Total Control (TV series)

The working title of the series was Black Bitch, however it was changed after complaints that the title was a racial slur.[1] It is written by Stuart Page, Angela Betzien, Pip Karmel and is directed by Rachel Perkins. It is produced by Darren Dale and Miranda Dear for Blackfella Films with Rachel Griffiths, Kelrick Martin and Sally Riley as executive producers.[2]

The six-part series is filmed in Canberra, Sydney and Winton in Central West Queensland.[3]

In advance of its broadcast premiere on ABC TV in October 2019, several episodes of the series received a preview screening in the Primetime program of the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.[4]

New music was written and recorded by Missy Higgins and featured in the series.[5]

Rachel Anderson is the embattled but cunning Prime Minister of Australia. Alex is a charismatic Indigenous woman who finds herself the centre of media attention following her admirable actions in a high-risk situation. Rachel wants to use Alex to boost her popularity and further her own agenda, and recruits her as a senator.[6]

The government in the series appears to represent the Liberal-National coalition, with various factions and other parties mimicking current ones in Australia. There are several storylines and characters, including Alex's son, her mother, an ex-lover and rival clans in Winton, Queensland, her activist brother in the city, various other players in the Canberra political and office sphere, and a young woman who has escaped youth detention with some footage which could severely damage the government, or in particular the right-wing faction.

• Deborah Mailman as Alexandra "Alex" Irving, Senator for Queensland.
• Rachel Griffiths as Rachel Anderson, Prime Minister of Australia
• Harry Richardson as Jonathan Cosgrove
• Rob Collins as Charlie Irving, Alex's brother
• Anthony Hayes as Damian Bauer
• William McInnes as Laurie Martin, leader of the Opposition
• Celia Ireland as Tracey Helliar
• Trisha Morton-Thomas as Jan Irving, Alex's mother
• David Roberts as Kevin Cartwright, Minister for Indigenous Affairs.
• Wesley Patten as Eddie Irving, Alex's son
• Shantae Barnes Cowan as Jess Clarke, escapee from youth detention
• Aaron Pedersen as Tom Campbell Jnr
• James Sweeny as Christopher Bingham
• Luke Carroll
• Adele Perovic as Jillian Morell
• Huw Higginson as Peter Solomon, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister.
• Chris Gleeson
• Tony Barry as Phillip Anderson
• Rebecca Massey as Sharon

The program has received mixed to positive reviews from critics. The dialogue, relationships between the characters, and Alex's characterization were widely praised, but recurring criticisms were that the series lacked action and the storytelling was too meek and subdued despite its intense subject matter. However, the cast's performances received critical acclaim, especially Deborah Mailman's.

In a positive review from The Sydney Morning Herald by critic Craig Mathieson, he said of the series "It's hard to remember the last time an Australian drama had dialogue as biting, juicy, and telling as the lines that ricochet back and forth – simultaneously revealing power and defining personalities." Mathieson in praise of Mailman said that she gives a "full-tilt and full-bodied performance".[14] In a mixed review from critic Luke Buckmaster of The Guardian said "There are times when it feels like we may be in store for a Bulworth-style spectacle, revolving around a shoot-from-the-hips political newbie with nothing to lose. However, the drama in Total Control is meeker than that, and the stakes feel surprisingly low, given several hot-button issues explored." Buckmaster praised the performances of both Mailman and Trisha Morton-Thomas. He declared Mailman's performance to be "superb" and said that she was the series' "one unquestionably outstanding element".[15]

In another mixed review Chris Boyd from Screenhub stated that "As an action drama, Total Control is unconvincing and poorly executed. As a political thriller, it’s sketchy and forced. The Canberra intrigue is shallow to the point of parody." Boyd in his review praised the performances of both Mailman and Rob Collins. When it comes to Mailman's performance he said "Increasingly blunt, and foul-mouthed, Mailman is electrifying. Tectonic. Unforgettable." [16] Laura Brodnik from Mamma Mia gave the series a positive review saying "with a cutting and topical script, this is a series that secures a spot as one of the best Australian offerings of the year." Brodnik praised most of the cast but singled out Mailman and Shantae Barnes Cowan for the most praise. She called Mailman's performance a "stand out". And said Barnes Cowan "delivers some of the shows most emotional moments in scenes that are light on dialogue, so it’s left up to her facial expressions to convey the gravity of what is really going on."[17]

• Total Control at IMDb