The Bad Seed (TV series)

Last updated
The Bad Seed
Genre
Based onThe Night Book and Soon by Charlotte Grimshaw
Written by
  • Sarah Kate-Lynch
  • Joss King
  • Michael Beran
Directed by
  • Helena Brooks
  • Caroline Bell-Booth
  • Mike Smith
Starring
ComposerKarl Steven
Country of origin New Zealand
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes5 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Kelly Martin
  • Chris Bailey
ProducerRobin Scholes
Production location Auckland
CinematographyDave Garbett
Editors
  • Eric De Beus
  • Vito Nicholas
Running time42 mins. approx
Production companies
Original release
Network TVNZ 1
Release14 April (2019-04-14) 
18 April 2019 (2019-04-18)

The Bad Seed is a five-part New Zealand television crime drama series, based on the best selling novels The Night Book and Soon by Charlotte Grimshaw, [1] [2] that broadcast across five consecutive nights on TVNZ 1 from 14 April 2019. Starring Matt Minto and Dean O'Gorman in the leading roles, The Bad Seed follows the Lampton family, whose quiet suburban lifestyle is rocked by the murder of one of their neighbours, wealthy businessman's wife Julia Stevens. Also featured amongst the cast are Madeleine Sami, Jodie Hillock, Xavier Horan and Chelsie Preston Crayford. [3]

Contents

Casting for the series was announced in April 2018, with filming commencing shortly after. [4] The series' screenplay was co-written by Sarah-Kate Lynch, Joss King and Michael Beran, with Helena Brooks, Caroline Bell-Booth and Mike Smith serving as directors. [5] [6] Outside of New Zealand, the series premiered in the United Kingdom on Alibi on 14 May 2019, with episodes airing weekly at 9:00pm on Tuesdays. [7]

Plot

From outside the gates of their lush Remuera home, it would be easy to assume that the Lampton family have it all. There's Simon (Matt Minto), a respected obstetrician; Karen (Jodie Hillock), his beautiful, philanthropic wife; and Elke (Madeleine McCarthy) and Claire (Zoe Jansson Bush), their two bright teenage daughters. The home also holds enough room for Simon's less well-to-do older brother Ford (Dean O'Gorman) to stay with the family until he gets back on his feet. The Lamptons want for nothing, yet all is not as it seems in this upmarket suburb and, when neighbour Julia Stevens (Jackie Geurts) – a patient of Simon's - is found murdered in her own home, it sends shock waves through the community.

Worse still, as Detective Marie Da Silva (Madeleine Sami) gets her investigation underway, every clue seems to lead her back to the Lamptons – and in particular to Simon, who finds he may have been taking his privileged life for granted. What is Simon hiding? How have he and Ford been affected by their traumatic childhoods? And why has the enigmatic Roza Hallwright (Chelsie Preston Crayford), wife of soon-to-be next Prime Minister David Hallwright (Xavier Horan), taken such an interest in their troubled little family? As family secrets unravel and the Lampton's world begins to crumble, Detective DeSilva uncovers a web of lies spun by someone the Lamptons would never suspect.

Cast

Characters

Episodes

#TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateNZ Viewers
(thousands)
1"Episode 1"Helena BrooksSarah Kate-Lynch & Joss King14 April 2019 (2019-04-14)TBA
Simon Lampton looks like he has the ideal life, but everything unravels when neighbour, Julia Stevens, is murdered and Simon's dysfunctional childhood comes back to haunt him.
2"Episode 2"Mike SmithMichael Beran, Sarah Kate-Lynch & Joss King15 April 2019 (2019-04-15)TBA
Simon begins to lose it emotionally as police pressure intensifies and his personal life crumbles. Ford helps and hinders his brother. Meanwhile, Roza drops a bombshell on Simon.
3"Episode 3"Caroline Bell-BoothSarah Kate-Lynch, Michael Beran & Joss King16 April 2019 (2019-04-16)TBA
Roza finally confesses her secret to David. Karen's had enough of Simon's lying and kicks him out. Ford and Simon are forced to confront their violent father.
4"Episode 4"Caroline Bell-BoothSarah Kate-Lynch & Joss King17 April 2019 (2019-04-17)TBA
Karen and Roza declare war. Roza has an emotional breakdown and overdoses. Simon is suspected of the murder of an investigative journalist and Ford manipulates Simon's misfortune.
5"Episode 5"Mike SmithSarah Kate-Lynch & Joss King18 April 2019 (2019-04-18)TBA
Simon has a realisation about the murder but can't convince the cops. Roza has a double celebration on Election Day.

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References

  1. "The Bad Seed | Films | South Pacific | Pictures". southpacificpictures.com.
  2. "The indefinable Charlotte Grimshaw". Radio New Zealand. 8 April 2018.
  3. "Spy - NZ's home of celebrity news, entertainment and lifestyle". NZ Herald. 21 June 2023.
  4. "Cast revealed for new TVNZ 1 drama The Bad Seed". TVNZ.
  5. "Diversity key to last round of New Zealand on Air funding for 2017". Stuff. 11 December 2017.
  6. "The Bad Seed - 5x 1HR Television Series". South Pacific Pictures.
  7. "The Bad Seed - Alibi Channel". UKTV.