TOTAL CONTROL/SERIES 2

Australia, 2021, 6X 55 minutes, Colour

Deborah Mailman, Rachel Griffiths, Rob Collins, Wesley Patten, Anthony Hayes, William McInnes, Alex Dimitriades, Colin Friels, Harry Richardson, David Roberts, Rob Carlton, Wayne Blair, Harry Greenwood.

Directed by Wayne Blair.

Total Control was a popular and critical success on ABC television in 2019.

This second series, with the subtitle of Total Control of Herself, continues the story of Alex Irving, played by Deborah Mailman at the peak of her talent, former Australian senator, then MP in the House of Representatives, clashing with the Prime Minister (Rachel Griffiths), as well as the various other political figures, leaders Anthony Hayes and William McInnes.

The film shows Alex Irving’s background in Winton, outback Queensland, her son and relationship with his father, her extended family, her professor brother, Rob Collins.

At the beginning of the second series, Alex is in disfavour with the political parties because of her toppling of the Prime Minister, demanding an official enquiry into the deaths of two young girls, indigenous, in custody.

This series spends a lot of time in Winton, Alex’s difficulties with her son, Eddie (Wesley Patten), sullen, angry, truant, his uncle ineffectually trying to look after him. Alex is not a popular figure, many trolls on line, a particular hostile trial emerging with most offensive threatening messages throughout the series (ultimately exposed as a young staffer in the Prime Minister’s office). Alex is also reported to the department as not being a good parent and there is an investigation and report on her, her ultimately signing custody of her son to her sister while she worked in Parliament.

The character of Charlie Irving is much more developed in this series, his academic background, his taking charge of Alex’s campaign, his high principles during the campaign, his support, trying to control his sister, ultimately betraying her by revealing the name of the trial to the media – with an even further backlash making him the victim and Alex the aggressor. A strong presence is Jolly, initially hostile to Alex but becoming a firm supporter, outspoken.

Alex campaigns as an independent for her district in Queensland, with Jack Ramsey (Colin Firth) as the incumbent for 25 years, a good old boy and popular in the area but lazy and target of corruption and personal harassment charges.

And there is a relationship with Rachel, Rachel standing as an independent, with her personal adviser, Nick, Alex Dimitriades, discussions between the two women, burying the hatchet, the possibilities of collaboration, especially with further Independents. There are quite a lot of scenes of meetings, phone calls, machinations. And, there is also the presence of the Minister for indigenous affairs, Paul Murphy, played by the series director, Wayne Blair.

There is some tension in the final episode, the physical attack on Alex and Charlie, manipulations with loyalties of the independence, and Alex finally making it to the House and the vote that Paul Murphy would become the first indigenous Prime Minister of Australia.

1. The popularity and impact of this political drama? Social issues? Indigenous issues?
2. The Canberra settings, Parliament house, interiors? Sydney, North Sydney, affluence? Winton, the Queensland outback, the town, drought, homes, buyers, the roads and countryside? Longreach and but called in? The musical score?
3. The continuity from the first series? The central characters? Political turmoil, the leaders, negotiations, intrigues? Rachel losing the prime ministership? Alex as senator, resigning, the deaths in custody, demands for the enquiry, her crossing the floor? The background of her life, family, her son, brother, life in Winton?
4. Alex and her political career, the media and reactions, condemnations? Returning home, local issues, the decision to stand as an independent, discussions with Charlie, his work organising, his demands, and honourable campaign? Leo coming in, his age, technical skills? Jolly, her antagonism towards Alex, the qualifications, working in the bar, joining the team? Alex and the problems with Eddie, his truancy, his stubbornness, not communicating with his mother? Sullen? Charlie trying to supervise him?
5. Rachel story, a political animal, resentment at losing the prime ministership, over two hours from the Prime Minister, Peter and his visits and negotiations, Lauri Martin? The visit from Nick, his proposal, that she stand as an independent? The media, the announcement, the discussions with Nick? His reputation? The think tank? And the giving money to Alex unbeknown? The campaigns, Rachel entering the press conference of the Prime Minister, the challenge? Her election? Communications with Alex? The antagonism is? Alex and her bitterness? Both elected, the discussions, burying the hatchet, wherever it was? The gathering of the independence in Parliament house, Georgian the old school, mockery, Justin and the Asian presence, the businesswoman, the Greens? The difficult meeting, Alex and meeting with Paul, the photo with the Lauri Martin? Her making her explanations? The decision to work together?
6. Eddie, his age, relationship with his mother, her life in Canberra, his life in Winton, truancy, laconic, riding his bike, helping Stephen, the gift of the dog, the impact of Stephen’s death? Call to the principal’s office, the complaint to the Department, the official and her investigation, looking at the house, considering a crowded with the campaigners, her report, the need for a plan? The later negotiations, Faye and her decision to accept responsibility for Eddie? Alex signing it? The holiday together, possibility of some reconciliation?
7. Charlie, his academic career, return to Winton, caring for Eddie, new employment in Bathurst, agreeing to be the manager of Alex’s campaign? His standards, his staff? Observing, the meetings, disappointment at the revelation of dirt on Jack Ramsey?
8. Jack Ramsey, 45 years in Parliament, lazy, accusations of corruption, sexual harassment, interns pregnancy? His supporters, white and black? Absence from the first meeting? Coming to the second, the attacks on him, walking out? Stopping with the breakdown, talking with Alex, drinking the water? Congratulating her? The complaint about her parenting coming from his office?
9. Leo, his work, the attacks on Alex, anonymous, vicious, his eventually tracking them down? This contribution to the campaign? Jolly, initial antagonism, joining the group, hard work, her contacts and the staring up against Jack Ramsey the meeting, Charlie angry with her, her continued support of Alex? Bright personality?
10. The day of the election, the device of showing Alex digging in the dirt in the desert, 13 hours earlier, wanting Eddie at the photo opportunity, his not turning up, the noose in the garden, becoming frantic, the continued messages, indicating his death, buried in the desert, Alex Harry, Charlie following? But Eddie not bothering to turn up, Alex’s response?
11. Going to the pub, the unexpected win? Going to Canberra, Charlie and Julie going to Canberra with Alex?
12. Paul Murphy, aboriginal parliamentarian, discussions with Alex, loyalty to the party, sounding her out, the phone calls, the help with the parental enquiry, meeting at the bar?
13. Discovery of the anonymous texter, Alex going to find him, the confrontation, his parents arriving, his age, working for the Prime Minister’s office, Alex confront him, making him read the text aloud, his reaction, her decision not to expose him? Her considering his age?
14. Charlie revealing the identity of the troll, Alex upset, the man self-harming, his becoming the victim, Alex the aggressor, even more vitriolic attacks?
15. The meetings between the independent candidates, Alex an attempt to form some unity, each with their own agenda, loyalties to Damien, loyalties to Lauri, the role of Paul Murphy?
16. Rachel, aligning herself with Damien, yet giving the information about the discontented member, Alex came to see her, the discussion, her deciding to act independently after the treatment by the party? Alex with the numbers?
17. Paul Murphy meeting with Alex, agenda, the support for him to plead the party, his taking over?
18. The house of Representatives, the tension, Alex missing, the closing of the door is? The audience seeing the racist taxi driver, waiting for his opportunity, attacking Alex with the knife, the winter hand, is knifing Charlie? The ambulance, concerned?
19. Alex, her hand, hurrying to parliament, for the opening of the doors, Damien and his smug manipulation, Rachel and her beginning to take a stand, Charlie arriving – and the prospect of having an aboriginal Prime Minister?