THE FAMILY LAW (2016 - 2019)

 

Created by: Benjamin Law

Based on the memoirs of: Benjamin Law

Starring: Trystan Go, Fiona Choi, Anthony Brandon Wong, Shuang Hu, George Zhao, Karina Lee, Vivian Wei, Bethany Whitmore, Kimie Tsukakoshi, Takaya Honda, Sam Cotton, Diana Lin, Loretta Kung, Hugh Parker, Jing Xuan Chan, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Andrew Buchanan, Rumi Kikuchi, Erika Heynatz, Ella Jaz Macrokanis, Montana Jones, Caroline Kennison, Lachlan Sutherland, Julie Eckersley, Genevieve Morris, Paul Gleeson, Abbie Carlson, Steven Tandy, Piera Forde, Mitchell Burke, Meg McSweeney, Ling Cooper Tang, Sandro Colarelli, Jace Fleming, Barbara Lowing, Jane Barry, Helen Howard, Kiara Freeman, Daniel Han, Joff Bush, Carly Rees, Alison McKenzie, Laura Keneally, Piper Little, Graham K. Furness, Declan Coyle, Stacey De Waard, Pacharo Mzembe, Olivia Platt, Arnijka Larcombe-Weate, Peter Rasmussen, Fraser Crane, Hanako Yates, Melanie Zanetti, Jamie Carter, Todd MacDonald, Katie Dorman, Amanda Ma, Martin Reyes, Alexander Procopis, Julian Cullen, Russell Ross, Jacy Moore, Tony Walsh, Samantha Fitzgerald, Bailey Hendy, Genevieve Larin, John Russell, Kian Dillon, Russ Gallagher, Jason Virgil, Niam Mayes, Jip Panosot, Luke Frohling, Louella Baldwin, Shinaed Evans, Elizabeth Xu, Liam Donnelly, Lambert Majambele, Mitch Wood, Tennille Thomas, Leo Castro, Matt Thomas

18 episodes

(TV-14 - adult language, adult themes, adult situations)

PLOT:

Biographical sitcom unfolds in the dysfunctional world of one Chinese-Australian family, as seen through the eyes of 14-year-old Benjamin Law. As Benjamin dreams of soap-opera stardom, his parents contemplate separation. Over the course of one long, hot Queensland summer, the self-absorbed clarinet-playing teenager increasingly finds himself embroiled in other people's dramas.

season 1 - 

Benjamin tries to mend his parent's broken marriage by encouraging Danny to be more engaged with the family through his end-of-year talent show, but with disastrous results. The family is shocked to meet Candy's secret boyfriend Wayne, and Benjamin puts it on himself to pull off the perfect Christmas lunch for the family, until the turkey dinner offers up more than any of them planned. Benjamin takes the initiative and forces the family into group therapy, resulting in a weekend trip to the zoo with Danny that gets out of control. Benjamin seeks revenge on Andrew by giving Jenny the wrong idea about what to do for his 18th birthday party but no one foresees the impact that an innocent novelty erotic cake will have on the family forever. Benjamin tries to cheer his mother by inviting her best - and possibly only - friend from Malaysia, Aunty Rose. But when Rose reveals her true colours Benjamin has to summon his siblings to save Jenny. Benjamin is worried about Jenny's lack of enthusiasm towards her marriage, so instigates a performance to cheer her up, but this time Danny and Jenny have a plan of their own.

season 2 - 

New years mark new beginnings, but new beginnings aren't always pain free - as a newly brace-faced Benjamin is discovering. As Jenny delves into the world of self-help, Benjamin auditions for the lead in the school production of Medea. Jenny, not being taken seriously by anyone, comes to blows with Danny over the realities of co-parenting. After Benjamin discovers Danny in the arms of a new woman, he goes out of his way to help an oblivious Jenny find a new man, which compromises his own ability to perform at rehearsals for the school play. After Candy and Wayne ask Benjamin to be their 'man of honour', he tasks himself with the job of delivering a perfect wedding. After the family car breaks down, Jenny is forced to confront her lack of financial independence, and Benjamin and Melissa come to blows about his commitment to the school play. After Danny is hospitalised - buckling under the overwhelming pressures of running a business by himself, providing for his family and starting a new relationship - Jenny and Benjamin make discoveries that ensure the family Law will never be the same again.

season 3 - 

When Ben sneaks out to a party and Jenny goes on a girls' night, things take an unexpected turn and they discover that putting yourself out there can be both exhilarating and humiliating. An accident in the school car park leads to a new romance for Jenny, but while she is swept up with Pete, Ben finds himself the target of bullying because of his love for musical theatre. Desperate to escape his crush on Klaus, Ben jumps at the opportunity for a family camping trip where Jenny struggles to accept being dumped by Pete and Ben's secret desires spill out. In denial about his sexuality, Ben fixates on finding a date for the school dance, and while Jenny and Pete have a bittersweet encounter, Ben's lies make it a night to remember for all the wrong reasons. Unable to conceal his desire and bodily reactions at school, Melissa confronts Benjamin about his sexuality, whilst Jenny receives a surprise call from Pete, wanting a second chance. As misunderstandings between Ben and Jenny escalate, Ben risks rejection by his family to finally come out, and the school talent show has a spectacular end.