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Austin (season two) ★★★★
There is much to rejoice about Austin, ABC’s Australian and British comedy drama co-production, returning for a second series. An original show! Made (partly) here! More of actor Michael Theo in the title role!
Ingrid (Sally Phillips), Austin (Michael Theo) and Julian (Ben Miller) continue their adventures in season two of Austin.
Big-hearted, intelligently humorous and laced with goof, the first series followed Austin (Theo, Love On the Spectrum), an autistic man, connecting with his biological father, Julian (Ben Miller, Professor T, Paddington), a bestselling – though recently cancelled – author. Their new relationship brought profound change for father and son (and greater family and associates) amid revealed secrets and semi-chaos.
Series one ended with DNA results and a cliffhanger – is Austin actually Julian’s son?
The answer comes swiftly in series two’s opening episode. I won’t give it away, suffice to say that Austin, Julian and a raft of returning and new characters (this show bursts with singularly distinctive roles) are front and centre across eight new episodes, all set, as in series one, between Canberra and London.
Austin, now living in North London with Julian, his stepmother Ingrid (Sally Phillips, Bridget Jones, Miranda) and his stepsister Florence (Ellie McKay, Miss Austen), has written a book about England’s capital, and Julian, pivoting careers, is helping to publish it.
Mel (Gia Carides) and Bill (Roy Billing) are a terrific double-act in season two of Austin.
Austin is given a literary agent, Greta (Claire Lovering, Gold Diggers) a posh zeitgeister with ironic knee-high socks and untrammelled confidence, whose influence on her client brings fame and a character change.
Julian – cognisant of the philandering and narcissism that has driven Ingrid to reconsider her marriage – is doing his uneven best to stop acting like a total prig.
He and Ingrid’s bestselling children’s book character, Big Bear, is optioned for a TV adaptation, to be produced in Australia. Julian’s professional reputation – still rank from accidentally reposting a tweet from a white supremacist – means Ingrid is appointed creative lead. Julian’s efforts to be a good dad and husband are overshadowed by his vanity and jealousy of Ingrid’s new role.
Austin’s jamboree of screwball, humour with heart and dry repartee is painted in big and subtle strokes. This can make the plot’s mood feel jumbled – notwithstanding an overall pace in scenes that made me yearn for slower, less wordy sections of character development and interaction – but beautifully peculiar wit shines throughout.
Greta (Claire Lovering) is Austin’s (Michael Theo) new overbearing agent in season of Austin.
Austin’s dialogue, written in consultation with Theo and delivered with his distinctively even-handed panache, is brilliant.
“I want to talk to you about the ungovernable power of sexual attraction,” he says at one point, alluding to a possible romance. “Excuse me, I’m going to urinate and obtain some snacks,” a declaration of poetic exactitude before leaving the room. Theo is endlessly watchable – give him a TV chat show.
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Miller and Phillips’ quip-soaked parley is buoyed by their natural comic abilities, although you do wonder what Ingrid continues to see in Julian.
The welcome return of Gia Carides and Roy Billing as Austin’s mother and grandfather, respectively, continues a lovingly honed Dad and Dave-esque double-act, and there’s excellent guest star work from Rodger Corser, Katrina Milosevic and Natalie Abbott. British character actor Phil Davis (Sherlock, Whitechapel) also makes a scene-stealing appearance.
The loving and intricate creativity of Austin’s creators, writers and cast is clear. The second series could take a breath occasionally, but it’s good to have it back.
Austin (season two) premieres at 7.30pm on Sunday, July 27, on the ABC.
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