Cowell's covid lockdown project was first published as a book in late 2021, and now a few years later it has honoured us with its presence as a series, translating to the screen perfectly.
The creative team and cast capture perfectly the culture of the sport, rugby league, mostly in the Sutherland shire of Sydney, revealing the effects of sustained head injuries in a ruthless contact sport. A drama that for us locals feels so real, observing the aftermath of a young retired player, Peter Lum (the plum) and his ex-team mates attempting to adjust to a new life after the sport has rejected their well being.
Also tackles the issues of affliction (Plum and son relationship and drinking habits, including Plum's past with his father), relationships torn by the sport-related concussion (SRC), and the sports media handling of the situation. Topics that infuse the drama and challenge the characters along the way.
There is also a surreal element in the form of the poets, Charles Bukowski and Sylvia Plath, which takes this series to another enjoyable level, as Plum heads toward a new vocation in life.
A fine Australian drama told with honesty and characters worth caring for, thanks to a great cast (with even Jemaine Clement thrown into the mix and somehow pulling it off).
