Mother and Son (2023 TV series)

Last updated

Mother and Son
Genre Sitcom
Created by
Based on Mother and Son
by Geoffrey Atherden
Written by
Directed by
Starring
Composers
  • Jordie Lane
  • Clare Reynolds
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
  • Jude Troy
  • Richard Finlayson
  • Matt Okine
  • Todd Abbott
  • Louise Smith
  • Geoffrey Atherden
Producers
  • Jude Troy
  • Alexandra Cameron
CinematographyDrew English
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companyWooden Horse productions
Original release
Network ABC
Release23 August 2023 (2023-08-23) –
present
Related
Mother and Son

Mother and Son is an Australian television sitcom reboot of the series of the same name broadcast on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) since 23 August 2023. [1] The series stars Denise Scott and Matt Okine as Maggie and Arthur, respectively. [2] [3]

Contents

Filming for the series began in Sydney in March 2023. [4] Unlike the original series which filmed on a sound stage with a multi-camera setup with an audience, the series is filmed as a single-camera setup.

Plot

Following a breakup from his long-suffering girlfriend, Arthur puts his future on hold to move back home with his widowed mother, Maggie. Arthur and his older sister, Robbie, attempt to care for Maggie, who may recently have almost burnt down the kitchen, but still runs circles around her children. [5]

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateAus. viewers
1"Pilot"Neil Sharma Matt Okine 23 August 2023 (2023-08-23)441,000 [6]
When Maggie sets fire to the kitchen, her recently-single son, Arthur moves back into the family home where eccentric Maggie calls all the shots.
2"Donation"Neil SharmaMatt Okine & Sarah Walker 30 August 2023 (2023-08-30)344,000 [7]
Maggie tries to inspire a visit from her grandchildren, while Robbie seeks a sperm donation from Arthur for her friends, a lesbian couple.
3"Tracking Maggie"Neil SharmaMatt Okine & Tristram Baumber 6 September 2023 (2023-09-06)304,000 [8]
Maggie keeps going missing, leaving Arthur and Robbie to get creative in their attempts to keep track of her so Arthur can go on a date. Arthur meets Maya, whose family has taken over the dance studio that Maggie frequents.
4"The Lodger"Neil SharmaMatt Okine13 September 2023 (2023-09-13)282,000 [9]
Arthur battles with his identity when Maggie takes in a Ghanaian lodger at her house. Maggie and her new 'son' decide to run a Ghanaian food stall at the local markets. Arthur helps Dee pack for her move to Canberra.
5"Bodies" Kriv Stenders Matt Okine & Sarah Walker20 September 2023 (2023-09-20)265,000 [10]
Arthur and Maggie both engage in sexual misadventures with disastrous results. Maggie is horrified to learn that Leo's restaurant has been leased. Robbie tries to convince Maggie to sign over her Power of Attorney.
6"Test"Kriv SendersSarah Walker27 September 2023 (2023-09-27)258,000 [11]
Maggie and Arthur aren't speaking to each other after Arthur finds out Maggie's plans to take her health into her own hands.
7"Roadtrip"Kriv SendersMatt Okine & Tristram Baumber4 October 2023 (2023-10-04)253,000 [12]
Arthur is determined not to take Maggie to Canberra with him to visit his ex, Dee, but Maggie has other plans. Maggie fears she is becoming 'invisible'. Arthur comes to terms with the nature of his relationship with Dee.
8"Bad Influence"Kriv SendersTristram Baumber11 October 2023 (2023-10-11)254,000 [13]
Arthur is concerned that Maggie's friend Heather may be a bad influence. Robbie's marriage faces a crisis after Arthur unwittingly gets involved. Maggie and Heather cause chaos at Tony and Maya's new restaurant.

Reception

A reviewer on The Guardian Australia wrote of the series that, 'As a remake it's lacklustre (and not a patch on the original), but as its own production, doing its own thing, it’s modestly entertaining.' He went on to conclude that, 'The new Mother and Son is at its best when focusing on interpersonal dynamics and snarky back-and-forth between the titular characters. Scott and Okine both do a good job, bringing likability and some charisma. But talk about a poisoned chalice. The genius of McDonald and Cracknell is even more apparent now that others have performed in their shadows.' [14]

A Sydney Morning Herald reviewer wrote that, 'For a sitcom, this Mother and Son is not necessarily funny; in fact, it's low-key depressing. A lot of the gags sit there without a sharp pay-off, lending the series […] a flat energy that might be the best argument yet for the return of the TV laugh track.' However, he continued to write that, 'The series feels significant in broaching those icky topics we'd often rather ignore,' and concluded by acknowledging that, 'The show's overarching pleasantness is reason to stick with it [...] Despite its famous template, this version feels like a breath of fresh air.' [15]

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References

  1. ↑ Vann-Wall, Silvi (12 July 2023). "New Mother and Son series coming to ABC this winter". Screenhub. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  2. ↑ Knox, David (24 November 2022). "2023 Upfronts: ABC". TV Tonight . Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  3. ↑ Molk, Steve (24 November 2022). "UPFRONT: Everything from the ABC in 2023". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Knox, David (8 March 2022). "Production begins on Mother & Son reboot". TV Tonight . Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  5. ↑ Knox, David (11 July 2023). "Airdate: Mother & Son". TV Tonight . Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  6. ↑ Knox, David (24 August 2023). "Wednesday 23 August 2023". TV Tonight . Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  7. ↑ Knox, David (31 August 2023). "Wednesday 30 August 2023". TV Tonight . Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  8. ↑ Knox, David (7 September 2023). "Wednesday 6 September 2023". TV Tonight . Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  9. ↑ Knox, David (14 September 2023). "Wednesday 13 September 2023". TV Tonight . Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  10. ↑ Knox, David (21 September 2023). "Wednesday 20 September 2023". TV Tonight . Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  11. ↑ Knox, David (28 September 2023). "Wednesday 27 September 2023". TV Tonight . Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  12. ↑ Knox, David (5 October 2023). "Wednesday 4 October 2023". TV Tonight . Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  13. ↑ Knox, David (12 October 2023). "Wednesday 11 October 2023". TV Tonight . Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  14. ↑ Buckmaster, Luke (21 August 2023). "Mother and Son review – Matt Okine's remake can't hold a candle to the original". Guardian Australia . Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  15. ↑ Moran, Robert (17 August 2023). "The new Mother and Son reboot taps into Millennial-Boomer divide". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 31 October 2023.
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