Janet King (TV series)

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Janet King
Janet King Title Card.jpg
Janet King title card
Genre Legal drama
Political thriller
Written by
  • Greg Haddrick
  • Jane Allen
  • Kris Mrksa
  • Shaun Grant
  • Stuart Page
  • Niki Aken
Directed by
Starring
Country of origin Australia
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 16 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Des Monaghan
  • Greg Haddrick
Producer(s)
Editor(s) Antonio Mestres (4 episodes); Nicole LaMacchia (2 episodes)
Location(s) Australia
Running time 57 minutes[1]
Production company(s) Screentime Australia
Release
Original network ABC1
Picture format 576i (SDTV)
Audio format Stereo
Original release 27 February 2014 (2014-02-27) â€“ present
Chronology
Related shows Crownies

Janet King is an Australian television drama series which began airing on ABC1 from 27 February 2014. It was created as a spin-off from the 2011 legal drama Crownies. It follows the story of Senior Crown Prosecutor Janet King (Marta Dusseldorp), who returns from maternity leave and is thrown into "a shocking prosecution". Various cast members who appeared alongside Dusseldorp in Crownies will also appear in Janet King. A number of new characters were also created. The show was commissioned for an eight part series and filming began in 2013. Janet King was renewed for a further eight episodes in June 2015 and those began airing in late March 2016.

Production[edit]

Conception[edit]

Shortly before the final episode of the ABC1 legal drama Crownies was broadcast in November 2011, David Knox from TV Tonight reported that the series could continue in the form of a spin-off.[2] The drama had suffered from modest ratings and mixed critical reviews during its 22-part run.[2] ABC1 controller, Brendan Dahill explained "Crownies won't be coming back as Crownies. But we are talking to (producers) Screentime about a spin-off. There are lots of things I love about Crownies and lots of things that were done brilliantly, and I'm really proud of Crownies. I'm genuinely surprised it didn't engage a bigger audience than it did. Genuinely surprised. But I don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. There are plenty of brilliant things in it and we're talking to Screentime at the moment."[2]

Dahill stated that the spin-off would not be season two of Crownies and that it would take the characters in different directions.[2] He told Knox that there were certain elements of Crownies that worked well and he did not want to lose them because of poor ratings.[2] He continued "So what Screentime have come up with is a really great compromise that allows us to keep the best bits, and learn and move on."[2] Knox added that a spin-off is rare in Australian television drama, but not unprecedented.[2] On 20 August 2012, ABC TV confirmed that it had commissioned the Crownies spin-off, Janet King.[3] The series was billed as an 8-part legal and political thriller.[3][4] Janet King was produced by Karl Zwicky, Jane Allen and Lisa Scott, with Hilary Bonney acting as story consultant.[3] Greg Haddrick, Jane Allen, Kris Mrksa and Shaun Grant wrote the series.[3]

Dahill said he was excited about Janet King and the fresh new direction it would take.[3] Carole Sklan, ABC's Head of Fiction, commented "Screentime has developed an exciting drama series about the fabulous character, Janet King. The series looks at the dilemmas of a contemporary woman who returns to work after a year's maternity leave and is flung into a shocking prosecution that involves layers of intrigue played out at the highest levels of power. Janet King's case leads her through some astounding twists and revelations that impact on her life on every level."[3] Screentime's Des Monaghan said that it had become clear to Screentime and the ABC that viewers had developed "a great deal" of affection for the character of Janet King and the cast of Crownies, so he was "delighted" that there would be a chance to build on that.[3]

On 30 June 2015, it was announced that ABC had renewed Janet King for a second eight-part series.[5]

Casting[edit]

Anthony Soegito from If Magazine revealed that Marta Dusseldorp would return as Janet King, while many of the characters that became established on Crownies also make appearances.[4] These include; Hamish Michael (Richard Stirling), Ella Scott Lynch (Erin O'Shaughnessy), Andrea Demetriades (Lina Badir), Peter Kowitz (Tony Gillies), Christopher Morris (Andy Campbell), Indiana Evans (Tatum Novak), Jeanette Cronin (Tracey Samuels), Aimee Pedersen (Ashleigh Larsson) and Lewis Fitz-Gerald (David Sinclair).[6] Knox revealed that Vince Colosimo had been cast as Chief Superintendent Jack Rizzoli, while Damian Walshe-Howling will appear as Owen Mitchell, a rising star prosecutor.[6] John Howard, Sonia Todd, Jessica Napier, Deborah Kennedy and Tiriel Mora also have roles in the series.[6] Todd Lasance and Daniel Lissing will not reprise their respective roles as Ben McMahon and Conrad De Groot.[7]

Joining Dusseldorp as title character Janet King for season 2 include former Crownies originals; Hamish Michael (Richard Sterling), Andrea Demetriades (Lina Badir), Christopher Morris (Andy Campbell) and Peter Kowitz (Tony Gillies), as well as, Janet King season one cast members, Damian Walshe-Howling (Owen Mitchell) and Terry Serio (Terry Renner). New faces include Leah Purcell, Philip Quast, Anita Hegh, Aaron Jeffery, Genevieve Hegney, Nicholas Hope and Ewen Leslie.[8]

Filming[edit]

The series went into production in early 2013.[9] Grant Brown, Peter Andrikidis, and Ian Watson were hired to direct the episodes.[1] Filming finished by June 2013.[10] It began broadcasting on 27 February 2014.[11][12] Filming on the second series commenced in October 2015.[5]

Cast[edit]

Episodes[edit]

Series 1 (2014)[edit]

Episode
no.		 Title Directed by Written by Original air date Australian viewers
(in millions)
1 "A Song of Experience"[15] Grant Brown Greg Haddrick 27 February 2014 (2014-02-27) 0.824[16]
Senior Prosecutor Janet King returns to the Department of Public Prosecutions following maternity leave. She fails to get suspected sexual predator Alex Mareno convicted, so she throws herself into a case involving high ranking police officer, Steven Blakely, who has been charged with the assisted suicide of his wife.
2 "Every Contact Leaves a Trace"[17] Grant Brown Jane Allen 6 March 2014 (2014-03-06) 0.754[18]
Janet feels guilty when Blakely is found dead of an apparent suicide. However, Detective Campbell believes that Blakely was murdered by Dianne Vaslich, a woman who was angry with Blakely for covering up her daughter's murder. Meanwhile, Erin and Owen become involved with a bikie murder that ends with their witness being killed in a drive-by shooting.
3 "Natural Justice"[19] Grant Brown Kris Mrska 13 March 2014 (2014-03-13) 0.770[20]
Owen takes on the case of Zabina's murder and the police soon identify the two bikies responsible, Franzen and Collard. Janet goes for a murder conviction when Blakely's blood is found on Dianne's coat but she claims she merely found him injured. Franzen offers to testify that Dianne tried to pay him to beat information out of Blakely, in return for immunity from prosecution. Collard's confession is ruled inadmissible and Erin's testimony is torn to shreds. Dianne and her son are found guilty but then Blakely's body is found far away from where they supposedly dumped it.
4 "The Third Man"[21] Peter Andrikidis Jane Allen and Shaun Grant 20 March 2014 (2014-03-20) 0.740[22]
The case against Dianne and her son will collapse unless the police produce an accomplice who buried Blakely's body. Andy finds Blakely argued with Danny Novak shortly before he died and was reinvestigating the murder of Dianne's daughter; Tatum gives her father a false alibi. Rizzoli points Andy towards Cranford, who claims to have buried Blakely's body for the Vasilichs, but Janet exposes him as a liar in court. Lina becomes obsessed with convicting Tim Clarke and mistakes his daughter for one of his victims. Novak tells Janet that Blakely's murder is connected to the Moreno case.
5 "Lurking Doubt"[23] Peter Andrikidis Jane Allen 27 March 2014 (2014-03-27) 0.772[24]
Janet recognises Moreno's daughter Ruby in one of the photos from Clarke's computer and Lina discovers it was taken in a house owned by Blakely. Gail Jones orders Tony to oversee Dianne's appeal but the judges overturn the conviction with little discussion. Andy is taken off the case when he has to cover Rizzoli's leave, while Janet is harassed by the press when she is accused of having an affair with Erin, who has just been promoted. Ash and the children are taken into protective custody when a bomb goes off in Janet's empty car.
6 "Overtime"[25] Peter Andrikidis Kris Mrska 3 April 2014 (2014-04-03) 0.831[26]
Janet is convinced Moreno was involved in the bombing but no evidence can be found. Blakely's daughter Maya reveals she was abused as a child by Keith Nelson, a family friend; Owen and Lina get him committed to trial but Maya is reluctant to give evidence. Janet and Richard investigate Judge Renmark, who acquitted Moreno and is currently investigating Janet and Erin; Rizzoli suspects he was in the pay of organised crime.
7 "An Achilles Heel"[27] Ian Watson Shaun Grant and Greg Haddrick 10 April 2014 (2014-04-10) 0.820[28]
Renmark is found dead after a fall from a multi-storey car park, and a USB stick full of child pornography, similar to one Nelson had, is found in his house. Lina tells Andy about her apparent infertility. Richard tells Andy and Janet that Owen knew about Richard's investigation into the history of Renmark's judgements, and Tony discovers that he spread the story about Janet and Erin to the press. Tony convinces Maya to testify but Owen fails to cut a deal with David Sinclair. Drew claims in court that it was Blakely who abused them.
8 "The Greatest Good"[15] Ian Watson Jane Allen 17 April 2014 (2014-04-17) 0.855[29]
Drew is exposed as Blakely's murderer, Danny Novak is arrested for the murder of Orianna Vasilich and Nelson is found guilty. Moreno confesses to taking the photographs and offers information in exchange for Ruby's name being left out of it. Drew states that Blakely was behind the ring and Renmark behind the car bomb. However, Janet realises Rizzoli was behind both, as well as Renmark's murder: He was using the ring to control high ranking officials and ensure convictions. When Janet refuses to keep quiet, he commits suicide. Gail increases the DPP's budget in return for keeping quiet about his involvement and the other members of the ring are arrested.

Series 2 (2016)[edit]

Episode
no.		 Title Directed by Written by Original air date Australian viewers
(in millions)
1 "The Invisible Wound"[30] Peter Andrikidis Greg Haddrick 24 March 2016 (2016-03-24) 0.627[31]
The murder of Todd Wilson is the latest in over a dozen committed with illegal handguns in the last 15 months and Attorney-General Lincoln Priest assigns Janet to a Royal Commission to investigate the crimes; Owen, Richard, Lina and Andy are assigned to assist her. Janet is also dealing with Ash's murder by a still unknown gunman two years previous and running an inquest into the suicide of Corporal Allman, a soldier with PTSD. The police are interested in George Healy, a small-time drug user who was involved in a car crash near Todd's murder, and Janet's new assistant Heather O'Connor helps Andy arrest him. Richard visits Keisha Gibson, who was with Todd when he was killed, and sees a bag of blood-stained money in her room; Janet and the others suspect she is going to meet someone to split it and decide to keep her under surveillance. Janet is visiting Todd's widow Elaheh and her family to give her an expensive bracelet he bought her when someone shoots through the window.
2 "Here and Now"[30] Peter Andrikidis Stuart Page 31 March 2016 (2016-03-31) 0.613[32]
3 "In Plain Sight"[30] Ian Watson Niki Aken 7 April 2016 (2016-04-07) 0.608[33]
4 "The Smoking Gun"[30] Ian Watson Niki Aken 14 April 2016 (2016-04-14) 0.613[34]
5 "Apprehended Violence"[30] Grant Brown Greg Haddrick 21 April 2016 (2016-04-21) 0.595[35]
6 "The Thaw"[30] Grant Brown Felicity Packard 28 April 2016 (2016-04-28) 0.628[36]
7 "The Heart of It"[30] Peter Andrikidis Stuart Page and Greg Haddick 5 May 2016 (2016-05-05) 0.663[37]
8 "The Long Goodbye"[30] Peter Andrikidis Greg Haddrick and Felicity Packard 12 May 2016 (2016-05-12) 0.673[38]

Reception[edit]

Ben Neutze from Crikey said that Janet was an "audience favourite" from Crownies. He also noted that Dusseldorp’s acting profile had been raised following her appearance in A Place to Call Home. He predicted that the combination would secure success for the show and ABC.[39] Ben Pobjie, writing for the The Sydney Morning Herald, praised the series for trying "to keep things varied and interesting. Most likely aware of the pitfalls of such a familiar genre, the show moves at a neat pace."[40]

Accolades[edit]

Year Award Category Recipients and nominees Result
2014 AACTA Awards[41][42] Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama Marta Dusseldorp Won
Best Television Drama Series Janet King Nominated
2015 Logie Awards[43] Most Outstanding Actress Marta Dusseldorp Nominated
Most Outstanding Drama Series Janet King Nominated

Home media[edit]

The series was released on a three disc DVD on 18 April 2014.[44]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Janet King (2013)". Screen Australia. (Government of Australia). Retrieved 15 February 2014. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Knox, David (25 November 2011). "ABC considers Crownies spin-off". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 February 2013. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Darren (20 August 2012). "ABC TV's Crownies Spin-off To Be A Political Thriller". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 February 2013. 
  4. ^ a b Soegito, Anthony (20 August 2012). "Crownies character Janet King to return in ABC political thriller". If Magazine. The Intermedia Group. Retrieved 12 February 2013. 
  5. ^ a b Knox, David (30 June 2015). "Renewed: ABC confirms more Janet King, Dr. Blake, Jack Irish, Rake & The Code". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 July 2015. 
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Knox, David (22 January 2013). "Cast confirmed for ABC's Janet King". TV Tonight. Retrieved 12 February 2013. 
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Janet King Returns". OutinPerth. Retrieved 15 February 2014. 
  8. ^ http://clpr.com.au/news/janet-king-returns-in-gripping-new-season
  9. ^ Meade, Amanda (20 August 2012). "Crownies spawns Dusseldorp spin-off". The Australian. Retrieved 12 February 2013. 
  10. ^ Northover, Kylie (7 June 2013). "Lunch with Marta Dusseldorp". Herald Sun. (News Corp). Retrieved 15 February 2014. 
  11. ^ Vickery, Colin (16 December 2013). "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries under a cloud as ABC tries to broaden audience". news.com.au. Retrieved 8 February 2014. 
  12. ^ Knox, David. "Janet King". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 February 2014. 
  13. ^ "Aaron cast in ABC'S Janet King". aaronglenane.com. 14 April 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014. 
  14. ^ Casamento, Jo (28 April 2013). "Former lad so glad he's now a doting dad". The Sun-Herald. (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 16 February 2014. 
  15. ^ a b "Series 1". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 February 2014. 
  16. ^ "Border Security grabs eleventh place". B&T Marketing & Media. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014. 
  17. ^ "Every Contact Leaves A Trace". eBroadcast. Retrieved 21 February 2014. 
  18. ^ "Thursday 6 March 2014". TV Tonight. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014. 
  19. ^ "Natural Justice". eBroadcast. Retrieved 27 February 2014. 
  20. ^ "Thursday 13 March 2014". TV Tonight. 14 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014. 
  21. ^ "The Third Man". eBroadcast. Retrieved 7 March 2014. 
  22. ^ "The Checkout checks into top 10". AdNews. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014. 
  23. ^ "Lurking Doubt". eBroadcast. Retrieved 18 March 2014. 
  24. ^ Bodey, Michael (28 March 2014). "The Block builds its audience". The Australian. Retrieved 28 March 2014. 
  25. ^ "Overtime". eBroadcast. Retrieved 28 March 2014. 
  26. ^ "So You Think You Can Dance hits lows and highs as Seven’s share slumps". Mumbrella. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014. 
  27. ^ "An Achilles Heel". eBroadcast. Retrieved 28 March 2014. 
  28. ^ "Absence of MKR and The Block sees news back on top". B&T Marketing & Media. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014. 
  29. ^ Knox, David (18 April 2014). "Thursday 17 April 2014". TV Tonight. Retrieved 18 April 2014. 
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h "Series 2". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 April 2016. 
  31. ^ Dale, David (6 March 2016). "The Ratings Race: On Australian TV, mating is the new renovating". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 April 2016. 
  32. ^ "Footy Show performs in the demos as Home and Away pulls largest non-news audience". Mumbrella. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016. 
  33. ^ "Gogglebox free-to-air premiere up on last year as The Checkout debut down on last year". Mumbrella. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016. 
  34. ^ "The Checkout heads north in the ratings". news.com.au. 15 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016. 
  35. ^ "Ten's Gogglebox dips again but performs well across the demos as Seven wins the night". Mumbrella. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016. 
  36. ^ "Seven's House Rules sheds 112,000 metro viewers on second outing as Nine wins night". Mumbrella. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016. 
  37. ^ "Gogglebox sees audience grow by a third as Masterchef takes comfortable Thursday win". Mumbrella. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016. 
  38. ^ "MasterChef grilled by news programs". news.com.au. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016. 
  39. ^ Neutze, Ben (16 January 2014). "Australian TV in 2014: 10 new shows to look out for". Crikey. (Private Media Pty Ltd). Retrieved 15 February 2014. 
  40. ^ Pobjie, Ben (27 March 2014). "The Mora the murkier for Janet King". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 March 2014. 
  41. ^ "Nominees named for 4th AACTA Awards". Mumbrella. 3 December 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014. 
  42. ^ Roach, Vicky (30 January 2015). "Russell Crowe’s WWI drama The Water Diviner ties for major AACTA award with The Babadook". news.com.au. Retrieved 22 March 2015. 
  43. ^ Willis, Charlotte (22 March 2015). "Here’s the full List of 2015 Logies nominations". news.com.au. Retrieved 22 March 2015. 
  44. ^ "Janet King (DVD)". Ezy DVD. Retrieved 27 April 2014. 

External links[edit]

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ABC
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