Slide (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | August 16, 2011 |
| Headquarters | Brisbane , Australia |
| Products | Teen drama television series |
Slide (presented as SLiDE) is an Australian teen drama series that debuted on the Fox8 pay-TV channel, broadcasting from 16 August until 18 October 2011. The narrative revolves around five adolescents as they experience the challenges of growing up in Brisbane. In February 2012, FOX8 announced that the series would not be renewed for a second season.
Designed as a multi-platform project, the show encouraged its audience to interact with extra material via digital apps and social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Additional webisodes named Before and After Bits, which explore events surrounding each episode, were accessible on the official YouTube channel. This positioned SLiDE as Australia's second scripted series to adopt a multi-platform format, following ABC's Fat Cow Motel in 2004.
On 16 August 2012, SLiDE made its U.S. debut on the cable channel TeenNick.
Plot
SLiDE focuses on five teenagers from Brisbane during their final year of secondary school as they balance academic pressures with the complexities of approaching adulthood. Tammy and Ed share a lifelong friendship; Luke, who knows Ed through scouts and school, belongs to a different social group. Eva is a quiet classmate, while Scarlett, recently relocated from Melbourne, unexpectedly becomes part of their circle. Their weekends are often spent in The Valley attending concerts, parties, and pursuing experiences beyond their years.
Main
Ed Newman (Ben Schumann) serves as the central figure of the series—a socially awkward nerd employed at a hotel who struggles to fit in. Childhood friends with Tammy Lane, they have an agreement to lose their virginity together if no one else comes along. Ed develops romantic feelings for Scarlett Carlyle and navigates complicated relationships including a one-night encounter with Eva Lee and tension with Tammy after a private video is leaked publicly. His fixation on sex and social status frequently causes friction within his friend group.
Tammy Lane (Gracie Gilbert) is Ed's dependable best friend and an aspiring music journalist, often regarded as the "mom" of the group. Initially clashing with Scarlett, she grows closer to Luke Gallagher, sharing a complex romantic involvement. Tammy wrestles with maintaining her wholesome reputation while exploring her own desires, ultimately admitting her love for Ed but later engaging in a secret affair with Luke, which heightens tensions among friends.
Scarlett Carlyle (Emily Robins) is a fashion-forward, privileged girl residing in her father’s luxury hotel. Sent from Melbourne due to behavioral problems, she craves attention through rebellious behavior and organizes social gatherings that unite the group. Despite her popularity, Scarlett lacks authentic friendships and acts as the driving force behind the group's unity. Her relationships are characterized by jealousy and manipulation, including efforts to attract Luke.
Eva Lee (Adele Perovic) is a defiant graffiti artist known for her tough exterior and straightforward nature. Initially isolated, she forms bonds through spontaneous interactions, including a brief romance with Ash. Eva confronts personal struggles balancing her artistic ambitions with her adoptive parents’ expectations for a conventional career path. Her storyline involves facing fears of possible pregnancy and family identity issues, ultimately witnessing critical betrayals within the group.
Luke Gallagher (Brenton Thwaites) embodies the attractive surfer archetype who develops strong feelings for Tammy. Orphaned of both parents, he lives with his older brother Dylan while dealing with family problems such as Dylan’s gambling debts. The romantic tension between Luke and Tammy unfolds amid jealousy and misunderstandings. His protective instincts emerge when he steps in to handle Dylan’s difficulties, establishing himself as both a leader and loyal companion within the group.
Recurring
- Hayley Magnus portrays Phillipa, the socially awkward neighbour of Tammy and Ed who harbours feelings for Ed. Following a brief intimate encounter, Phillipa retaliates by publicizing their liaison. She later reappears at a music festival and hosts a gathering at her home.
- Ben Oxenbould plays Tony Carlyle, Scarlett's affluent father who owns a hotel. Their strained relationship becomes more complex when Scarlett uses her knowledge of his affair with her mother as leverage.
- Steve Rodgers appears as Pete Newman, the father of Ed.
- Rebecca Frith takes on the role of Rebecca Newman, Ed's mother.
- Roz Hammond acts as Rosie Lane, a musician and Tammy's mother.
- Wesley Ambler features as Charli Lane, Tammy's younger sibling.
- Mitzi Ruhlmann is cast as Annabel Cartwright, a younger student who forms friendships with Scarlett and Eva. Unaware that her mother works in sex work, Annabel believes her mother is an event coordinator.
- Lincoln Lewis plays Dylan Gallagher, Luke’s elder brother and guardian following their parents' passing. A firefighter struggling with gambling, Dylan initially plans to sell the family residence but ultimately relocates to start anew.
- Damon Gameau portrays Ash, a music producer who becomes romantically involved with Eva. Their relationship ends after Eva discovers he is married and experiences a pregnancy scare.
Production
This ten-episode drama series, each episode lasting approximately one hour, was jointly produced by Hoodlum and Playmaker Media for Foxtel’s FOX8 channel. Created as a multiplatform initiative, it combined traditional broadcasting with interactive elements on Facebook and Twitter, alongside a graphic novel that paralleled the show's storyline. Commissioned under Foxtel’s strategy to enhance locally produced content across its platforms, this project represents FOX8’s most ambitious scripted production to date.
Although the series achieved initial popularity, FOX8 announced that no second season would be released in 2012 but did not rule out the possibility of continuing the series in the future.
Critical reception
Critics have often drawn comparisons between this series and the British show Skins. Early previews described it as "boldly candid and sharply humorous," offering a more lighthearted and comedic approach than Skins. The online publication TV Tonight referred to it as an "Australian Skins" but noted it carries a brighter tone with greater optimism compared to the original's darker atmosphere.
Series overview
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 10 | 16 August 2011 | 18 October 2011 | |
Episodes
Template:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode listTemplate:Episode list| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
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Home video release
The complete single season of Slide was made available on DVD for Region 4 on 15 March 2012. Additionally, the series can be purchased as a digital download via iTunes.
Filming locations
- St Joseph's Nudgee College, Brisbane
- Urban Hotel, Brisbane
- Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
- South Bank, Brisbane
- Westfield Garden City (Upper Mt Gravatt)
- Yeronga Swimming Pool, Brisbane
- Wilston Village, Wilston
- Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast
External links
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Fox8 original programming
- 2010s Australian drama television series
- 2011 Australian television series debuts
- 2011 Australian television series endings
- Television shows set in Brisbane
- Transmedia storytelling
- Australian English-language television shows
- Australian television series about teenagers
- Television series by Playmaker Media
- Australian teen drama television series