Stan kicked off the new year with its new Aussie drama Dear Life.
At the centre of Dear Life is Lillian (Brooke Satchwell), whose New Year’s Eve marriage proposal from doctor boyfriend Ash (Khisraw Jones-Sukoor) becomes but a cruel memory when he dies following a horrific emergency room attack.
Fast-forward eight months, and Lillian is still struggling despite support from friends Mary (Eleanor Matsuura) and Hamish (Ryan Johnson), who have been there through it all.
Meanwhile, middle-aged couple Andrew (Ben Lawson) and Kelly (Annie Maynard) are having a night out in Melbourne. Bored in the city, Andrew tries to hurry his wife up, but Kelly just wants to keep the party going, dragging him along to queue for her birthday celebration when tragedy strikes.
When Lillian finds a letter from Andrew, who had been saved from organ donor, she sets out on a quest to meet those who have been given a second chance at life thanks to Ash. One of them being Andrew.
Elsewhere, Mary, who worked at the hospital where Ash died, is traumatised by his death but conceals her anguish for the sake of those around her. Ash’s mother Janet (Linda Cooper) dumps a huge financial debt on Lillian, but there’s more to the story, while her own mother Michelle (Kerry Armstrong) is also less than helpful. And everyone is put under extra pressure when Jordan (Like J Morgan) is looking to change his plea.
Creators and directors Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope have crafted a special series that is layered with emotion and humour. Satchwell is extraordinary at drawing you into Lillian’s story, and the supporting cast is stacked with talent, which also includes Deborah Mailman, who all play key parts in the story.
Emotionally gripping, Dear Life is a Stan original that makes an impact.
4.5 Stars
Dear Life is now streaming on Stan.
