With Dalliance, television continues its brave expeditions into unknown narrative lands. It was forced first to venture into women’s stories (using female writers, directors, stars and, oh my goodness, sometimes it was just wall-to-wall womanity, you know?) in the post-Weinstein years. Previously unassailable figures were toppling like ninepins and investors needed to take refuge in those unlikely to have problematic pasts who were likely to tank projects the moment any reporter turned a beady eye upon them.
That turned out quite well. Women were not as boring as we had been led to believe, and were often capable of anchoring quite interesting, intelligent or funny shows. Sometimes they were all three at the same time, even if they weren’t called Fleabag.
That got commissioners wondering if they could try the same trick with age rather than sex as the undiscovered country. New Tricks walked so that The Split, Last Tango in Halifax, Happy Valley, The Thursday Murder Club and Ride or Die might run. Now to this illustrious list we may add the wonderful Dalliance, an Australian six-parter beautifully written by Pip Karmel, Chris Lee, Liz Doran and Jock Serong, and directed with requisite subtlety by Emma Jackon and Matt Saville.
It stars Hugo Weaving as bonhomous retired cameraman Billy who is the catalyst for the reunion of enough old friends – all in their 60s – to provide viewers with a feast of storylines, hilarious and heartbreaking by turns, and all suffused with the kind of irreverence and honesty that makes you instantly devoted to the whole endeavour. Dani (Heather Mitchell) first meets Billy when he needs to hide under one of the tables she is catering on a ferry at a sailing event in Sydney Harbour. The man pursuing him (“Dickhead!”) is, he explains later, his brother Gary (David Wenham).
It’s about money and an inheritance and Gary’s history as a jailbird and addict. They’re all right really. His long-odds pick duly romps home and he takes her back to his place to meet his wife Rose (Georgie Parker) and raise a glass to their good fortune.
Billy falls asleep almost immediately. The women continue to bond over wine. Dani asks Rose if she can “borrow” Billy to use as her plus-one at an forthcoming do that promises, for unspecified reasons, to be a nightmare for her to attend alone.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
