When everyone from my sister to the guy measuring our windows for new wooden blinds tells me I should check out a show, I normally do.
So it wasn't with entirely innocent eyes that we sat down to watch Foxtel's Australian sex worker drama Satisfaction.
Ten minutes later any innocence was well and truly lost. The Melbourne-based series has created a stir in the past 12 months with its graphic depiction of the working lives of a group of female prostitutes. And, by gee, the action at fictional brothel is not for the faint-hearted. There's the hooker with a heart of gold Chloe Diana Glenn , lesbian fetish specialist Heather Peta Sergeant , divorced mother-of-two Lauren Alison Whyte who has found her way on to the wrong side of the tracks, high-class escort Mel Madeleine West , new-age prostitute Tippi Bojana Novakovic and 's manager Nat Kestie Morassi who has a penchant for wearing rubber knickers.
Having ploughed through the first two seasons in a few weeks the third is screening on Showcase , I found Satisfaction had left a marked impression. It's been said by many that the nudity swiftly becomes second fiddle as the story-lines take over and I will attest to that. Peta Sergeant Heather as Heather. Madeleine West Mel as Mel. Alison Whyte Lauren as Lauren. Sullivan Stapleton Josh as Josh. Dustin Clare Sean as Sean. Steven Vidler Terence as Terence.
Jonny Pasvolsky Zoron as Zoron. Tamblyn Lord Bill as Bill. Sue Jones Eileen as Eileen. Roger Oakley Greg as Greg. Steve Adams Sheedy as Sheedy. Returning to , Lauren regains her confidence, gets herself a thankful regular and develops the steel to order Phil out of her life. Tippi is perplexed by a client, Aiden, who seems to be suppressing his sexual urges. Chloe comes clean with Bonnie about her work and Bonnie promptly shuts down.
Thinking it will help, Chloe decides to cool things with Josh, but Bonnie is doubly annoyed. Lauren discovers Heather is pregnant and lends her support. Finally, Tippi learns the shattering truth about her mystery client. Tippi negotiates her relationship with Aiden, but realises there's no room for him in her life.
Surprisingly, Bonnie gives Chloe the okay to go back to work. Pregnant Heather is offered some on-going support from Alex while one of Lauren's clients brushes up on his seduction skills, which she misinterprets as intended for her. A constant stream of regulars greets Chloe on her return to work, as well as an old friend who reminds Chloe of her achievements.
But at home she's rocked to discover Bonnie's dangerous internet activities. Lauren is shaken when her children announce they're moving to America with their father, while Heather's under pressure to sell the home she shared with Ally. Tippi embarks on an unusual adventure with a long term client, which becomes life threatening.
Meanwhile Mel finds a significant amount of money mysteriously deposited in her bank account and is further perplexed when she's faced with Nick's shady past. Heather moves in with Lauren, while Chloe's confusion continues over her relationship with Josh and Bonnie's attitude to her work. Troubled by Nick's overnight disappearance, Nat worries about her father's activities.
Chloe, Bonnie and Josh begin counselling sessions and Josh proposes marriage, which fails to appease Chloe's troubled mind. Nat and Nick are faced with a huge tax bill, which puts a strain on their relationship, while Mel's lover Tim reappears and makes a claim on her.
Lauren's former husband Phil tells her he needs to sell the family home and Heather's decision about the baby appears to be cemented. While the word may be as overused as a middle finger in a traffic jam, I found myself pondering its meaning while watching tonight's episode of Satisfaction. I love this Australian pay-TV drama. I've been a fan from the very first scene of the first episode of the first series. Since the demise of Sea Change and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it's one of the few pieces of television I am passionate about.
Every Tuesday evening I look forward to spending time with my old friends at Melbourne brothel But I'm disappointed. Truly, deeply disappointed with the writers — and not just because they've ditched the Portisehead song from the opening credits for the second series. Fair enough they've killed off two major characters — brothel owner Nick and hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold Tippi, this season.
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