Frayed

Frayed is a comedy-drama television series that originally aired on Sky1 from 2019 to 2021. The show was created, written, and produced by Australian comedian Sarah Kendall, who also stars as the series protagonist, Sammy Cooper.

The story is set in the late 1980s and revolves around Sammy, a fabulously wealthy London housewife who is forced to return to her hometown in Australia. Told with humor and heart, Frayed is revealing deep emotional truths behind the facade of Sammy's mostly fabricated lifestyle.

Sammy starts off as a well-to-do Londoner, living in an opulent mansion and being married to a successful businessman, with whom she shares two spoiled children: teenage Lenny and preteen Tess. However, when her husband suddenly dies and leaves her with nothing due to bankruptcy and massive debt, Sammy must pack up her life and return to her roots in Newcastle, Australia.

Living in London, Sammy had concocted a tale of her exotic Australian upbringing for her high society friends, constructing an idealized narrative that painted her as an orphan who grew up in a loving, wealthy family. But in reality, her past is froth with far less glamour. Returning to her childhood home confronts Sammy with the stark contrast between her fictitious past and her actual upbringing.

The series explores this contrast with great humor and sensitivity, juxtaposing Sammy's posh London existence with the austere reality that awaits her in her Newcastle hometown. Back in Australia, she is forced to deal with a not-so-glamorous family, childhood friends who know her real origins, and a town that has changed significantly in her absence, and not necessarily for the better.

The series fashions Sammy as an aspirational figure in many ways; her large-scale fabrication of a lavished past is underscored by a determined ambition to escape the confines of her small-town upbringing and the sociopolitical circumstances of 1980s Australia. The show's strength lies in its authentic depiction of characters who are deeply flawed but inherently relatable.

Notably, Frayed doesn't dodge challenging themes. Instead, the series delves into issues such as alcoholism, mental health, racism, culture clash, and class divide, showcasing each with an unflinching yet compassionate eye. On top of that, the series is also shrouded in the aura of an unfolding mystery, which gets deepened across episodes, regarding Sammy's past, particularly about the circumstances surrounding her swift exit from Australia years ago.

A standout characteristic of Frayed is its engaging ensemble cast. Sammy, complex and emotionally layered, is joined by an array of diverse characters, each more intriguing than the last. Her long-suffering brother, Jim, her old school friends Bev and Fiona, her mother, Jean, who suffers from dementia, and her old flame, Dan, a gym teacher, all play crucial roles in her homecoming journey.

Sarah Kendall portrays Sammy masterfully, bringing out the complicated shades of a woman grappling with the loss of her comfortable life, the burden of her past, and the inevitability of her circumstances. The supporting cast, too, does an excellent job of manifesting themselves into the fabric of this story, adding depth and dynamism to the narrative.

On the presentation front, Frayed is beautifully shot, with its vivid portrayal of 1980s Australia, with its distinctive aesthetics, fashion, societal norms, music, and overall cultural milieu. The show vacillates effortlessly from deeply emotional to hilariously comedic, with well-paced storytelling that is loaded with witty dialogue, unexpected twists, and grounded performances.

Essentially, Frayed is a journey of reinvention and self-discovery. It delves into the messiness of human nature, the fluidity of identity, the power of resilience, and the often-complex dynamics of family and societal ties. With its sharp zingers, compelling characters, and a layered narrative that's equally heartfelt and hilarious, Frayed is both an enjoyable and thought-provoking watch.