Optics (TV series)

Fritz and Randell

Industry	Public relations
Headquarters	Sydney , Australia

Optics is a television series that debuted on ABC TV on 29 January 2025. The inaugural season ran until 5 March 2025, with every episode accessible via ABC iview throughout its original airing.

Plot

The narrative of Optics follows Nicole Kidman and Greta Goldman, two women adept in social media, who unexpectedly assume the roles of co-CEOs at Fritz and Randell following the demise of the previous CEO, Frank Fritz. Together with Ian Randell and Meredith Laughton, they manage a series of public relations challenges facing the company.

Production

Revealed during the ABC's 2024 Upfronts presentation, filming took place in July 2024 across various Sydney suburbs such as Annandale, Botany, and Cronulla.

Cast

• Jenna Owen portrays Nicole Kidman, one of the co-CEOs at Fritz and Randell, who handles corporate obstacles while masking internal conflicts
• Vic Zerbst plays Greta Goldman, the other co-CEO confronting PR dilemmas alongside Nicole
• Charles Firth appears as Ian Randell, the heir to the Fritz and Randell enterprise displaced by Nicole and Greta’s leadership appointments
• Bali Padda acts as Cody Smith, assistant to Ian
• Belinda Giblin features as Meredith Laughton, serving as the company’s receptionist
• Claude Jabbour takes on the role of Bobby Bahl, chairman of the board

The supporting ensemble includes executives and clients involved in diverse PR situations throughout the series. Notable guest stars include Kate Walsh as Hannah Halston, an executive in the wellness sector; Alex Lee and Phil Lloyd portraying airline industry executives; Rhys Muldoon as a telecommunications sector leader; and Nakkiah Lui in the role of Dion Kelly.

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald characterized the series as "charmingly cynical (given its focus on PR)" and highlighted the intergenerational tensions drawn from Owen and Zerbst’s experiences with Firth. The show also addresses the concept of "glass cliffing," where women are elevated to leadership positions primarily during corporate crises for appearances, awarding it four stars out of five.

The Guardian similarly rated it four out of five stars, describing Optics as a "rapidly paced, intelligent production" that unveils the deceptive aspects of Australian public relations and superficial corporate diversity initiatives. While some characters border on exaggerated stereotypes, this is deemed appropriate given today’s increasingly amplified reality.

Screen Hub gave the series a three-star rating out of five, noting that Optics sometimes feels like two contrasting comedic approaches clashing, which occasionally diminishes its humor.

Edith Jennifer Hill, associate lecturer at Melbourne's Flinders University, writing for The Conversation, commended the series’ combination of wit, social media vernacular, and marketing terminology, emphasizing its encouragement for audiences to critically assess media credibility.

Future

As of March 2025, there have been no official statements concerning the continuation or renewal of the series.

External links

• Optics on ABC iview