| Strife | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy Drama |
| Created by | Sarah Scheller |
| Inspired by | Work, Strife, Balance, by Mia Freedman |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by |
|
| Starring | Asher Keddie |
| Composer | Piers Burbrook de Vere |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 16 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Sarah Scheller |
| Producers |
|
| Cinematography | Rob Marsh |
| Production company | Kindling Pictures |
| Original release | |
| Network | Binge |
| Release | 6 December 2023 (2023-12-06) – present |
Strife is an Australian comedy drama series written and produced by Sarah Scheller. The Binge Original series stars Asher Keddie. It debuted on 6 December 2023.
Synopsis
Strife is set around year 2012 and follows Eve (Keddie), who is running Eve, a new women's web site. Her personal life is beset by problems; she has abandoned her marriage and marital home, but is struggling to pay the rent on her city apartment. Meanwhile, she navigates co-parenting teenage children with her estranged husband, Jon (Day).
Her fortunes and those of the nascent website change when she writes a confessional column, "I ended my marriage over a flat white" that goes viral.
Production
Season 1
The first season of Strife began production in March 2023, produced by Bruna Papandrea's production company Made Up Stories. The series is inspired by the memoir, Work, Strife, Balance by Mia Freedman. The first season was written and adapted for screen by Sarah Scheller and directed by Stuart Bowen, with Papandrea, Jodi Matterson, Steve Hutensky, Mia Freedman, Asher Keddie, Scheller and Alison Hurbert-Burns serving as executive producers.
Season 2
The series was renewed for a second season in January 2024, which is currently in production. The second season is directed by Neil Sharma, produced by Lorelle Adamson for Made Up Stories and Fifth Season, with executive producers for the second season including Bruna Papandrea, Steve Hutensky, Katie Amos, Mia Freedman, Sarah Scheller, Alison Hurbert-Burns, Lana Greenhalgh and Asher Keddie.
Cast
- Asher Keddie as Evelyn Jones
- Matt Day as Jon Jones
- Tina Bursill as Ginny
- Emma Lung as Lucy
- Olivia Junkeer as Jeet
- Bebe Bettencourt as Opal
- Jonathan LaPaglia as Peter
- Alex Dimitriades as Daniel
- Lincoln Younes as Giles
- Maria Angelico as Christine
- Rhys Mitchell as Paul
- Bryony Skillington as Penny
- Darcy Tadich as Alex
- Willow Speers as Addy
- Megan Hollier as Leila
Release
All eight episodes of the first season of the series were added to Binge in Australia on 6 December 2023. All eight episodes of the first season of the series were added to ThreeNow in New Zealand on 18 February 2024.
Reception
The show broke streaming records for Binge, with the streamer announcing that it had unseated Colin From Accounts in becoming its most successful launch for first day and first week viewing.
Debi Enker from The Sydney Morning Herald praised the series: "Vibrant and richly textured, Strife is keenly in tune with its times even though it's set a decade ago. And Keddie has again fashioned a messy, multi-faceted character who can be as irritating as she is compelling."
Michelle Arrow from The Conversation criticised the series: "Despite claiming to be a "feminist publisher", Evelyn shoots down most politically and socially aware story ideas because they won't "get clicks"." "Perhaps if Evelyn was more willing to confront her own shortcomings we'd have the making of real drama."
Episodes
Season 1 (2023)
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "For All Women" | Stuart Bowen | Sarah Scheller | 6 December 2023 (2023-12-06) |
| 2 | "Exposure Therapy" | Stuart Bowen | Sarah Scheller | 6 December 2023 (2023-12-06) |
| 3 | "Burn Our Bras" | Stuart Bowen | Sarah Scheller | 6 December 2023 (2023-12-06) |
| 4 | "A Good Cause" | Stuart Bowen | Clare Stephens Jessie Stephens | 6 December 2023 (2023-12-06) |
| 5 | "Sacrifice and Power" | Stuart Bowen | Andy Healy | 6 December 2023 (2023-12-06) |
| 6 | "Matricide" | Stuart Bowen | Lexi Freiman | 6 December 2023 (2023-12-06) |
| 7 | "Feminism Is A Bloodsport" | Stuart Bowen | Romina Accurso | 6 December 2023 (2023-12-06) |
| 8 | "The Original Woman" | Stuart Bowen | Sarah Scheller | 6 December 2023 (2023-12-06) |
References
- ^ Arrow, Michelle (6 December 2023). "Asher Keddie is outstanding in Strife – but the show gives us an uneven look at girlboss feminism". The Conversation. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- "Asher Keddie begins production on Binge original series 'Strife' in long-awaited TV return". Streaming. news.com.au. Sydney: News Corp. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "'Strife' commissioned for season two after breaking records for Binge". Streaming. news.com.au. Sydney: News Corp. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- Whittock, Jesse (7 August 2024). "Asher Keddie-Starring Binge Original 'Strife' Begins Shooting Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- Estera, Christine (26 October 2023). "Asher Keddie gearing up to play media mogul Mia Freedman as new drama Strife gets release date". Streaming. news.com.au. Sydney: News Corp. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- Brooks, Sam (15 February 2024). "New to streaming: What to watch on Netflix NZ, Neon and more this week". The Spinoff. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- Enker, Debi (30 December 2023). "Why Asher Keddie is the queen of barely contained chaos". Streaming. The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
Vibrant and richly textured, Strife is keenly in tune with its times even though it's set a decade ago. And Keddie has again fashioned a messy, multi-faceted character who can be as irritating as she is compelling.
- ^ "Strife: episode guide". Australian Television. Retrieved 10 August 2024.