No Place Like Home (Wentworth)

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"No Place Like Home"
Wentworth episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 1
Directed byKevin Carlin
Written by Pete McTighe
Original air date1 May 2013 (2013-05-01)
Running time46 minutes
Guest appearances
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"No Place Like Home" is the first episode of the Australian TV series Wentworth . This episode introduces the major characters and focuses on protagonist Bea Smith being introduced to and trying to fit into prison life, while flashbacks reveal her domestic abuse at the hands of her husband and the circumstances that result in her coming to Wentworth.

Contents

Plot

The episode begins with Bea Smith being transported to Wentworth Prison. Just after arriving, she witnesses another prisoner in the van giving a guard oral sex in exchange for cigarettes. Bea is then processed by Will Jackson; when she realizes she hasn't spoken to her daughter Debbie, she becomes hysterical and has to be sedated.

The next day, Bea is taken to her unit by Deputy Governor Vera Bennett. Bea is shocked to find Franky Doyle and Kim Chang having sex in her cell. Franky, the head of her unit, mocks Bea's name, but shows interest upon learning that Bea is a hairdresser. Bea then meets the other members of the unit, including Liz Birdsworth, Sue "Boomer" Jenkins, and Doreen Anderson. Bea offends Doreen a little when she notes that she wouldn't want Debbie seeing the inside of a prison, as Doreen has her daughter Kaiya living in the unit with her.

Franky intimidates Bea into acting as a drug mule, receiving a balloon from a stranger during a conjugal visit. Governor Meg Jackson, who is determined to crack down on drug trafficking, observes Bea taking the drugs on CCTV and eventually catches her with them. Bea refuses to implicate Franky and Meg decides to "slot" her in solitary, where Bea overhears Jacqueline "Jacs" Holt singing On the Inside (the theme song of Prisoner, the series that inspired Wentworth). Will arrives with breakfast the next morning and, during a smoke break, tells Bea that her silent approach is the best way to be, especially with the women. When Bea again refuses to implicate Franky, she is returned to the unit, having earned the respect of Franky and her crew.

Meg, against the concerns of the staff and especially prisoner advocate Erica Davidson, releases Jacs from the slot early as another attempt to weaken Franky's hold on the drug trade. Jacs attempts to intimidate Bea and turn her into a servant, but Bea, remembering how her husband used to do the same, refuses to be cowed, humiliating Jacs in front of the other prisoners. Jacs then promises retribution against Franky, who set her up to be slotted.

Franky, seeing Jacs as too big a threat to leave alone, rallies support to start a riot, despite Liz's objections. A massive fight breaks out in the yard and Doreen leaves Kaiya with Bea while she joins Franky. Jacs avoids the riot and is confronted in her cell by Franky, who is then overpowered by two of Jacs' crew. Jacs starts to cut off Franky's tattoos, but is stopped when Boomer intervenes.

Bea loses track of Kaiya and, while searching for her, trips over a dead body, which turns out to be that of Meg Jackson. The episode ends with Will crying over his wife's body, while Bea, covered in Meg's blood, stands in shock.

Flashbacks

Bea is regularly subjected to physical and sexual abuse by her husband Harry, flashbacks of which are occasionally triggered by events in the present. Bea works up the courage to try and kill Harry by drugging him, tying him up in his car and filling the garage with exhaust fumes, but cannot bring herself to follow through and saves him while Debbie calls for an ambulance.

Harry later tells the police that he was feeling suicidal, but continues to hit Bea when they are alone.

Reception

TV Equals described this episode as "Things have been changed to suit modern sensibilities, of course, and this updated series has been stripped of the campy sets, dialogue and black humour and populated instead with sex, violence and a heroine with a journey to go on. That’s Bea Smith, a woman who has been put away for the attempted murder of her abusive husband, and her experience in this first episode will surely inform her future trajectory up the hierarchy of her new surroundings. But first she’ll have to contend with warring queen bees Franky and Jacs, whose confrontation this week results in the death of a warden." [1]

Elaine Atwell, writing for AfterEllen, said " I tell you this not to scare you off, but to caution you that if you’re looking for a show to fill the OINTB-shaped hole in your heart, this one is actually likely to wound you much deeper. Anyway, welcome to Wentworth prison. Let’s jump right into the trauma, shall we?" [2]

John Crace writing for The Guardian stated "Just with more lesbians, more tattoos and more violence. And fewer sets that wobbled any time someone accidentally knocked into them. I can't believe this is the best drama being made in Australia right now, but I also can't believe that the only place in the whole prison without CCTV is the exact spot where Governor Jackson got knifed, shortly after snogging one of her wardens – male, surprisingly – in her office. It was also disturbing to find the lead character – wrongly banged up, obviously – looking like a young Rebekah Brooks. If you like this sort of thing, you're in for a treat. I rather preferred the wobbly sets." [3]

Ian Hollingshead writing for The Telegraph said "The final showdown between Franky (Nicole da Silva) and Jacs (Kris McQuade), a young tattooed lesbian and a schoolmarmish matron, laced with malice as they fought over who would be top dog, was so compelling – and the cliffhanger so agonising – that it would be a crime to miss the next instalment." [4]

Ratings

Wentworth drew in 244,000 viewers for its premiere. [5] Meanwhile, Foxtel spokesperson Jamie Campbell said that "more people watched Wentworth last night than any other Australian drama series premiere in Foxtel history". [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Prisoner</i> (TV series) Australian television drama series

Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera, which broadcast on Network Ten from February 27 (Melbourne) February 26 (Sydney) 1979 to December 1986 (Melbourne), though the series finale would not screen until September 1987 in Sydney, where it aired as a three-hour film that was split into three one-hour episodes at the much-later time-slot of 10:30 p.m., running eight seasons and 692 episodes.

<i>Wentworth</i> (TV series) Australian television series

Wentworth is an Australian television drama series. It was first broadcast on SoHo on 1 May 2013, and it concluded on Fox Showcase with its 100th episode on 26 October 2021. The series serves as a contemporary reimagining of Prisoner, which ran on Network Ten from 1979 to 1986. Lara Radulovich and David Hannam developed Wentworth from Reg Watson's original concept. The series is set in the modern day and initially focuses on Bea Smith's early days in prison and her subsequent rise to the top of the prison's hierarchy. From the fifth season onward, the series shifted to emphasize more of an ensemble format.

<i>Wentworth</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of the crime drama television series Wentworth originally aired on SoHo in Australia. The season consisted of 10 episodes and aired between 1 May and 3 July 2013. It was executively produced by FremantleMedia's director of drama Jo Porter. The series is a remake of Prisoner, which aired on Network Ten from 1979 to 1986. Lara Radulovich and David Hannam developed Wentworth from Reg Watson's original concept. The season was shot over four months from 10 October 2012.

<i>Wentworth</i> (season 2) Season of television series

The second season of the crime drama television series "Wentworth" premiered on May 20, 2014, on the Australian network SoHo. The season, consisting of 12 episodes, was executive produced by Jo Porter, Fremantle Media's director of drama. The storyline continues three months after Bea Smith's actions in the previous season, including the murder of Jacs Holt, and the rise of Franky Doyle as the top dog among the inmates. The introduction of a new governor, Joan Ferguson, brings further complexity to the season's events. The season received an average IMDb rating of 8.4-9.5 and gained several nominations and awards.

Bea Smith (<i>Wentworth</i>) Fictional character

Bea Smith is a fictional character from the Australian television drama Wentworth, portrayed by Danielle Cormack. She was introduced in the first episode of the series "No Place Like Home", broadcast in May 2013. Bea is notable for her storylines of being abused by her husband Harry, avenging the death of her daughter by murdering Brayden Holt and being the top dog in Wentworth Prison. Bea has had rivalries with Franky Doyle, Jacs Holt, Kaz Proctor and Joan Ferguson. Bea was the central character in Wentworth until her exit at the end of Season 4.

Franky Doyle (<i>Wentworth</i>) Fictional character

Francesca Rose Doyle is a main character, former protagonist and a former prisoner of Wentworth Correctional Centre. She served mainly as the primary antagonist for season 2, before becoming a protagonist for season 3. In season 4, Franky was released from Wentworth after she fought for her innocence, and began her career as a legal aide. She returned for seasons 5 and 6 as the series' main protagonist, until her release and subsequent departure from the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxine Conway</span> Fictional character

Maxine Conway is a recurring character from Wentworth, portrayed by actor Socratis Otto. Maxine is notable for being Bea Smith's bodyguard and also for being transgender within the series. She was dating Gary until she stabbed him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacs Holt</span> Character in the TV series Wentworth

Jacqueline Holt is a character in Wentworth and serves as the main antagonist in the first season. Jacs was notable for being the first known top dog in Wentworth and for her rivalries with Franky Doyle and Bea Smith. Jacs was portrayed by Kris McQuade.

Bridget Westfall is a recurring character in Australian television drama Wentworth. Bridget is introduced as the prison's new psychologist to help the inmates. She is portrayed by Libby Tanner. Bridget is notable for her relationship with Franky Doyle, which proved popular with fans of the television series. Other main storylines have involved Bridget's friendship with prison officer/governor Vera Bennett, Bridget's support and assistance to other prisoners, and helping to reveal Ferguson's true colors.

Jessica Warner is a fictional character from the Australian television series Wentworth, portrayed by Georgia Chara. She made her first appearance during the season episode "The Danger Within," broadcast on 10 June 2014. Jess was murdered in the final episode of the third season.

William Jackson is a character in Wentworth Prison. Will is portrayed by Robbie Magasiva. Will is notable for his friendships with Matthew Fletcher and Bea Smith. Will has also been involved in a one-sided rivalry with Joan Ferguson.

Joan Ferguson (<i>Wentworth</i>) Fictional character

Joan Ferguson is a fictional character in the Australian television series Wentworth, who serves as the main antagonist from season two to season five. Joan is portrayed by actress Pamela Rabe. Her storylines centre on rivalries with Will Jackson, Bea Smith and most staff and inmates. She is introduced in Season 2 as the new Governor of Wentworth Prison following Erica Davidson being fired but becomes a prisoner in Season 4 and remained until the end of the fifth season. The character was presumed dead between the sixth and seventh season, when she was revealed to be alive in the latter. She returned in the eight and final season.

Karen "Kaz" Proctor is a main character in the television series Wentworth. Kaz is introduced as one of Bea's supporters and is in a vigilante group called The Red Right Hand. Kaz is portrayed by Tammy MacIntosh. Kaz's main storylines have centred on her idolizing of Bea Smith and being a vigilante against men who abuse women.

"Fear Her" is the twelfth episode of the second season of the Australian television drama Wentworth, and the twenty-second episode overall. The plot of the episode sees Bea Smith take her revenge against Brayden Holt after escaping from the hospital during the previous episode. Other storylines focus on Franky Doyle's downfall as top dog, Doreen Anderson telling Nash Taylor about their baby, and Liz Birdsworth being re-arrested after being found in possession of a murder weapon.

"First Blood" is the thirty-fifth episode of the Australian drama series Wentworth. It is also the first episode of the show's fourth season, and was broadcast on 10 May 2016. The episode's story begins four months after the events of the previous episode, "Blood and Fire". "First Blood" saw the introduction of Kate Jenkinson's character Allie Novak, former prison Governor Joan returning as an inmate and the beginning of a rivalry between central character Bea Smith and Kaz Proctor. The episode also includes scenes set outside the prison, which follow Franky Doyle, a former inmate who is released on parole. It was the first episode of the show to be filmed at a new rebuilt set. It has received generally positive reviews from television critics. Reviews regarding scenes in which Joan is incarcerated in a glass-walled cell were less favourable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allie Novak</span> Fictional character

Allie Novak is a fictional character from the Australian drama series Wentworth, played by Kate Jenkinson. She made her first appearance during the fourth season episode titled, "First Blood", broadcast on 10 May 2016. The character was introduced as a new prison inmate and friend of Kaz Proctor, participating in their vigilante group, which has a vested interest in protecting women. One story writers developed for Allie was a romance with then-central character Bea Smith, a pairing that television critic Elaine Atwell has praised.

<i>Wentworth</i> (season 7) Season of television series

The seventh season of television drama series Wentworth premiered on Fox Showcase in Australia on 28 May 2019. It is executive produced by FremantleMedia's director of drama, Jo Porter. The seventh season picks up a few months after the events of last season's finale, the presumed closure of the case of Joan Ferguson and the subsequent arrest of former acting Governor, Derek Channing.

References

  1. ↑ "Wentworth Prison series 1 channel 5 review No Place Like Home". TV Equals. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  2. ↑ ""Wentworth" recap (1.1): Teal is the new orange". AfterEllen . 29 August 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  3. ↑ Crace, John (29 August 2013). "Martin Luther King and the March on Washington; MLK: The Assassination Tapes; Wentworth Prison – TV review". The Guardian . Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  4. ↑ Hollingshead, Ian (29 August 2013). "Wentworth Prison, Channel 5, review". The Telegraph. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Wentworth breaks out with a bang as Arrow strikes for Nine". Sydney Morning Herald . 2 May 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
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