Plum (TV series)
Australian television drama series
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Plum is a 2024 Australian television drama for ABC Television, released on 20 October 2024. Created and written by Brendan Cowell, the series follows Peter Lum, a retired former rugby league player who is diagnosed with a brain disorder following years of concussions he suffered on the field.[1]
by Brendan Cowell
Fiona Seres
| Plum | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Created by | Brendan Cowell |
| Inspired by | Plum by Brendan Cowell |
| Written by | Brendan Cowell Fiona Seres |
| Directed by | Wayne Blair Margie Beattie |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Brendan Cowell Louise Smith |
| Producers | John Edwards Dan Edwards Jonathan Duncan |
| Production locations | Sutherland Shire, New South Wales |
| Running time | 49–54 minutes |
| Production companies | Roadshow Rough Diamond Modern Convict Films |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC TV |
| Release | 20 October 2024 – present |
Plot
The story is inspired by Cowell's novel of the same name. After a career in rugby league, Peter Lum is diagnosed with a brain disorder, but does not reveal it to family and friends. However when his ex-wife becomes very concerned with erratic behaviour and his son Gavin, who loves the game being head hunted by rugby league teams, he starts to realise his father is not the same person he used to be, and the game might be to blame.[2] Plum attempts to turn his life around, as journalist Dana Hanlon goes on a fact finding mission to reveal the dangers of CTE. (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy)
Cast
The cast was announced when the series went into production on 17 January 2024.[3]
- Brendan Cowell as Peter 'The Plum' Lum
- Asher Keddie as Renee Lum
- Jenni Baird as Dana Hanlon
- Matt Nable as Dave
- Nicholas Cassim as Albert Lum
- Vincent Miller as Gavin Lum
- María Dupláa as Charmayne
- John Tui as Brick
- Matthew Sunderland as Charles Bukowski
- Adolphus Waylee as Kutiote
- Josh McConville as Squeaky
- Wayne McDaniel as Magic Matt
- Susie Porter as Sarah Lum[4]
- Jemaine Clement as Oliver
- Janet Anderson as Tatania
- Andrew Ryan as Bobby D
- Charlotte Friels as Sylvia Plath[5]
- Peter Phelps as Mo Hanlon
Former NRL players Andrew Johns, James Graham, Mark Carroll and Paul Gallen make special cameo appearances in the series.[6]
Production
On 17 January 2024, it was announced that the series had gone into production, securing its funding from Screen Australia and Screen NSW.[7]
Plum was filmed in and around the area of the Sutherland Shire of Sydney.[8]
ABC had revealed its 2024 drama slate on 9 May 2024, with Plum and series two of Bay of Fires. Plum was expected to air in 2025 but was pushed forward to air in October 2024.[9]
Episodes
All episodes were released on 20 October 2024 via ABC iview.[10]
| Number | Title | Directed by | Written by | iview air date | Terrestrial air date | Aus. Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | "Hurricane" | Wayne Blair | Brendan Cowell | 20 October 2024 | 20 October 2024 | 484,000 [11] |
| Episode 2 | "King of Cronulla" | 27 October 2024 | 343,000 [12] | |||
| Episode 3 | "Storm" | Fiona Seres | 3 November 2024 | 270,000 [13] | ||
| Episode 4 | "The Gap" | Margie Beattie | Brendan Cowell | 10 November 2024 | 258,000 [14] | |
| Episode 5 | "The Tree" | Fiona Seres | 17 November 2024 | 268,000[15] | ||
| Episode 6 | "Impact Player" | Brendan Cowell | 24 November 2024 | 244,000[16] |
Reception
David Knox of TV Tonight gave the series four stars, saying that it was a labour of love for Cowell who had written the novel. Knox cited the viewing experience and said that people should be "ready to confront what lies beneath the surface".[17]
Paul Dalgarno of ScreenHub gave the series 3½ stars, saying that Cowell has been writing "about how blokey life leaves successful Sydney men adrift and unsatisfied spiritually since his days contributing to Love My Way". Dalgarno cited the viewing experience and said that sport in Australia is a industry worth more than a billion dollars, and that sport does not prepare people for death, while poetry does.[18]