With the final episode of the revived Neighbours airing on Amazon last Thursday, a gap has opened in the schedules for Australian melodrama. For viewers craving sun, surf, and shameless overacting, a new nightly series promises to fill the void.
A New Home for High Drama
The Imposter, which began its run this week, arrives with a pedigree of chaos. The iconic Aussie soap Neighbours, axed by the BBC in 2008 after 22 years and later dropped by Channel 5 in 2022, was briefly rescued by Amazon. Its conclusion has paved the way for this fresh injection of antipodean angst.
The new show wastes no time, packing a staggering amount of plot into its opening episode. Audiences are introduced to double-crossing siblings, a manipulative matriarch, rebellious teens, a crumbling marriage, alcoholism, and a gay couple desperately seeking a surrogate. The central hook, however, is the return of a daughter, given up for adoption as a baby, who reappears declaring, "Hi, I'm yer daughter," to a mother who believed her dead.
Uncut Scenes and Classic Soap Tropes
The series doesn't shy away from sensational content. Kym Marsh, who plays Mancunian Amanda, has revealed that some of the filmed sex scenes were so raunchy they had to be cut before broadcast. The remaining footage is still described as eye-wateringly kinky.
For purists, the show also employs a classic soap opera technique: the slow reaction shot. Made famous by British soap Crossroads, the camera lingers on characters' faces, allowing their internal scheming or shock to play out silently. Actor Charlie Clausen, portraying scheming estate agent Todd, is highlighted as a master of this frozen pose as he plots to force a family to sell their hotel.
A Cast of Characters Designed for Conflict
The ensemble promises relentless drama. Alongside Todd's "30 mill" property deal and a promised Sunseeker yacht bonus, there's Simon (Don Hany), a brother so plagued by alcoholism he can't be bothered to tuck in his shirt. Meanwhile, Helen's gay son Ian (Jackson Gallagher) adds another layer of tension to the family dynamic.
The series promises to move at a breathless pace, with dialogue that hits like "a series of falling bricks." For those who find subtlety overrated and prefer plots that deliver whiplash, The Imposter is tailored to your tastes. And with a promised cameo from Aussie icon Dannii Minogue on the horizon, the show is betting big on unapologetic, addictive schlock.
