The Family Law
{{Short description|Australian TV comedy series}}
{{About|the 2016 Australian series|the 1999 American series|Family Law (American TV series){{!}}Family Law (American TV series)|the 2019 Canadian series|Family Law (Canadian TV series){{!}}Family Law (Canadian TV series)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| image_upright =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| genre = Sitcom
Comedy drama
| creator = Benjamin Law
| based_on = {{based on|The Family Law|Benjamin Law}}
| writer = {{Unbulleted list|Benjamin Law|Marieke Hardy|Kirsty Fisher|Lawrence Leung}}
| director = {{Unbulleted list|Jonathan Brough|Ben Chessell|Sophie Miller}}
| starring = {{Unbulleted list|Trystan Go|Fiona Choi|Anthony Brandon Wong|Shuang Hu|George Zhao|Karina Lee|Vivian Wei|Bethany Whitmore}}
| composer = Joff Bush
| country = Australia
| language = English
| num_series = 3
| num_episodes = 18
| executive_producer = {{Unbulleted list|Tony Ayres {{small|(series 1–2)}}|Debbie Lee}}
| producer = {{Unbulleted list|Julie Eckersley|Sophie Miller}}
| cinematography = Eric Murray Lui
| camera = Multi-camera
| runtime = 22-23 Minutes
| company = Matchbox Pictures
NBCUniversal International Studios
| budget =
| channel = SBS
| first_aired = {{Start date|2016|01|14|df=yes}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2019|01|12|df=yes}}
}}
The Family Law is an Australian comedy television program created by Benjamin Law. The six-part series, loosely adapted from Law's 2010 book of the same name, was written by Law and Marieke Hardy. The series was produced by Matchbox Pictures and screened on SBS from 14 January 2016. A second season of the show premiered on 15 June 2017. The third and final season of the show aired on 12 January 2019.{{cite web | title=Watch The Family Law, based on the best-selling book by Benjamin Law | website=Programs | date=8 December 2020 | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/programs/the-family-law | access-date=14 February 2021}} The show streams on Hulu in the US.{{Citation |title=The Family Law {{!}} Series Trailer {{!}} Hulu |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biBFRVu02VA |language=en |access-date=2022-04-07}}
Plot
The series follows the dysfunctional world of a Chinese-Australian family through the eyes of 14-year-old Benjamin Law. It is set on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, but filmed in Sunnybank Brisbane, over a long, hot summer the family will never forget. The family consists of Benjamin Law, eldest sister Candy, older brother Andrew, younger sisters Tammy and Michelle and parents Jenny and Danny.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2015/05/cameras-roll-on-the-family-law.html|title=Cameras roll on The Family Law|date=14 May 2015}}
Cast
=Main=
- Trystan Go as Benjamin Law
- Fiona Choi as Jenny Law
- Anthony Brandon Wong as Danny Law
- Shuang Hu as Candy Law
- George Zhao as Andrew Law
- Karina Lee as Tammy Law
- Vivian Wei as Michelle Law
- Bethany Whitmore as Melissa Hills, Benjamin's friend
=Recurring=
- Diana Lin as Maisy, Jenny's acquaintance
- Erika Heynatz as Diane
- Jeremy Lindsay Taylor as Pete
- Kimie Tsukakoshi as Heidi Thomson
- Loretta Kung as Daisy, Jenny's acquaintance
- Sam Cotton as Wayne, Candy's boyfriend
- Takaya Honda as Klaus Thomson
=Guests=
- Genevieve Morris as Lorraine
- Julie Eckersley as Bratwurst Woman / Customer 1 / Waitress
- Ling-Hsueh Tang as Aunty Rose
- Todd MacDonald as Ross
Episodes
= Series 1 (2016) =
{{Episode table|background=#001155|overall=5|season=5|title=18|director=17|writer=28|airdate=14
|episodes =
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = Queensland's Got Talent
|DirectedBy = Jonathan Brough
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2016|1|14}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Tra-la-la-la-Law
|DirectedBy = Jonathan Brough
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2016|1|21}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Asians Gone Wild
|DirectedBy = Jonathan Brough
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2016|1|28}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Birthday Bash
|DirectedBy = Jonathan Brough
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law & Marieke Hardy
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2016|2|4}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Everything's Coming Up Roses
|DirectedBy = Jonathan Brough
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law & Marieke Hardy
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2016|2|11}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Love Is in the Air
|DirectedBy = Jonathan Brough
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law & Marieke Hardy
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2016|2|18}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
}}
= Series 2 (2017) =
{{Episode table|background=#001155|overall=5|season=5|title=18|director=17|writer=28|airdate=14
|episodes =
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = New Beginnings
|DirectedBy = Ben Chessell
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law & Kirsty Fisher
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2017|6|15}}
|ShortSummary = Danny opens a new Chinese grocery store and shows off this new modern apartment. Tension rises as Jenny tries to find herself in a new post-divorce world. Meanwhile Benjamin fights it out for middle school captain with his good-looking archnemesis Klaus.
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Help Yourself
|DirectedBy = Ben Chessell
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law & Kirsty Fisher
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2017|6|15}}
|ShortSummary = Tension rises as Jenny's journey of self-discovery is belittled by people around her. She decides to change back to her maiden name. Benjamin fights it out for the lead role in a Greek tragedy school play.
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 9
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Adult Education
|DirectedBy = Ben Chessell
|WrittenBy = Lawrence Leung
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2017|6|22}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 10
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = The Family Kerr
|DirectedBy = Sophie Miller
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law & Kirsty Fisher
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2017|7|6}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 11
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Money, Money, Money
|DirectedBy = Ben Chessell
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law & Kirsty Fisher
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2017|7|13}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 12
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Matters of the Heart
|DirectedBy = Ben Chessell
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2017|7|20}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
}}
= Series 3 (2019) =
{{Episode table|background=#001155|overall=5|season=5|title=18|director=17|writer=28|airdate=14|released=y|episodes={{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 13
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = Ready for This
|DirectedBy = Ben Chessell
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law & Kirsty Fisher
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2019|1|12}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 14
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Close Encounters of the Male Kind
|DirectedBy = Ben Chessell
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law & Kirsty Fisher
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2019|1|12}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 15
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Painfully Camp
|DirectedBy = Ben Chessell
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law & Kirsty Fisher
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2019|1|12}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 16
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Dancing in the Dark
|DirectedBy = Ben Chessell
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law & Kirsty Fisher
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2019|1|12}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 17
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Panic Stations
|DirectedBy = Ben Chessell
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law & Kirsty Fisher
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2019|1|12}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor=001155
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 18
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Number One Gay Son
|DirectedBy = Sophie Miller
|WrittenBy = Benjamin Law & Kirsty Fisher
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2019|1|12}}
|ShortSummary = Jenny and Pete get back together. Ben becomes convinced that Jenny won't accept him being gay, leading to tension and fighting between them. After Candy reminds him how supportive Jenny has always been of him, Ben comes out to Jenny and she is immediately accepting and supporting of him. He comes out to the rest of his family, who are similarly supportive. His family's support inspires Ben to update his talent show act with Melissa to a flamboyant performance of It's Raining Men, which wins the show.
|LineColor=001155
}}}}
Reception and ratings
During the run of its first series The Family Law averaged a national audience of 417,000. It was also the highest viewed program on SBS On Demand throughout the series.{{Cite web |url=http://www.matchboxpictures.com/whats-happening/the-family-law-season-2/# |title=The Family Law Season 2 | Matchbox Pictures |access-date=29 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202062644/http://www.matchboxpictures.com/whats-happening/the-family-law-season-2/# |archive-date=2 February 2017 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}{{cite web|url=http://if.com.au/2016/06/27/article/SBS-commissions-second-season-of-The-Family-Law/SGGFILVLAN.html |title=SBS commissions second season of 'The Family Law' - IF Magazine |publisher=If.com.au |date=2016-06-27 |access-date=2018-07-20}}
The program attracted an audience of 1.1 million views for its exclusive Facebook premiere of its first episode days before it aired on television.{{cite web|url=http://www.adnews.com.au/news/facebook-premiere-of-the-family-law-receives-1-1m-views|title=Facebook premiere of The Family Law receives 1.1m views - AdNews|access-date=20 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/entertainment/benjamin-laws-the-family-law-will-be-back-on-sbs-w/cfd04ac8-8a15-41fb-9cd4-f0e669f9dbb4.htm|title=Benjamin Law's 'The Family Law' Will Be Back On SBS With 2nd Season In 2017 - Pedestrian TV|date=27 June 2016|access-date=20 July 2018}}
Critical reception
The program has received positive reviews from critics.
One critic from Daily Review Australia said "the core challenge is making a captivating comedy series about normal people living normal lives. The Family Law gives it a good crack, and has an amiable quality that many viewers will find endearing."{{cite web|url=https://dailyreview.com.au/the-family-law-tv-review-sbs/35284/|title=The Family Law TV review (SBS) - Daily Review: Film, stage and music reviews, interviews and more.|website=dailyreview.com.au|access-date=20 July 2018}}
Another critic from The Guardian said "there’s so much detail, warmth and gentle humour to the script, direction and production design that the characters and settings are relatable for anyone who grew up – or is growing up – in Australia." She gave the program 4 out of 5 stars.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/jan/15/the-family-law-review-an-affectionate-and-comedic-look-at-asian-australians|title=The Family Law review: a loving and gently funny Australian family drama|first=Nicole|last=Lee|date=15 January 2016|website=the Guardian|access-date=20 July 2018}}
Awards and accolades
| class="wikitable"
|+ Awards and accolades for The Family Law |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Nominee(s) ! Result |
|---|
| rowspan="2"|2016
|rowspan="2"|6th AACTA Awards |AACTA Award for Best Television Comedy Series |The Family Law |{{nom}} |
| AACTA Award for Best Comedy Performance
|{{nom}} |
| 2017
| Australian Directors Guild Awards | Best Direction in a TV or SVOD Comedy Program | Jonathan Brough (episode: "Queensland's Got Talent") | {{nom}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.sbs.com.au/programs/the-family-law}}
- {{IMDb title|4683342}}
{{EquityAward TVComedyCast}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Family Law, The}}
Category:Special Broadcasting Service original programming
Category:2010s Australian comedy television series
Category:2016 Australian television series debuts
Category:2019 Australian television series endings
Category:Television series by Matchbox Pictures