The End (Australian TV series)

Last updated

The End
Genre Drama
Created by Samantha Strauss
Written by Samantha Strauss
Directed by
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10 (list of episodes)
Production
Producers
  • Carol Hughes
  • Louise Smith
Running time30 minutes
Production company See-Saw Films
Original release
Network
ReleaseFebruary 10, 2020 (2020-02-10) –
present (present)

The End is an Australian television drama series that premiered on Fox Showcase and Sky Atlantic in February 2020. The 10-part series was created and written by Samantha Strauss and produced by See-Saw Films. It was directed by Jessica M. Thompson and Jonathan Brough and stars Frances O'Connor, Harriet Walter and Noni Hazlehurst. [1] [2]

Contents

The End centres around three generations of family trying their best to navigate how to live meaningfully and die with dignity. The show was praised for its depiction of ageing and exploration of complex themes including euthanasia and suicide. [3] [4] [5] The inspiration for the show came from Strauss's experience watching her grandmother go through life changes after moving into a retirement village she thought she would hate. [6]

Synopsis

English doctor Kate Brennan (Frances O'Connor), a senior registrar specialising in palliative care medicine in Australia, is passionate in her opposition to euthanasia. Her mother, Edie Henley (Harriet Walter) who lives in England, is just as passionate about her right to die. After an incident occurs, Kate must bring Edie out to Australia to be closer to the family. Edie is placed in a nearby retirement village, which is her worst nightmare. Kate struggles with her own problems and children, while trying to find a way back to a relationship with her mother. [7]

Cast and characters

Harriet Walter (pictured) Harriet Walter - Actress.jpg
Harriet Walter (pictured)

Themes

Euthanasia

The End explores the topic of euthanasia and what it means to die with dignity. [8] Euthanasia in Australia has been subject to significant political and public debate. [9] [10] At the time of the show's creation, Queensland, where the show takes place, was the only state in Australia to have not considered any bills relating to Voluntary Assisted Dying. [11] Since the show's release, Queensland has introduced legislation surrounding Euthanasia. [12] The Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 is scheduled to come into effect in 2023. [12]

In the first episode Kate is faced with a moral dilemma, when she is made aware of her patient Beth's (Brooke Satchwell) intention to have a voluntary assisted death. [13] Beth and her husband Josh (Luke Arnold) ask Kate to test the illegal drug they had acquired to ensure its safety when they learn of Kate's strong opposition to euthanasia. [13] "I hate that argument. She's not a dog" is Kate's response when Josh compares the situation to putting down a suffering animal. [14] Later, Kate is seen killing an injured bat in her backyard to end its pain. [14]

Suicide

Suicide appears many times throughout the show. The End opens with a depressed Edie Henley's unsuccessful attempt to end her own life. [14] As the show continues, so does Edie's attempts, as she struggles to find meaning in her life after her husband's death and the discovery of his previous infidelities. [3] It is revealed that Oberon (Morgan Davies) has recently attempted to end his own life, which brings his relationship with Edie closer. [14] The portrayal of suicide in media has been found to have a positive impact on suicide awareness and help-seeking behaviour. [15]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date  [16]
1"Do Not Resuscitate" Jessica M Thompson Samantha Strauss February 10, 2020 (2020-02-10)
Recently widowed Edie Henley, tries to take her own life but is unsuccessful, burning her house down in the process. Edie's daughter Kate flies her out to Australia to be closer to her family. Kate's patient Beth and her husband Josh, asks her to test a drug they intend to use to end Beth's life. Kate is strongly opposed and confiscates the drug. Later, Beth hangs herself in the hospital.
2"Toxic Shock Syndrome" Jessica M Thompson Samantha Strauss February 17, 2020 (2020-02-17)
Edie meets Pamela, a free spirit who changes her perspective. Oberon takes magic mushrooms and gets stuck after climbing the surfers paradise sign. Edie, Pamela and Persephone perform a rescue mission. Kate fights for her reputation after Beth's death is investigated. Kate attends Beth's wake where an angry Josh kicks her out, blaming Beth's undiginified death on her.
3"**** Christmas" Jessica M Thompson Samantha Strauss February 24, 2020 (2020-02-24)
Art learns he has vascular dementia. Oberon is lovesick. Edie agrees to be Pamela's back-up singer at the retirement village's annual Christmas show. Josh takes Kate to a support group for the terminally ill to gain a new perspective. Kate must intervene after Josh faces complications assisting with the death of a terminally ill patient from the support group.
4"Polar Bear"Jonathan Brough Samantha Strauss March 2, 2020 (2020-03-02)
Having turned sixteen, Oberon has the right to start hormone treatment with the permission of both parents. Kate visits Oberon's father in jail to seek his permission, but they are at odds over Oberon's future. Pamela takes Edie on an adventure, where she learns more about Edie's past. A confused Art spends the day doing fun activities, before being escorted home by the police. Kate offers Edie the drug she confiscated from Beth after testing it.
5"To Be / Not To Be" Jessica M Thompson Samantha Strauss March 9, 2020 (2020-03-09)
With the drug in her possession, Edie gets a new lease on life. Compiling a list of the pros and cons of staying alive. Avoiding Pamela, Edie makes new friends at the retirement village. Kate and Josh take a new step in their relationship. After a trip to Art's new hospice Edie asks Kate for help.
6"Art vs. Life"Jonathan Brough Samantha Strauss March 16, 2020 (2020-03-16)
Kate is outraged by Edie's proposition to assist Art with ending his life. Speaking with Art changes her mind, and she allows him to take his future into his own hands. After crafting a plan with Edie and Kate, Art takes the drug at the park and passes away. Kate's relationship with Josh continues to grow.
7"Blood Sandwich"Jonathan Brough Samantha Strauss March 23, 2020 (2020-03-23)
Kate and Eddie work together to cook more of the euthanasia drug. Oberon turns to Edie after a romantic encounter on a camping trip goes wrong. With the help of Edie and Josh, Kate meets with more terminally ill people who may benefit from the drug she possesses.
8"Metastasized"Jonathan Brough Samantha Strauss March 30, 2020 (2020-03-30)
The police show up at Kate's door. Oberon and Kate are at odds after it is discovered he has been forging her signature to write prescriptions. At a party Edie gives the euthanasia drug to Iris, a village resident, whose husband wishes to end his suffering. Iris, a healthy women ends up taking the drug alongside her husband, causing Edie to panic. Edie and Pamela reconnect and take things to a new level. Kate is unwell.
9"With Sparkles" Jessica M Thompson Samantha Strauss April 6, 2020 (2020-04-06)
A struggling Kate turns to drinking for the first time in years, believing she has cancer. The retirement village is raided by the police. Dawn is suspicious of Edie's involvement in distributing the euthanasia drug. Meanwhile, Oberon deals with a heartbreak. During a storm, an emotional Oberon runs into the ocean. Persephone follows after him and goes missing under the water.
10"Picking Scabs" Jessica M Thompson Samantha Strauss April 13, 2020 (2020-04-13)
Persephone is in hospital after nearly drowning from following Oberon into the ocean. Edie and Kate make amends, with Edie realising there are some moments worth living for. Dawn searches Edie's house and finds the euthanasia drugs. Kate learns her cancer fear was actually menopause. Later, Dawn poisons her husband with the drugs she found at Edie's house but ends up regretting it, calling Edie for help.

International release

In United States, the series premiered on July 18, 2021, on Showtime. [17] It is also available to stream on Crave in Canada as of July 18, 2021. [18]

Reception

Critical response

Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator, reported an average approval rating of 76% based on 16 critics, with an average rating of 7.2/10. [19] The website's critic consensus reads "The End's cynical take on life and death may not be as deep as it thinks itself to be, but sharp performances and a few genuinely surprising insights almost make up for it". [19] On Metacritic, it holds a weighted average mark of 59 out of 100 based on 8 critics. [20]

Globally the show received mixed reviews. One review for the Boston Globe reported that the storyline is "too dense at times" but the shows writing is "consistently perceptive". [21] A review for Variety reports the show "can't quite find its tone" but also praises the performance of Harriet Walter and Frances O'Connor for having a "purifying effect". [22] Writing in Roger Ebert, Brian Tallerico criticises the depth of the shows writing, stating that some scenes felt "over-scripted" and "superficial" [23]

The Wrap calls The End "an engrossing watch", praising the way the show presents the complex conversations surrounding life and death and the performance of the cast. The review also writes that some of the writers decisions could have been different to allow the show to come together more meaningfully. [24]

Awards and nominations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assisted suicide</span> Suicide undertaken with aid from another person

Assisted suicide – alternately referred to as medical aid in dying – means a procedure in which people take medications to end their own lives with the help of others, usually medical professionals. The term usually refers to physician-assisted suicide (PAS), which is an end of life measure for a person suffering a painful, terminal illness. Once it is determined that the person's situation qualifies under the physician-assisted suicide laws for that location, the physician's assistance is usually limited to writing a prescription for a lethal dose of drugs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Nitschke</span> Australian doctor (born 1947)

Philip Haig Nitschke is an Australian humanist, author, former physician, and founder and director of the pro-euthanasia group Exit International. He campaigned successfully to have a legal euthanasia law passed in Australia's Northern Territory and assisted four people in ending their lives before the law was overturned by the Government of Australia. Nitschke was the first doctor in the world to administer a legal, voluntary, lethal injection, after which the patient activated the syringe using a computer. Nitschke states that he and his group are regularly subject to harassment by authorities. In 2015, Nitschke burned his medical practising certificate in response to what he saw as onerous conditions that violated his right to free speech, imposed on him by the Medical Board of Australia. Nitschke has been referred to in the media as "Dr Death" or "the Elon Musk of assisted suicide".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995</span> Law of the Northern Territory, Australia

The Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995 (NT) was a controversial law legalising euthanasia in the Northern Territory of Australia, which was passed by the territory's Parliament in 1995. The Act was passed by the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly on 25 May 1995 by a vote of 15 to 10, received the Administrator's assent on 16 June 1995, and entered into force on 1 July 1996. A year later, a repeal bill was brought before the Northern Territory Parliament in August 1996, but was defeated by 14 votes to 11.

The right to die is a concept based on the opinion that human beings are entitled to end their life or undergo voluntary euthanasia. Possession of this right is often understood that a person with a terminal illness, incurable pain, or without the will to continue living, should be allowed to end their own life, use assisted suicide, or to decline life-prolonging treatment. The question of who, if anyone, may be empowered to make this decision is often the subject of debate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frances O'Connor</span> Australian actress

Frances Ann O'Connor is an English–born Australian actress and director. She is best known for her roles in the films Mansfield Park, Bedazzled, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Timeline. O'Connor won an AACTA Award for her performance in Blessed, and also earned two Golden Globe Award nominations for her performances in Madame Bovary and The Missing. In 2022, her debut feature as writer and director, Emily was released.

Voluntary euthanasia is the ending of a person's life at their request in order to relieve them of suffering. Voluntary euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) have been the focus of intense debate in recent years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noni Hazlehurst</span> Australian actress

Leonie Elva "Noni" Hazlehurst, is an Australian actress, director, writer, presenter and broadcaster who has appeared on television and radio, in dramas, mini-series and made for television films, as well also on stage and in feature films since the early 1970s. Hazlehurst has been honoured with numerous awards including Australian Film Institute Awards, ARIA Awards and Logies, including being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suicide legislation</span> Laws concerning suicide around the world

Suicide is a crime in some parts of the world. However, while suicide has been decriminalized in many countries, the act is almost universally stigmatized and discouraged. In some contexts, suicide could be utilized as an extreme expression of liberty, as is exemplified by its usage as an expression of devout dissent towards perceived tyranny or injustice which occurred occasionally in cultures such as ancient Rome, medieval Japan, or today's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Involuntary Euthanasia is currently illegal in all 50 states of the United States. Assisted suicide is legal in 10 jurisdictions in the US: Washington, D.C. and the states of California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, New Mexico, Maine, New Jersey, Hawaii, and Washington. The status of assisted suicide is disputed in Montana, though currently authorized per the Montana Supreme Court's ruling in Baxter v. Montana that "nothing in Montana Supreme Court precedent or Montana statutes [indicates] that physician aid in dying is against public policy."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dignity in Dying</span> UK pro-euthanasia organisation

Dignity in Dying is a United Kingdom nationwide campaigning organisation. It is funded by voluntary contributions from members of the public, and as of December 2010, it claimed to have 25,000 actively subscribing supporters. The organisation declares it is independent of any political, religious or other affiliations, and has the stated primary aim of campaigning for individuals to have greater choice and more control over end-of-life decisions, so as to alleviate any suffering they may be undergoing as they near the end of their life.

Bernice Waverley is a fictional character from the Australian drama series City Homicide, played by Noni Hazlehurst. She made her first screen appearance in the pilot episode "In The Hands Of Giants Pt 1", which was broadcast on 28 August 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legality of euthanasia</span>

The legality of euthanasia varies depending on the country. Efforts to change government policies on euthanasia of humans in the 20th and 21st centuries have met limited success in Western countries. Human euthanasia policies have also been developed by a variety of NGOs, most notably medical associations and advocacy organizations. As of 2023, euthanasia is legal in Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain and all six states of Australia. Euthanasia was briefly legal in the Northern Territory between 1996 and 1997, but was overturned by a federal law. In 2021, a Peruvian court allowed euthanasia for a single person, Ana Estrada.

Euthanasia became legal in New Zealand when the End of Life Choice Act 2019 took full effect on 7 November 2021. It is illegal to "aid and abet suicide" under Section 179 of the New Zealand Crimes Act 1961. The clauses of this act make it an offence to "incite, procure or counsel" and "aid and abet" someone else to commit suicide, regardless of whether a suicide attempt is made or not. Section 179 covers both coercion to undertake assisted suicide and true suicide, such as that caused by bullying. This will not change under the End of Life Choices Act 2019, which has provisions on coercion of terminally ill people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Euthanasia in Australia</span> Legal history of euthanasia in Australia

Laws regarding euthanasia or assisted suicide in Australia are matters for state and territory governments. As of November 2023 all states have implemented legislation creating an assisted suicide scheme for eligible individuals. These laws typically refer to assisted suicide as "voluntary assisted dying".

Critics of euthanasia sometimes claim that legalizing any form of the practice will lead to a slippery slope effect, resulting eventually in non-voluntary or even involuntary euthanasia. The slippery slope argument has been present in the euthanasia debate since at least the 1930s.

The Voluntary Euthanasia Party (VEP) was a minor political party in Australia, founded in early 2013 by Corey McCann to advocate for legislative change to allow voluntary euthanasia in Australia. The party's inception was strongly supported by Dr Philip Nitschke, director of Exit International and Richard Mills, then President of Dying with Dignity NSW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (Victoria)</span>

On 29 November 2017, Victoria became the first Australian state to pass legislation allowing assisted suicide. The law gives anyone suffering a terminal illness, with less than six months to live, the right to end their life. The law had an 18-month implementation period, and came into effect on 19 June 2019.

<i>Ladies in Black</i> (film) 2018 Australian film

Ladies in Black is a 2018 Australian comedy-drama film directed by Bruce Beresford. Starring Angourie Rice, Rachael Taylor, Julia Ormond, Ryan Corr and Shane Jacobson, the film is based on the 1993 novel The Women in Black by Madeleine St John, and tells the story of a group of department store employees in 1959 Sydney. The film was released on 20 September 2018.

The Twelve is an Australian television drama series on Fox Showcase. The series is produced by Ian Collie, Rob Gibson and Ally Henville, with executive producers Michael Brooks and Hamish Lewis and Liz Watts. The series was renewed for a second season in June 2023.

June Again is a 2021 Australian comedy film co-written and directed by JJ Winlove.

References

  1. 1 2 3 White, Peter (26 September 2018). "'The Crown's Harriet Walter & 'Mr Selfridge's Frances O'Connor To Star In Sky/Foxtel Family Drama 'The End'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 The End (Drama), See-Saw Films, 18 July 2021, retrieved 2 December 2021
  3. 1 2 Northover, Kylie (2 February 2021). "Profound and playful, The End is a comedy ... about euthanasia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  4. ↑ "The End review – spiky, witty drama on death that sometimes shifts into the absurd". the Guardian. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  5. ↑ Long, Camilla. "TV review: The Pale Horse; The Split; The End; Cooking with Paris". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  6. ↑ "Love, sex and the secret life of retirees". ABC Radio. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Byrnes, Holly (26 September 2018). "Foxtel will tackle the euthanasia debate in a provocative new drama series, The End". news.com.au. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  8. ↑ "The End review – spiky, witty drama on death that sometimes shifts into the absurd". the Guardian. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  9. ↑ White, Ben; Willmott, Lindy (23 November 2018). "Future of assisted dying reform in Australia". Australian Health Review. 42 (6): 616–620. doi: 10.1071/AH18199 . ISSN   1449-8944. PMID   30465706. S2CID   53716834.
  10. ↑ Kresin, Tracee; Hawgood, Jacinta; De Leo, Diego; Varghese, Frank (24 November 2021). "Attitudes and Arguments in the Voluntary Assisted Dying Debate in Australia: What Are They and How Have They Evolved Over Time?". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18 (23): 12327. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182312327 . ISSN   1660-4601. PMC   8656893 . PMID   34886053.
  11. ↑ Andrew, Willmott, Lindy White, Ben Stackpoole, Christopher Purser, Kelly McGee (2016). (Failed) voluntary euthanasia law reform in Australia: Two decades of trends, models and politics. Law School, University of New South Wales. OCLC   1287981136.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. 1 2 "Queensland becomes fifth Australian state to legalise voluntary assisted dying". SBS News. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  13. 1 2 "The End review – spiky, witty drama on death that sometimes shifts into the absurd". the Guardian. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "TV Review: The End strikes an odd tone with tricky themes". ScreenHub Australia. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  15. ↑ Posselt, Miriam; McIntyre, Heather; Procter, Nicholas (2021). "The impact of screen media portrayals of suicide on viewers: A rapid review of the evidence". Health & Social Care in the Community. 29 (1): 28–41. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13112 . ISSN   1365-2524. PMID   32716609. S2CID   220798558.
  16. ↑ "The End – Listings". Next Episode. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  17. ↑ "Showtime(R) to Debut Dark Comedy "The End" on Sunday, July 18" (Press release). Showtime. 20 May 2021 – via The Futon Critic.
  18. ↑ Wilner, Norman; Ritchie, Kevin (24 June 2021). "What's coming to Crave in July 2021". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  19. 1 2 The End , retrieved 14 December 2021
  20. ↑ The End , retrieved 16 December 2021
  21. ↑ Gilbert, Matthew (20 July 2021). "Drawn to the light in Showtime's 'The End' - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  22. ↑ D'Addario, Daniel (18 July 2021). "Showtime's 'The End,' a Dark Comedy From Australia, Can't Quite Find Its Tone: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  23. ↑ Tallerico, Brian. "Showtime's The End Feels Like It Never Will | TV/Streaming | Roger Ebert". rogerebert.com. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  24. ↑ "'The End' TV Review: Reopening the Kevorkian Debate Through a Rich Family Drama". 14 July 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  25. 1 2 "Winners & Nominees". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.