrageous, sometimes unsympathetic characters. She just seems wooden and 2 dimensional while the rest of the cast excel around here. And it isn't just a generous writer giving the best lines to co-stars. -
Sky402110 October 2019Absolutely loved this,couldn't get enough I watched all of them in one day,fantastic characters,crude rude so funny!!! do hope a second series is in the making...10/10 a must watch 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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petrabsas20033 January 2021The behaviour and language of the characters was terrible. It might be not unusual in Newcastle, but it that was Australia wide, I should regret having migrated here 35 years ago. Fortunately, it is not the average family behaving like those people. The underlying story could well be true. I really like Australian stories, but this was for my taste disgusting.
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scottfx-1697224 October 2019Just finished this series. Started and stopped half way through the first episode. So glad I stuck with it. It is fab. Fingers crossed there is another series. I could see this run and run.
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Also, I didn't realize that it wasn't set in present day until the last episode. Weird that it went unnoticed.
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zorroaca21 October 2021If you took Laurel and Hardy and put the most foul mouths on them that you can imagine... this is close. If you can handle that... this will be entertaining for you. The slapstick can be over the top and sometimes corny... and gets old after a while. Some of the Australian social issues that are poked fun at... are revealing and sad. The acting matches the content.