The Secret Life of Us explained

Genre:Melodrama
Comedy drama
Creator:John Edwards
Amanda Higgs
Executive Producer:John Edwards
Amanda Higgs
Starring:Claudia Karvan
Samuel Johnson
Deborah Mailman
Abi Tucker
Joel Edgerton
Sibylla Budd
David Tredinnick
Spencer McLaren
Damian De Montemas
Michael Dorman
Location:St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria
Company:Southern Star Entertainment
Narrated:Samuel Johnson
Deborah Mailman
Country:Australia
Language:English
Runtime:45 minutes
Network:Network Ten
Num Seasons:4
Num Episodes:86 (List of episodes)

The Secret Life of Us is an Australian television drama series set in the beachside neighbourhood of St Kilda, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is primarily a drama with some comedic moments. The series was produced by Southern Star Group and screened in Australia from 2001 to 2005 on Network Ten and on Channel 4 in the UK. Initially co-funded by the two networks, Channel 4 pulled out after the third series and the fourth series was not aired in the UK. The series won three silver Logie Awards.

It has been shown in other countries such as New Zealand (TV3) where it is rated R16 in New Zealand for offensive language and sex scenes; Ireland (RTÉ Two), Canada (SuperChannel3), the Netherlands (Yorin), France (Canal Plus, France 4), Estonia (ETV, Kanal 11), Norway (NRK), Serbia (B92, TV Avala), Russia (TNT, Muz TV), Israel (Channel 2), South Africa (M-Net), and the United States (Hulu).

Plot

The show revolves around a group of friends in their mid 20s to early 30s who live in a St Kilda block of flats. Their interaction with one another, relationships with other friends, and romantic interests, along with their personal and career developments, are featured.

The actual block is 14A Acland Street, St. Kilda and the rooftop is at the Belvedere Flats on the Esplanade in the same suburb.

History and popularity

The series had its genesis in a telemovie; a 22-episode first season was commissioned by the Ten Network before the movie screened.[1] As its popularity rose, issues arose between the show's creators and Network Ten, which saw higher ratings when it screened before 9:30. This necessitated cutting scenes with sexual themes.[2]

The inclusion of a prominent Aboriginal character (Kelly Lewis, played by Deborah Mailman) attracted comment at the time of the series' broadcast,[3] and has since been cited as a landmark in the history of media representations of Indigenous Australians.[4]

The series has been noted as significant for its inclusion of a central, gay coming out narrative in its first season (Richie Blake, played by Spencer McLraren).[5]

The show's ratings began to dwindle following the departure of several key actors and the introduction of new characters and cast members. This began in the second season with the departure of Joel Edgerton and Damian De Montemas. It was the third season that featured a particularly high character turnover, and included the departure of key original cast members Claudia Karvan and Abi Tucker.

Five main cast members  - Sibylla Budd, Spencer McLaren, Dan Spielman, Nina Liu, and Gigi Edgley  - left at the end of season three and original lead Samuel Johnson left early in season four, followed by Michael Dorman three episodes later. Original cast members Deborah Mailman and David Tredinnick continued, and seven new regular characters were added for season four. The changes were part of a larger overhaul which had the arrival of a new producer, a new script producer, and a new writing team.[6]

Cast

Main / regular

Recurring guests

Episodes

See main article: List of The Secret Life of Us episodes.

Series ratings

SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedViewership
width=15% Season premierewidth=15% Season finalewidth=5% Viewers (millions)width=5% Ratingwidth=5% Drama Rank
12223 July 200126 November 20010.977[7] 7.4
  1. 10
22218 February 20025 August 20021.1778.9
  1. 7
32210 February 200311 August 20030.9947.4
  1. 9
42018 February 200428 December 20050.581[8] 4.3
  1. 7

Cancellation

Production ended in 2004 with the completion of the fourth season. The decision had been made to discontinue production after the first three episodes of the fourth season aired in Australia to disastrously low ratings. At that time, the program was removed from its primetime slot. The unscreened episodes from that final season were broadcast with little publicity in late 2005.

Home media

SeasonRelease dateSpecial
features
Region 2Region 4Region 4
(re-issue)
Season 127 October 2003[9] [10] 8 March 2004[11] 2 September 2012[12]
Season 222 January 2007[13] 8 October 2004[14] 2 September 2012[15]
Season 320 August 2007[16] 11 October 2004[17] 2 September 2012[18]
Season 420062 September 2012[19]
Complete Series10 November 2010[20] 7 October 2020[21]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Michael Idato, "Ten's Secret Is Out", Sydney Morning Herald 21 August 2000, p. 48
  2. Michael Idato, "Secret Life Re-signed", Sydney Morning Herald 10 September 2001, p. 45
  3. Web site: Aboriginal actors want share of the action. 26 April 2002. Moses. Alexa. 30 July 2012. Sydney Morning Herald.
  4. Romance and Reconciliation: The secret life of indigenous sexuality on Australian television drama. King. Andrew S.. 30 July 2012. Journal of Australian Studies. 2009. 33. 1. 37–50. 10.1080/14443050802672528. 143005532.
  5. O’Meara . Damien John . Monaghan . Whitney . 2024-03-05 . Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and nonbinary representation on Australian scripted television in the 2000s and 2010s . Media International Australia . en . 10.1177/1329878X241236990 . 1329-878X. free .
  6. Web site: The secret life of . . . who? . 14 September 2003 . Browne . Rachel . 3 May 2015. The Sun-Herald.
  7. Web site: Top drama/comedy series before 2004 - In the archive - Australian content - Television - Fact Finders - Screen Australia. Screen Australia.
  8. Web site: Top drama series - In the archive - Australian content - Television - Fact Finders - Screen Australia. Screen Australia.
  9. Web site: The Secret Life of Us: Series 1 - Part 1. musicmagpie.co.uk. 5 April 2024.
  10. Web site: The Secret Life of Us: Series 1 - Part 2. musicmagpie.co.uk. 5 April 2024.
  11. Web site: Secret Life Of Us Series 1 [Region Free]]. fishpond.com.au. 6 April 2024.
  12. Web site: The Secret Life of Us Series 1. Booktopia. 6 April 2024.
  13. Web site: The Secret Life Of Us - The Complete Series 2 [DVD]]. amazon.co.uk. 5 April 2024.
  14. Web site: Secret Life Of Us Series 2 [Region Free]]. fishpond.com.au. 6 April 2024.
  15. Web site: The Secret Life of Us Series 2. Booktopia. 6 April 2024.
  16. Web site: The Secret Life of Us Series 3 [DVD]]. amazon.co.uk. 5 April 2024.
  17. Web site: Secret Life Of Us, The- Series 3 [Region Free]]. fishpond.com.au. 6 April 2024.
  18. Web site: The Secret Life of Us Series 3. Booktopia. 6 April 2024.
  19. Web site: The Secret Life of Us Series 4. Booktopia. 6 April 2024.
  20. Web site: The Secret Life Of Us Boxset. Booktopia. 6 April 2024.
  21. Web site: Secret Life of Us The Complete Series. Booktopia. 6 April 2024.