H2O: Just Add Water

H2O: Just Add Water
Company type	Television series
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	2006; 20 years ago
Founder	Jonathan M. Shiff
Headquarters	Australia
Area served	Worldwide (broadcast in over 120 countries)
Products	Television series

H₂O: Just Add Water, often shortened to H₂O, is an Australian fantasy drama aimed at teenagers, developed by Jonathan M. Shiff. The show first aired on Australia's Network Ten in 2006 and, by 2009, had been broadcast in over 120 countries, attracting a worldwide viewership exceeding 250 million. Filming took place mainly at Sea World and various other sites along Queensland’s Gold Coast. The storyline follows three adolescent girls who face typical teenage issues while also dealing with extraordinary water-based supernatural abilities as mermaids.

Originally intended to run for two seasons with a total of 52 episodes, the series was extended to include a third season due to high audience demand. The initial season premiered in July 2006, followed by the second in September 2007. The third season debuted first in the United Kingdom in October 2009 before its Australian release in May 2010.

Plot

After becoming stranded on Mako Island, three Australian teens—Rikki Chadwick, Emma Gilbert, and Cleo Sertori—are transformed into mermaids when they come into contact with a moonlit pool beneath a dormant volcano. They soon discover they possess unique supernatural water powers and recruit Cleo’s friend Lewis McCartney to help guard their secret and assist in understanding their newfound abilities.

Their daily lives grow more complicated as they struggle to adapt to their powers while concealing them from family and peers. The second season introduces Charlotte Watsford, a rival who acquires the mermaids’ powers and dates Lewis, serving as the primary antagonist. By the conclusion of this season, Charlotte loses her abilities and Lewis reconciles with Cleo.

In the third season, Emma departs to travel with her family. Bella Hartley joins the group; she has been a mermaid since childhood. Together, they confront a mysterious water tentacle connected to Mako Island. Will Benjamin appears, uncovers their secret, and joins the group as they face an imminent comet threat to Earth.

Main

Cariba Heine portrays Rikki: a rebellious and independent character who controls heat within water and later develops fire and lightning abilities. She features throughout all seasons and makes guest appearances in the spinoff Mako: Island of Secrets.
Claire Holt plays Emma (seasons 1–2): confident and responsible, with powers to freeze water and eventually manipulate clouds, ice, and snow. She exits after season two to pursue film opportunities; her character leaves by traveling with her family.
Phoebe Tonkin as Cleo: initially shy and uncomfortable around water but becomes more outgoing; she can shape and control water volume and later gains wind manipulation skills. She appears in every season.
Angus McLaren acts as Lewis: Cleo’s childhood friend and boyfriend, scientifically inclined; he assists in protecting the mermaids’ secret. Present in seasons one and two; departs mid-season three but returns for the finale.
Indiana Evans stars as Bella (season 3): introduced in season three as a singer at Rikki's café; she has been a mermaid since age nine with abilities to transform water into gelatinous or crystalline forms. She develops a romantic relationship with Will.
Luke Mitchell portrays Will (season 3): an adept swimmer introduced in season three who investigates Mako Island’s mysteries after encountering the moon pool. Upon learning the mermaids’ secret, he becomes close to them and is Bella’s love interest.

Supporting

Burgess Abernethy portrays Zane, a wealthy and conceited local youth. In the first series, he becomes fixated on uncovering the identities of the mermaids after Emma rescues him underwater. He later engages in a fluctuating romantic relationship with Rikki and, upon discovering that Rikki, Emma, and Cleo are mermaids, abandons his pursuit to safeguard Rikki. By the third series, he revamps the Juice Net café and collaborates with Rikki, naming the establishment in her honor.
Cleo Massey appears as Kim, the younger sibling of Cleo.
Alan David Lee plays Don Sertori, father to both Cleo and Kim.
Deborah Coulls takes on the role of Bev (series 1), mother to Cleo and Kim, who divorces Don prior to series 2.
Annabelle Stephenson features as Miriam (series 1), a rival to Rikki and ex-girlfriend of Zane who bullies the mermaids.
Trent Sullivan acts as Elliot (series 1–2), Emma’s younger brother.
Jamie Timony is cast as Nate, one of Zane’s companions.
Brittany Byrnes plays Charlotte (series 2), the primary antagonist who dates Lewis after his split with Cleo. After becoming a mermaid independently, she acquires all the powers of the girls but permanently loses them following a confrontation with the trio. She does not return for series three.
Craig Horner portrays Ash (series 2), an equestrian coach who develops a relationship with Emma and discovers her secret in the season finale. Horner does not appear in series three due to other filming obligations.
Penni Gray appears as Sam Sertori (née Roberts) (series 3), Don’s second spouse and stepmother to Cleo and Kim. Employed by the National Park association, she becomes romantically involved with Don and marries him in "To Have & To Hold Back".
Taryn Marler features as Sophie (series 3), the main antagonist and Will’s older sister. Ambitious and determined, she manages Rikki’s café while undermining the mermaids by targeting Bella and disrupting Zane and Rikki’s relationship. Marler previously appeared as Julia in flashbacks.

Home media

Every series has been made available on DVD in Region 4 PAL format. The first series was released across six separate DVD volumes between September 2007 and November 2008, followed by a complete series collection in June 2009. Series two was distributed through three individual volumes from February to September 2009, with a full series set released in November 2009. The third series came out as two individual volumes in July and September 2012, alongside a comprehensive series release in December 2012.

In Region 1 NTSC format, a three-disc set titled H₂O: Season 1, Volume 1, containing the initial 13 episodes of series one, was issued on 16 June 2009 by Nickelodeon and Paramount Home Entertainment via Amazon's CreateSpace as a manufacture-on-demand DVD-R. No subsequent volumes were produced, and this edition was eventually discontinued. A complete boxed set encompassing all three series was launched on 6 November 2012 by New Video, with individual series releases available from 5 March 2013.

Title	Release date	Episodes
H₂O: Just Add Water: Series One: Volume 1	12 September 2007	Episodes 1–4; includes trailer for series one and profiles of main characters
H₂O: Just Add Water: Series One: Volume 2	12 September 2007	Episodes 5–8; contains photo gallery from series one
H₂O: Just Add Water: Series One: Volume 3	5 March 2008	Episodes 9–12; features character profiles for Emma, Cleo, Rikki, Lewis, and Zane
H₂O: Just Add Water: Series One: Volume 4	7 May 2008	Episodes 13–16; includes an interactive H₂O quiz game
H₂O: Just Add Water: Series One: Volume 5	9 July 2008	Episodes 17–21
H₂O: Just Add Water: Series One: Volume 6	5 November 2008	Episodes 22–26
H₂O: Just Add Water: Complete Series One	2 June 2009	All episodes from series one; includes quiz game, character profiles, photo gallery, trailer, and main character bios
H₂O: Just Add Water: Series Two: Volume 1	27 January 2009	Episodes 1–8; includes telemovie from series one and trailer for series two
H₂O: Just Add Water: Series Two: Volume 2	2 June 2009	Episodes 9–17; contains photo gallery from series two
H₂O: Just Add Water: Series Two: Volume 3	2 September 2009	Episodes 18–26; features behind-the-scenes special content
H₂O: Just Add Water: Complete Series Two	4 November 2009	Entirety of series two; includes telemovie, trailer, photo gallery, behind-the-scenes featurette
H₂O: Just Add Water: Series Three: Volume 1	27 June 2012	Episodes 1–13; includes photo gallery and character profiles
H₂O: Just Add Water: Series Three: Volume 2	5 September 2012	Episodes 14–26; contains behind-the-scenes special featurette
H₂O: Just Add Water: Complete Series Three	3 December 2012	All episodes from series three; includes behind-the-scenes special content
H₂O: Just Add Water: Complete Series	3 December 2012	Full collection of all three series in one box set; includes bonus features from earlier releases

Soundtracks

The official soundtrack for the second season, titled H2O: Just Add Water, was performed by singer Kate Alexa and launched in Australia on 10 September 2007 through Liberation Records. It has since been distributed internationally. The main theme, "No Ordinary Girl," is the series’ signature song and has been sung by Ellie Henderson in the first season, Kate Alexa in the second, and Indiana Evans during the third season.

A subsequent soundtrack containing selections from the third season was released on iTunes on 17 February 2011, followed by a broader distribution in March 2011. Also named H2O: Just Add Water, this collection primarily features recordings by actress Indiana Evans.

Books

Nickelodeon UK published a series of children's books connected to the show, including:

No Ordinary Girl – 2 February 2009
Living with Secrets – 2 February 2009
Fishy Business – 5 May 2009
A Sleepover Tail – 6 July 2009
Sequins for Sea Queens – 7 January 2010
First Crush – 29 April 2010
Moonspell – 5 August 2010
Testing Times – 6 January 2011
Hot Stuff – 9 June 2011
In Too Deep – 4 August 2011
Mermaid Emotions – 27 October 2011
Siren Status – 2 February 2012

Reception

H₂O: Just Add Water was well-received by both critics and viewers. Emily Ashby from Common Sense Media gave the series a four-star rating out of five, highlighting its positive influence on tween audiences.

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result
2007	Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards	Best TV Show	H₂O: Just Add Water	Template:Nom
2007	Logie Awards	Most Outstanding Children's Program	H₂O: Just Add Water	Template:Nom
2008	AFI Awards	Best Visual Effects	H₂O: Just Add Water	Template:Won
		Best Children's Television Drama	H₂O: Just Add Water	Template:Nom
		Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama	Phoebe Tonkin	Template:Nom
		Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama	Brittany Byrnes	Template:Nom
	Logie Awards	Most Outstanding Children's Program	H₂O: Just Add Water	Template:Nom
	Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards	Best TV Drama Show	H₂O: Just Add Water	Template:Won
2009	Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards	Best Drama Show	H₂O: Just Add Water	Template:Nom
2009	Logie Awards	Most Outstanding Children's Program	H₂O: Just Add Water	Template:Won
2011	AACTA Awards	Best Children's Television Series	H₂O: Just Add Water	Template:Nom

Spinoffs

Production commenced in July 2011 on a 26-episode spinoff entitled Mako: Island of Secrets, which centers on 15-year-old Zac alongside mermaids Sirena, Nixie, and Lyla. The final season featured Cariba Heine in a guest role as Rikki.

An animated spinoff designed for a younger audience debuted on Netflix in May 2015, named H₂O: Mermaid Adventures.

References

External links

H₂O: Just Add Water – Promotional site from ZDF Enterprises (archived)
H₂O: Just Add Water at the Australian Television Information Archive