Plum (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | October 20, 2024 |
| Founder | Brendan Cowell |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Brendan Cowell (creator, writer), Wayne Blair (director) |
| Products | Drama television series |
| Website | iview |
Plum is an Australian drama television series that premiered on ABC Television on 20 October 2024. Conceived and scripted by Brendan Cowell, the narrative revolves around Peter Lum, a former rugby league athlete who confronts a brain condition attributed to multiple concussions sustained during his career.
Plot
Adapted from Cowell's novel, the storyline focuses on Peter Lum, who keeps his diagnosis of a neurological disorder hidden from his loved ones. His former spouse and their son Gavin—currently being scouted by rugby league clubs—observe unsettling changes in his demeanor, which they associate with his history in the sport. Concurrently, journalist Dana Hanlon delves into the dangers of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), shedding light on its profound effects on athletes.
Cast
The principal cast was revealed at the start of production in January 2024.
- Brendan Cowell portraying Peter 'The Plum' Lum
- Asher Keddie as Renee Lum
- Jenni Baird in the role of Dana Hanlon
- Matt Nable as Dave
- Nicholas Cassim playing Albert Lum
- Vincent Miller as Gavin Lum
- María Dupláa portraying Charmayne
- John Tui as Brick
- Matthew Sunderland as Charles Bukowski
- Adolphus Waylee in the role of Kutiote
- Josh McConville as Squeaky
- Wayne McDaniel playing Magic Matt
- Susie Porter as Sarah Lum
- Jemaine Clement in the role of Oliver
- Janet Anderson as Tatania
- Andrew Ryan portraying Bobby D
- Charlotte Friels as Sylvia Plath
- Peter Phelps playing Mo Hanlon
Additionally, ex-NRL players Andrew Johns, James Graham, Mark Carroll, and Paul Gallen appear in cameo roles, lending credibility to the series.
Production
Production for the series commenced on 17 January 2024, supported financially by Screen Australia and Screen NSW. Filming for Plum took place within Sydney's Sutherland Shire. On 9 May 2024, ABC unveiled its drama lineup for the year, which included Plum alongside the second season of Bay of Fires. Originally planned for a 2025 release, the premiere of Plum was moved forward to October 2024.
Episodes
The complete series was made available on ABC iview on 20 October 2024.
| Number | Title | Directed by | Written by | iview air date | Terrestrial air date | Aus. Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 1 | Hurricane | Wayne Blair | Brendan Cowell | 20 October 2024 | 20 October 2024 | 484,000 |
| Episode 2 | King of Cronulla | 27 October 2024 | 343,000 | |||
| Episode 3 | Storm | Fiona Seres | 3 November 2024 | 270,000 | ||
| Episode 4 | The Gap | Margie Beattie | Brendan Cowell | 10 November 2024 | 258,000 | |
| Episode 5 | The Tree | Fiona Seres | 17 November 2024 | 268,000 | ||
| Episode 6 | Impact Player | Brendan Cowell | 24 November 2024 | 244,000 |
Reception
David Knox from TV Tonight awarded the series four stars, describing it as a passionate project by Cowell, who also wrote the original novel. Knox highlighted the show's profound emotional layers and encouraged viewers to "face what lies beneath the surface."
Paul Dalgarno of ScreenHub rated it three and a half stars, remarking on Cowell's continued examination of the spiritual disconnection experienced by successful men in Sydney. Dalgarno also observed that although Australia's sports sector generates over a billion dollars in revenue, sport itself does not equip individuals for confronting mortality—poetry fulfills that role.