Total Control
GenrePolitical drama
Political thriller
Written by
Directed byRachel Perkins
Starring
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes18
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Running time60 minutes
Production companyBlackfella Films
Original release
NetworkABC
Release13 October 2019 (2019-10-13)

Total Control is an Australian television political drama series first screened on ABC TV in October 2019. Its working title was Black Bitch, but that was deemed too controversial and the series was renamed. Season 2 began airing on 7 November 2021, and the final season premiered on the ABC on 14 January 2024.

Synopsis

Rachel Anderson is the embattled but cunning Prime Minister of Australia. Alex is a charismatic Indigenous woman who finds herself the centre of media attention following her admirable actions in a high-risk situation. Rachel wants to use Alex to boost her popularity and further her own agenda, and recruits her as a senator.[1]

The government in the series appears to represent the Liberal-National coalition, with various factions and other parties mimicking current ones in Australia. There are several storylines and characters, including Alex's son, her mother, an ex-lover and rival clans in Winton, Queensland, her activist brother in the city, various other players in the Canberra political and office sphere, and a young woman who has escaped youth detention with some footage which could severely damage the government, or in particular the right-wing faction.

Cast and characters

Main Cast

  • Deborah Mailman as Alexandra "Alex" Irving, Coalition Senator for Queensland (Series 1) and now independent MP for the seat of Freeman, Queensland (Series 2).
  • Rachel Griffiths as Rachel Anderson, the Prime Minister of Australia (Series 1) and now independent MP for the seat of North Sydney, New South Wales (Series 2).
  • Harry Richardson as Jonathan Cosgrove, former staffer in the Prime Minister's Office and chief advisor to Senator Irving (Series 1).
  • Rob Collins as Charlie Irving, Alex's brother who worked as a university lecturer in Sydney (Series 1) and who now heads up Alex's campaign for the seat of Freeman (Series 2).
  • Anthony Hayes as Damian Bauer, Minister for Immigration (Series 1) and now the Prime Minister of Australia (Series 2).
  • William McInnes as Laurie Martin, Leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition (Series 1 and 2).
  • Huw Higginson as Peter Solomon, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister.
  • Wesley Patten as Eddie Irving, Alex's son.

Series 1

  • Trisha Morton-Thomas as Jan Irving, Alex's mother
  • Aaron Pedersen as Tom Campbell Jnr., a friend and former flame of Alex.
  • David Roberts as Kevin Cartwright, Minister for Indigenous Affairs
  • Val Weldon as Marcie Maclean, an inmate at the Macauley Detention Centre who is killed by a guard
  • Shantae Barnes Cowan as Jess Clarke, an inmate at the Macauley Detention Centre who escapes after her friend is killed
  • Celia Ireland as Tracey Helliar
  • James Sweeny as Christopher Bingham
  • Adele Perovic as Jillian Morell
  • Tony Barry as Phillip Anderson, Rachel's father
  • Rebecca Massey as Sharon, a Child and Youth Protection Services worker in Canberra
  • Luke Carroll as Rob, a member of Alex's extended family.
  • Fran Kelly as herself.
  • Patricia Karvelas as herself.

Series 2

  • Wayne Blair as Paul Murphy, Laurie Martin's 'offsider' who has ambitions of becoming the first Indigenous Prime Minister of Australia.
  • Hamish MacDonald as himself.
  • Colin Friels as Jack Ramsay, the incumbent Coalition MP for the seat of Freeman, Queensland.
  • Jason King as Scott McNally, the Labor candidate for the seat of Freeman, Queensland.
  • Angela Fitzpatrick as Gloria Vincent, the independent Christian candidate for the seat of Freeman, Queensland.
  • Tasneem Roc as Mima Scott, the Coalition candidate for the seat of North Sydney, New South Wales.
  • Tom Dawson as Henry Whittacker, a political staffer in Prime Minister Bauer's media office who has been engaged in an racially-motivated hate campaign against Alex under the pseudonym 'Bait15'.

Episodes

Series overview

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1613 October 2019 (2019-10-13)17 November 2019 (2019-11-17)
267 November 2021 (2021-11-07)12 December 2021 (2021-12-12)
3614 January 2024 (2024-01-14)18 February 2024 (2024-02-18)

Series 1 (2019)

No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateAustralia viewers
(millions)
1"Episode 1"Rachel PerkinsStuart Page13 October 2019 (2019-10-13)0.722[2]
Following a stand-off with a gunman outside a local courthouse, Alex Irving becomes a household name overnight and is offered a casual vacancy in the Senate of Australia by the Prime Minister, Rachel Anderson, who has her own motivations for wanting Alex in her ranks. Meanwhile, Jess Clarke, a young Indigenous girl escapes from a youth detention centre after her friend, Marcie, is murdered by a prison guard.
2"Episode 2"Rachel PerkinsKim Wilson & Rachel Perkins20 October 2019 (2019-10-20)0.641[3]
Alex is tasked by Rachel with negotiating a deal between the native title holders of Winton and the Federal Government after the United States requests the construction of a new military base in the region. Meanwhile, Jess hitch-hikes across the country in an effort to reach Alex in Canberra.
3"Episode 3"Rachel PerkinsPip Karmel27 October 2019 (2019-10-27)0.679[4]
As Alex works around the clock to get the community's deal before the Senate, there is opposition within the party and a coup threatens Rachel's leadership. Jess arrives in Canberra, but Alex is faced with simultaneous betrayal in Canberra and a tragedy in Winton before they can meet.
4"Episode 4"Rachel PerkinsAngela Betzien3 November 2019 (2019-11-03)0.712[5]
Following the death of her mother, Alex is struck low by grief and anger after the betrayal of her and the community. When she discovers the extent of the Rachel's deception, she resolves to return to Canberra - planning to burn everything to the ground.
5"Episode 5"Rachel PerkinsStuart Page10 November 2019 (2019-11-10)0.683[6]
Returning to Canberra, Alex and Rachel embark on a game of political cat and mouse. Alex knows the only person who can help her now is Jess, but when they finally arrange to meet in Sydney, Jess gets spooked when police suddenly arrive and runs - leading to tragedy.
6"Episode 6"Rachel PerkinsStuart Page17 November 2019 (2019-11-17)0.712[7]
In pursuit of justice for Jess and Marcie, Alex declares war on her own party. Faced again with Rachel's double dealing, she engineers a plan that could have catastrophic consequences for the government.

Series 2 (2021)

No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date [8]Australia viewers
(millions)
7"Episode 1"Wayne BlairStuart Page7 November 2021 (2021-11-07)N/A
Far from home, Alex Irving faces the reality of her alliances with Damien Bauer, who is now the Prime Minister, and with Laurie Martin and begins to question her future in her new party. Still reeling from the coup, Rachel plans her next move.
8"Episode 2"Wayne BlairPip Karmel14 November 2021 (2021-11-14)N/A
Alex returns home to Winton, determined to get her grassroots campaign off the ground. Rachel makes a surprise announcement that sees her facing off with Alex on live television. After the show, Rachel makes Alex an interesting offer.
9"Episode 3"Wayne BlairLarissa Behrendt21 November 2021 (2021-11-21)N/A
Alex's success on the campaign trail has caught the attention of popular incumbent Jack Ramsay and he's not going down without a fight. Rachel's bid for re-election gets a boost when she attends a rival's campaign event.
10"Episode 4"Wayne BlairAngela Betzien28 November 2021 (2021-11-28)N/A
It's the day of the election, and Alex and her team make a final push to win over the voters of Freeman, but a family emergency sends the campaign into chaos. Meanwhile, Rachel prepares to face off against Damien.
11"Episode 5"Wayne BlairNakkiah Lui5 December 2021 (2021-12-05)N/A
Following the election, the high stakes horse-trading begins in Canberra as Alex and a small group of independent MPs meet to decide the future of the nation. With bigger threats looming, Alex and Rachel will need to find a way to trust each other.
12"Episode 6"Wayne BlairStuart Page12 December 2021 (2021-12-12)N/A
Alex is on the cusp of rewriting history when the forces of violence and reaction make one last bloody attempt to stop her.

Series 3 (2024)

No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateAustralia viewers
(millions)
13"Episode 1"TBATBA14 January 2024 (2024-01-14)TBC
Two years on since the explosive events of the second season, outsider turned kingmaker, Alex Irving, is now completely at home in the nation's capital. She's at the centre of power, holding the Government on a short leash, but it's taking a toll.
14"Episode 2"TBATBA21 January 2024 (2024-01-21)N/A
TBC
15"Episode 3"TBATBA28 January 2024 (2024-01-28)N/A
TBC
16"Episode 4"TBATBA4 February 2024 (2024-02-04)N/A
TBC
17"Episode 5"TBATBA11 February 2024 (2024-02-11)N/A
TBC
18"Episode 6"TBATBA18 February 2024 (2024-02-18)N/A
TBC

Production

The working title of the series was Black Bitch; however, it was changed after complaints that the title was a racial slur.[9] The first season was written by Stuart Page, Angela Betzien, Pip Karmel and directed by Rachel Perkins. It was produced by Darren Dale and Miranda Dear for Blackfella Films with Rachel Griffiths, Kelrick Martin and Sally Riley as executive producers.[10] The six-part first season was filmed in Canberra, Sydney, and Winton in Central West Queensland.[11] New music was written and recorded by Missy Higgins and featured in the series.[12]

Season 2 was directed by Wayne Blair, while writing credits include Stuart Page, Larissa Behrendt, Angela Betzien, Pip Karmel, and Nakkiah Lui.[13][14] Some scenes were filmed on location in Parliament House, Canberra as well as Sydney and Broken Hill.[15]

Production for the third and final series was announced on 31 May 2023.[16][17]

Release

In advance of the broadcast premiere of Season 1 on ABC TV in October 2019, several episodes of the series received a preview screening in the Primetime program of the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.[18]

Season 2 aired from 7 November 2021.[19][20]

The final season premiered on the ABC on 14 January 2024.[21]

Critical reception

The first season received mixed to positive reviews from critics. The dialogue, writing, relationships between the characters, and Alex's characterisation were widely praised, but recurring criticisms were that the series lacked action and the storytelling was too meek and subdued despite its intense subject matter. However, the cast's performances received critical acclaim, especially Deborah Mailman's.

The series has an approval rating of 100% percent for its first season on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes indicating critical acclaim.[22]

Craig Mathieson of The Sydney Morning Herald wrote "It's hard to remember the last time an Australian drama had dialogue as biting, juicy, and telling as the lines that ricochet back and forth – simultaneously revealing power and defining personalities" and that Mailman gives a "full-tilt and full-bodied performance".[23] Luke Buckmaster of The Guardian said "There are times when it feels like we may be in store for a Bulworth-style spectacle, revolving around a shoot-from-the-hips political newbie with nothing to lose. However, the drama in Total Control is meeker than that, and the stakes feel surprisingly low, given several hot-button issues explored". Buckmaster praised the performances of both Mailman and Trisha Morton-Thomas. He declared Mailman's performance to be "superb" and said that she was the series' "one unquestionably outstanding element".[24]

Chris Boyd from Screenhub wrote: "As an action drama, Total Control is unconvincing and poorly executed. As a political thriller, it's sketchy and forced. The Canberra intrigue is shallow to the point of parody." However he praised the performances of both Mailman and Rob Collins. When it comes to Mailman's performance he said "Increasingly blunt, and foul-mouthed, Mailman is electrifying. Tectonic. Unforgettable."[25] Laura Brodnik from Mamamia gave the series a positive review saying "with a cutting and topical script, this is a series that secures a spot as one of the best Australian offerings of the year". Brodnik praised most of the cast but singled out Mailman and Shantae Barnes Cowan for the most praise. She called Mailman's performance a "stand out". And said Barnes Cowan "delivers some of the shows most emotional moments in scenes that are light on dialogue, so it's left up to her facial expressions to convey the gravity of what is really going on".[26]

Dorothy Rabinowitz of The Wall Street Journal wrote a glowing review, saying this about the series "It's an enterprise mightily enlarged by its merciless focus on political combat, its depiction of longtime trusted alliances, its biting vision of the prevailing codes, and what passes for right and wrong in political society."[27] James Croot from Stuff NZ wrote: "Total Control offers a scathing examination of Australian politics [and] a clarion call for social justice." He went onto praise the series' music, saying it was "a magnificent showcase for the songwriting and singing skills of Missy Higgins", Alex's characterisation ("Her character is a compelling, complex and charismatic presence, a woman passionate about representing her community, but still traumatised by the event that made her public property") and Rachel Griffiths' performance ("Griffiths is impressive as the embattled Prime Minister, struggling to keep her party (and herself) in power – two goals that aren’t necessarily the same thing.").[28] Joel Keller from Decider praised the writing of the series, saying "The writing in all of those scenes, is sharp and intelligent, not giving in to cliché or tropes" and that "the writing is smart enough to give its audience credit for having some brain cells to process the story". He added "after the ace performances by Mailman and Griffiths, we're looking forward to seeing what direction Total Control goes in".[29]

References

  1. ↑ Knox, David (16 December 2018). "2019: Pick of the Upfronts". TV Tonight. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  2. ↑ Knox, David (27 October 2019). "Timeshifted: Sunday 13 October". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  3. ↑ Knox, David (3 November 2019). "Timeshifted: Sunday 20 October". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  4. ↑ Knox, David (10 November 2019). "Timeshifted: Sunday 27 October". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  5. ↑ Knox, David (15 November 2019). "Timeshifted: Sunday 3 November". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  6. ↑ Knox, David (22 November 2019). "Timeshifted: Sunday 10 November". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  7. ↑ Knox, David (29 November 2019). "Timeshifted: Sunday 17 November". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  8. ↑ "Total Control – Listings". Next Episode. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  9. ↑ "'Black Bitch' TV series renamed 'Total Control' by ABC". NITV News. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  10. ↑ Bylykbashi, Kaltrina (18 November 2018). "Keshet, ABC team for political drama Black B*tch". TBI Vicion. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  11. ↑ Ma, Wenlei (19 November 2018). "TV shows to get excited about". The Morning Bulletin. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  12. ↑ "I am so excited to finally announce that the TV show I have been writing music for the last few months has launched on the ABC!". Facebook. 13 October 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  13. ↑ "Wayne Blair to direct Total Control". TV Tonight (in Italian). Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  14. ↑ "Cameras roll on Total Control 2". About the ABC. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  15. ↑ Knox, David (27 April 2021). "When Total Control came to Canberra…". TV Tonight. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  16. ↑ Knox, David (31 May 2023). "Total Control filming third and final series". TV Tonight. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  17. ↑ Knox, David (31 August 2022). "Total Control S3, new SBS, Paramount+ titles in Screen Australia funding". TV Tonight.
  18. ↑ Debra Yeo, "Think programming more than 300 TIFF movies is hard? Try filling just six TV slots". Toronto Star, September 6, 2019.
  19. ↑ Knox, David (25 March 2021). "Filming underway on Total Control S2". TV Tonight. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  20. ↑ Knox, David (7 October 2021). "Returning: Total Control". TV Tonight. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  21. ↑ Russell, Stephen A (11 January 2024). "Film & Television Jobs, News, Reviews & Screen Industry Data". ScreenHub Australia. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  22. ↑ "Total Control series 1". Retrieved 6 July 2021 – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  23. ↑ Mathieson, Craig (16 October 2019). "Biting one-liners the pièce de résistance of 'terrific' new ABC show". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  24. ↑ Buckmaster, Luke (10 October 2019). "Total Control review – Mailman is superb, but real #Auspol has more drama". the Guardian. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  25. ↑ Boyd, Chris (11 October 2019). "Deborah Mailman shines in Total Control's rocky opening episodes". Screenhub Australia. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  26. ↑ Brodnik, Laura (11 October 2019). "The rumours are true: Total Control is the only new TV show to watch this weekend". Mammamia. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  27. ↑ Rabinowitz, Dorothy (10 December 2020). "Total Control Review: A Struggle Down Under". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  28. ↑ Croot, James (23 March 2021). "Total Control: Stunning Australian political drama finally finds a home here". Stuff (NZ). Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  29. ↑ Keller, Joel (23 December 2020). "Stream It or Skip It: 'Total Control' on Sundance Now, About an Unlikely Aussie Senator and the PM Who Put Her There". Decider. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
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