6.060 minSeason 1 • Episode 6
LatestTom confronts Bishop McNally and threatens to leak the results of his investigation beyond the confines of the institutional church. Margaret, Tom and Quaid attempt to end the Church's corruption and internal concealment of it, but they could risk their personal relationships and professional careers as they do so.
The year is 1988. It is 35 years after the events of Fred Schepisi’s classic film, The Devil’s Playground. Tom Allen, now in his 40s and recently widowed, is a respected Sydney psychiatrist and father of two children. A practicing Catholic, Tom accepts an offer by the Bishop of Sydney to become a counselor of priests. During these sessions, he will uncover a scandal and become embroiled in the Church’s attempts to cover it up. Tom’s quest for justice will push him to his limits, and reveal a side of Church power and official corruption he could never have imagined.
Acting
Simon Burke's trembling restraint as Tom cracks
Direction
Claustrophobic framing that traps you in rooms with monsters
Writing
Dialogue so polite it chills your blood
Simon Burke
Tom Allen
Don Hany
Bishop Quaid
Jarin Towney
Elliot Darcy
John Noble
Bishop John McNally
Morgan Davies
Bridie Allen
James Fraser
David Allen
Toni Collette
Margaret Wallace
Jack Thompson
Cardinal Neville
Anna Lise Phillips
Alice Kelly
Leon Ford
Brother Warner
Uli Latukefu
Father Matteo
Matt Levett
Brendan Mahony
Jessica Wren
Catherine Darcy
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Sequel to Schepisi's 1976 film about the same character as a boy in Catholic school, making this Australia's longest-spanning character study of institutional trauma.
John Noble filmed his bishop role between Fringe seasons, reportedly terrifying cast with improvised sermon intensity.
AU
