A six-part third series of the ground-breaking drama for ABC starring Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths. In the corridors of power, adversaries Alex Irving and Rachel Anderson battle to control their political destinies. Season 2 writers Stuart Page and Pip Karmel team up again with producers Darren Dale, Erin Bretherton and Rachel Griffiths. They are joined by writers Julia Moriarty (Barrumbi Kids ), Meyne Wyatt (Heartbreak High) and Debra Oswald (Offspring). Total Control Season 3 is financed with support from the ABC, with All3Media managing international sales.
It’s been two years since the explosive events of the second season and outsider turned kingmaker, Alex Irving, is completely at home in the nation’s capital. But what she’s about to discover will test her like never before. The think tank run by Rachel Anderson’s reprobate advisor Nick Pearce – the one that made substantial donations to her election campaign – was backed by private interests in order to buy political influence. Rachel stuffed up. And the corruption allegations could destroy them both. As Alex and Rachel battle to control their political destinies, they will uncover the truth about who was behind the dark money. And why. Can Alex achieve the change she’s been fighting for or will it cost her everything? The gripping final instalment of this acclaimed political drama is not to be missed.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
A Blackfella Films production. Major production investment from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Screen Australia. Financed with support from Screen NSW with Screen ACT and VicScreen. Producers Darren Dale and Erin Bretherton. Executive Producers Rachel Griffiths and Stuart Page. Head of Indigenous Kelrick Martin. International Distributor is All3Media International.
Totally brilliant, Total Control returns to ABC for the final time.
Starring two titans of Australian screen Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths, ABC’s prestigious and razor-sharp political drama Total Control makes its final return with more powerplays, betrayals and soul-searching from Sunday 14th January at 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.
Over six gripping episodes, Deborah and Rachel are joined by a stellar line up of stars including Rob Collins, Wayne Blair, Anthony Hayes, Wesley Patten, Steph Tisdell, Daniela Farinacci, Lisa Flanagan, Benedict Hardie, Anita Hegh, Huw Higginson, Catherine McClements, Fayssal Bazzi, Ursula Yovich, Lisa Hensley and Trisha Morton-Thomas.
It’s been two years since the explosive events of the second season and outsider turned kingmaker, Alex Irving (Deborah Mailman), is completely at home in the nation’s capital. But what she’s about to discover will test her like never before. The think tank run by Rachel Anderson’s (Rachel Griffiths) reprobate advisor Nick Pearce – the one that made substantial donations to her election campaign – was backed by private interests in order to buy political influence. Rachel stuffed up. And the corruption allegations could destroy them both.
As Alex and Rachel battle to control their political destinies, they will uncover the truth about who was behind the dark money. And why. Can Alex achieve the change she’s been fighting for or will it cost her everything?
The final instalment of this critically acclaimed political drama is not to be missed.
Production credit: A Blackfella Films production. Major production investment from the ABC and Screen Australia. Financed with support from Screen NSW with Screen ACT and VicScreen. Producers Darren Dale and Erin Bretherton. Executive Producers Rachel Griffiths and Stuart Page. ABC Executive Producer Kelrick Martin. International Distributor is All3Media International.
Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths return in the final series of Total Control. Kingmaker, Alex Irving, is at the centre of power in the nation’s capital but what she’s about to discover will test her like never before.
Starring two titans of the screen, Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths, the gripping third and final instalment of this acclaimed political drama is not to be missed.
It’s been a tumultuous two years since outsider turned kingmaker, Alex Irving (Deborah Mailman) anointed Paul Murphy (Wayne Blair) as Australia’s first Aboriginal Prime Minister. Since then, the government has weathered a summer of bushfires, a global pandemic, mounting debt, and the tide of public sentiment turning against them.
When part of Alex’s electorate is hit by once in a century floods, she takes the disaster response into her own hands, using the media and a chance meeting with billionaire Kathleen Sloane, to make a pointed criticism of the government.
Meanwhile, Rachel (Rachel Griffiths) fronts the enquiry into the deaths of Marcie McClain and Jessica Clarke where she will finally have to answer to allegations of misconduct. In a deft moment of public relations, Rachel will turn the moment to her advantage and join Alex’s push for youth justice reform. Later Rachel delivers a rousing speech outlining her vision for the future of Australian democracy. But when a journalist friend from Rachel’s past reappears, a looming scandal threatens everything she’s worked for.
Alex receives a health diagnosis which threatens to derail her political ambitions. Rachel learns some shocking news about her campaign finance from journalist Marion Beaumont.
Alex (Deborah Mailman) is diagnosed with a health condition that she chooses to keep secret from those closest to her. Alex is reluctant to book the lifesaving surgery she needs and continues to shoulder the stress of her job.
The sentencing hearing for the cab driver who attacked Alex and Charlie (Rob Collins) yields a disappointing result, putting pressure on Charlie’s relationship with Dee. He continues to throw himself into work, pushing an important initiative that will improve health outcomes for First Nations Australians.
Rachel (Rachel Griffith) agrees to an interview with her old friend Marion Beaumont (Catherine McClements) – what she assumed was a story on her new party, quickly becomes an interrogation on dodgy campaign finance linked to the think tank run by her reprobate campaign advisor. The Independents, including Alex, are now one headline away from political destruction and it’s Rachel’s fault.
Eddie( Wesley Patten) stands up for a stranger and is detained by the police in the process. The ensuing media storm buries an important policy announcement for Paul prompting him to start making moves against Alex.
At a Parliamentary event, Rachel gathers the numbers for her alliance, while a serious health scare throws Alex’s entire future into jeopardy.
Alex (Deborah Mailman) returns to Winton for the opening of the new Winton Medical Centre – the reason she entered politics in the first place. But celebrations are short lived when Alex is trumped by the State Health Minister and begins to suspect that Paul (Wayne Blair) is freezing her out.
Pressures mount for Rachel (Rachel Griffiths) when billionaire Kathleen Sloane (Maya Stange) asks for significant policy input in exchange for funding for the new alliance.
At a Parliamentary event, Rachel extends an offer to moderate politician Matthew Kohli (Fayssal Bazzi) who finds himself increasingly alienated by Damien Bauer’s (Anthony Hayes) far right leanings.
Meanwhile, work stresses derail Charlie’s (Rob Collins) night and he finds himself once again prioritising his job over his family.
Alex has a serious health scare which throws her entire future into jeopardy. Has she finally run out of fight? When Joely (Steph Tisdell) is burdened with keeping Alex’s diagnosis a secret, she begins to question her own political future.
Alex makes an unsavoury deal with a political rival on a nation-changing piece of legislation. Charlie reaches breaking point.
Looking to address his issues before the imminent arrival of his first child, Charlie (Rob Collins) sees a counsellor at the Aboriginal Medical Service. On edge after the session, Charlie unleashes at Paul (Wayne Blair) for being an utter disappointment of a PM.
Alex (Deborah Mailman) rebuffs Joely’s (Steph Tisdell) suggestion that she tell Charlie and Eddie (Wesley Patten) about her health condition. Although she is supposed to be recovering after her surgery, Alex instead presses on with her mission to pass the youth justice reform package by partnering with her political enemy Damien Bauer (Anthony Hayes).
Rachel (Rachel Griffiths) asks Marion (Catherine McClements) not to pursue the corruption story but millions of dollars of dark money has been funnelled into politics, and Marion is determined to expose it. She offers Rachel one of her findings – a story that will destroy Helena Rossi’s (Anita Hegh) career. Later, Alex’s political career is left in tatters when Rachel reveals the truth about the think tank and its links to the deaths of Marcie and Jess.
Lisa Hensley is a brilliant addition to the cast this year. Haven’t seen her in anything for a while. Great actress. She never disappoints in any role I’ve seen. In fact, they have quite a few quality new actors joining the already great cast.
Also, great writing in this show. Really impressive scripts.
Determined to reform youth justice, Alex pushes forward with her radical plan in the House of Representatives. Rachel seizes the opportunity for her own advantage.
In a strategic play, Paul (Wayne Blair) introduces a Bill in the House of Representatives to amend the Criminal Code. What should be an easy point score on national security turns to chaos when Alex (Deborah Mailman) introduces a series of surprise amendments which would raise the age of criminal responsibility. Paul finds himself caught between having his leadership credibility destroyed and alienating the State leaders and media barons.
A blindsided Damien (Anthony Hayes) goes on a rampage, further alienating Matthew Kohli (Fayssal Bazzi) and the other moderates in the party. A key faction abstaining from voting might give Rachel (Rachel Griffiths) the numbers she needs for the alliance. In the midst of the action, Charlie (Rob Collins) rushes to the hospital – Dee (Rosie Lourde) is in labour.
With her youth justice reform measures officially passed in the House, Alex has finally carved out the legislative change she’s been fighting for since the beginning. But when Alex appears before the press she’s confronted with allegations of corruption. Marion’s (Catherine McClements) story has broken and Rachel didn’t give her any warning.
Alex and Rachel battle to control their political destinies in the gripping final instalment of Total Control. Welcome to the future of Australian democracy.
The fallout from the vote on the Bill continues as allegations of corruption swirl around Alex (Deborah Mailman). Disgraced, but determined to regain her political relevance Alex receives some surprising assistance from Marion (Catherine McClements) and makes a bold public statement.
In Parliament, Rachel (Rachel Griffiths) has rallied the alliance of independents and is ready to lead them – and the nation - into a new political future.
Eddie (Wesley Patton) confronts his mum about hiding her illness and his plans to study abroad. Charlie (Rob Collins) also comes to an important decision about his future while he and Dee (Rosie Lourde) bond with their newborn daughter. He needs to make a change – and it isn’t in Canberra.
After demanding a place in Rachel’s alliance, Alex takes a meeting with Kathleen Sloane (Maya Stange) and offers her the deal that Rachel wouldn’t. On the day the new party is set to be announced, Alex and Rachel battle to control their political destinies and change the face of Australian democracy in the process. The gripping final instalment of this acclaimed political drama is not to be missed.
