‘Frayed’ Review: The Aussie Comedy Hit Comes to HBO MAX

HBO Max imported the Australian/British co-production Frayed. Understanding basic differences between British and Australian culture is helpful, but not necessary to fully enjoy this dark comedy set in the 1980s. 

On a basic level, Frayed shows a class and a culture. However, the nuances are important. Samantha (Sarah Kendall, who also created the series), formerly known as Simone in her British life, is embarrassed by her family and upbringing around a bunch of people she would consider bogans. While living in London, Simone and her husband lied about everything, including their wealth and her upbringing. After his death, Simone grapples with having no money and moving back to Newcastle, Australia, which she insists is a suburb of Sydney despite being a three hour drive away. The American equivalent would be someone who grew up in rural America embarrassed by their “redneck” family, moving to the big city, and lying about their upbringing to make it among the New York elite. 

Naturally, the change is quite a shock to the entire family. What ensues is fish-out-of-water hijinks as Sammy readjusts to her former life with her two upper class British kids in tow. While there are aspects of the show that make it seem like a darker Green Acres, the vibe is similar to Dead to Me. 

With the exception of Sammy’s kids Tess (Maggie Ireland-Jones, Sherbet Rozencrantz, You’re Beautiful) and Lenny (Frazer Hadfield, Casualty), who are in high school, all the main characters are running from their past, so that they can build a better future. Like Dead to Me, the lies eventually unravel and everyone must deal with the aftermath. In the meantime, the other characters sneak around to find out what shady activities the others are up to whether it’s Sammy’s blaming her financial situation on estate problems or Newcastle Minister of Parliament Chris George’s (George Houvardas) corruption. 

Over the course of six episodes, Sammy Cooper must navigate her way around a town that hates her for abandoning it for a life as a rich London housewife. While her old classmates and friends are smart enough to figure out something isn’t right- after all, why would a rich woman be slumming it in a rundown Australian town- Sammy attempts to keep the charade that she is still a rich woman who happened to come running back to the family she abandoned simply because her husband died and she’s waiting for the estate to be settled. The reality is she will be living in her mother’s house until further notice and everyone knows it since her children now attend school in their mother’s home country, a place where they are not accepted due to their upper class accents and education. 

Frayed is a uniquely Australian show. If you’re a Kath & Kim fan, there’s a lot to like. It also makes you wonder why more Australian shows do not get the chance to find an American audience. The class system is less pronounced than in Britain, so the culture is similar to the United States’, only with more drinking and swearing. 

Frayed is currently streaming on HBO Max.