# Love My Way

Love My Way is an Australian television drama series created by John Edwards and Claudia Karvan, which premiered on Fox8 on 22 November 2004, before moving to W. for its second season, and Showtime for its third and final season, concluding on 19 March 2007. The series stars Claudia Karvan, Asher Keddie, Brendan Cowell, Daniel Wyllie, Lynette Curran, Alex Cook, Max Cullen and Gillian Jones. It was produced by Southern Star Group for Foxtel, with Kim Vecera and Mike Sneesby serving as executive producers for the series.
The series garnered critical acclaim, where it became the recipient of several major Australian awards and nominations, including the AFI award, in which it won for Best Television Drama Series for each of its three seasons, as well as award wins at the TV Week Logie Awards, Australian Writers' Guild Awards (AWGIE), and the ASTRA Awards.

## Premise

Set in Sydney, Love My Way was about a group of 30-somethings dealing with the ups and downs of life. The series revolves around an extended family unit - Frankie Paige and Charlie Jackson are the separated parents of Lou, and Frankie also lives with Charlie's brother, Tom. As the series began, Charlie's new wife Julia is about to have their first child. Frankie's mother, Di and Charlie's mother, Brenda, and father, Gerry, also have a strong presence in the ongoing story, as does Julia's ex-lover Howard, who enters into a relationship with Frankie.

## Production

Love My Way was produced by John Edwards of the Southern Star Group, and Claudia Karvan, who also played the leading role of Frankie Paige in the series. Initially intended to be picked up by Network Ten, which they agreed not to proceed due to budget concerns, subscription service Foxtel commissioned a first season on ten episodes in 2003, with pre-production lasting 18 months before filming began on 21 June 2004.
When the series was launched, much was made of the connection between Love My Way and The Secret Life of Us: both sharing a star, as well as significant creative talent (Edwards and Perske both were involved in Secret Life, as were series writers like Tony McNamara). However, the series is not a continuation of Secret Life, although it does share some thematic concerns. When developing Love My Way, Edwards and Karvan did, in fact, explore the possibility of a spin-off series set in a hospital, featuring Karvan's character Alex, and Rex (played by Vince Colosimo), a project with never came to fruition.
Foxtel's director of television and marketing, Brian Walsh, stated that the series marked the first time that the network had the freedom to produce a drama exclusively aimed at subscribers, as he remarked that it drew inspiration from several HBO series, including Six Feet Under, The Sopranos and Sex and the City, commenting "[he] wanted to carve out a piece of TV drama that was edgy, daring, provocative".
The series was filmed in actual locations, including The Sunday Telegraph office, while some scenes were filmed on location at the infamously dangerous Cromwell Park, as there was enough money in the budget to cover council fees. Another advantage of producing a pay TV drama was the freedom to push the boundaries, such as the inclusion of regular swearing, drug use and sexual scenes and references, content which is limited in free-to-air shows.
In March 2005, Foxtel commissioned a 12-episode second season, with Austar joining the production as co-investors. The series was renewed for a third season in May 2006, and filming commenced in December 2006.
The star of the series, Claudia Karvan, is also a co-producer, along with having written for the series. Brendan Cowell, who appears as Tom, also worked as script writer for two episodes of seasons 1 and three episodes of season 2.
On first airing, the theme song originally by The Psychedelic Furs, this time covered by Magic Dirt, played over the title sequence.

## Cast
### Main cast

* Claudia Karvan as Francesca "Frankie" Paige
* Asher Keddie as Julia Jackson
* Brendan Cowell as Tom Jackson
* Daniel Wyllie as Charlie Jackson
* Lynette Curran as Brenda Jackson
* Alex Cook as Louise "Lou" Jackson Paige
* Gillian Jones as Di Paige
* Max Cullen as Gerry Jackson

### Recurring/guest stars

* Sam Worthington as Howard Light
* Ben Mendelsohn as Lewis Feingold
* Mariel McClorey as Katie
* Sam Parsonson as Dylan Feingold
* Claire van der Boom as Billie
* Sacha Horler as P.K.
* Damon Herriman as George Wagstaffe
* Justine Clarke as Simone
* Adelaide Clemens as Harper
* Alex Dimitriades as Julien
* Josef Ber as Bruce
* Kym Gyngell as Curtis Manning
* Ewen Leslie as Duc
* Susie Porter as Christine
* Leah Purcell as Caroline Syron
* Alan David Lee as Father Chris
* Abby Earl as Chloe
* Matthew Le Nevez as Jai
* Paula Arundell as Gina

## Episodes

| Season | Episodes | Episodes | Originally released | Originally released | Originally released |
| Season | Episodes | Episodes | First released | Last released | Network |
| 1 | 10 | 10 | 22 November 2004 (2004-11-22) | 31 January 2005 (2005-01-31) | FOX8 |
| 2 | 12 | 12 | 5 February 2006 (2006-02-05) | 23 April 2006 (2006-04-23) | W. |
| 3 | 8 | 8 | 26 February 2007 (2007-02-26) | 19 March 2007 (2007-03-19) | Showtime |
(Episode information retrieved from Australian Television Information Archive).

### Season 1 (2004-05)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | 1 | "Don't Tell Me Your Dreams" | Jessica Hobbs | Jacquelin Perske | 22 November 2004 (2004-11-22) |
| 2 | 2 | "What's In A Name" | Jessica Hobbs | Tony McNamara | 22 November 2004 (2004-11-22) |
| 3 | 3 | "Crazy Love" | Jessica Hobbs | Jacquelin Perske & Marissa Cooke | 29 November 2004 (2004-11-29) |
| 4 | 4 | "Spin Cycle" | Ian Watson | Brendan Cowell | 6 December 2004 (2004-12-06) |
| 5 | 5 | "Stick Sisters" | Ian Watson | Louise Fox | 13 December 2004 (2004-12-13) |
| 6 | 6 | "To Dance With Death" | Ian Watson | Fiona Seres | 20 December 2004 (2004-12-20) |
| 7 | 7 | "My Family Up A Tree" | Ian Watson | Brendan Cowell | 10 January 2005 (2005-01-10) |
| 8 | 8 | "A Different Planet" | Jessica Hobbs | Louise Fox | 17 January 2005 (2005-01-17) |
| 9 | 9 | "Only Mortal" | Jessica Hobbs | Jacquelin Perske | 24 January 2005 (2005-01-24) |
| 10 | 10 | "Garden Of Love" | Jessica Hobbs | Fiona Seres | 31 January 2005 (2005-01-31) |

### Season 2 (2006)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 11 | 1 | "More To Tell" | Shirley Barrett | Jacquelin Perske | 5 February 2006 (2006-02-05) |
| 12 | 2 | "The Christmas Thing" | Shirley Barrett | Tony McNamara | 12 February 2006 (2006-02-12) |
| 13 | 3 | "When Wanting Works" | Shirley Barrett | Blake Ayshford | 19 February 2006 (2006-02-19) |
| 14 | 4 | "No Immunity" | Garth Davis | Louise Fox | 26 February 2006 (2006-02-26) |
| 15 | 5 | "Old Wounds" | Garth Davis | Fiona Seres | 5 March 2006 (2006-03-05) |
| 16 | 6 | "I Know You" | Garth Davis | Brendan Cowell | 12 March 2006 (2006-03-12) |
| 17 | 7 | "Tower of Love" | Geoff Bennett | Brendan Cowell, Fiona Seres & Tony McNamara | 19 March 2006 (2006-03-19) |
| 18 | 8 | "Crossing The Line" | Geoff Bennett | Sarah Lambert | 26 March 2006 (2006-03-26) |
| 19 | 9 | "Amphibians" | Geoff Bennett | Brendan Cowell | 2 April 2006 (2006-04-02) |
| 20 | 10 | "One Big Happy" | Omar Madha | Tony McNamara | 9 April 2006 (2006-04-09) |
| 21 | 11 | "Five Minutes of Fame" | Omar Madha | Fiona Seres | 16 April 2006 (2006-04-16) |
| 22 | 12 | "You're Almost There" | Omar Madha | Lousie Fox & Jacquelin Perske | 23 April 2006 (2006-04-23) |

### Season 3 (2007)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 23 | 1 | "I'm The King of the Castle" | Ian Watson | Brendan Cowell | 26 February 2007 (2007-02-26) |
| 24 | 2 | "Cold Blooded Creatures" | Ian Watson | Tony McNamara | 26 February 2007 (2007-02-26) |
| 25 | 3 | "Say What You Mean" | Shirley Barrett | Fiona Seres | 5 March 2007 (2007-03-05) |
| 26 | 4 | "Together Apart" | Shirley Barrett | Louise Fox | 5 March 2007 (2007-03-05) |
| 27 | 5 | "The Cemetery Gates" | Kate Dennis | Brendan Cowell | 12 March 2007 (2007-03-12) |
| 28 | 6 | "Cars Without Brakes" | Kate Dennis | Tony McNamara | 12 March 2007 (2007-03-12) |
| 29 | 7 | "Running With Crabs" | Emma Freeman | Fiona Seres | 19 March 2007 (2007-03-19) |
| 30 | 8 | "And in the End" | Emma Freeman | Brendan Cowell, Tony McNamara & Fiona Seres | 19 March 2007 (2007-03-19) |

## Reception
### Critical reception

Love My Way has received critical acclaim throughout its run.
In a review for The Sydney Morning Herald, prior to broadcast of the second season, Robin Oliver stated that "The unrivalled television drama production of 2004 returns with fresh episodes and a verdict is easily reached: better than ever"... "Love My Way positively glows with that precious and often elusive ingredient, the ordinariness of life." Of the cast, he said, "The old gang is in position, notably Tom, Charlie and Julia Jackson (Brendan Cowell, Dan Wyllie and Asher Keddie). Lovely work, but it is the art of unexplored nuance - the parked car, the fingerprinting - that makes Jacqueline Perske's opening script a triumph."
David Knox of TV Tonight, gave the series a positive review prior to the season three premiere, showing praise to the cast performances, commenting "as with previous seasons of LMW the performances are roundly excellent", in particular, he mentioned "[Ben] Mendelsohn shines in a role that reminds us he is all too rarely seen. [Asher] Keddie’s Julia teeters on the brink of vulnerability and anal-retentiveness that shows she is no one-dimensional performer."

### Awards and nominations

| Award | Year | Category | Recipient | Result |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2005 | Best Drama Series | John Edwards, Claudia Karvan | Won |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2005 | Best Lead Actor in Television | Dan Wyllie | Nominated |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2005 | Best Lead Actress in Television | Claudia Karvan | Won |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2005 | Best Guest or Supporting Actor in Television | Max Cullen (S1:E8)) | Won |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2005 | Best Direction in Television | Jessica Hobbs (S1:E8) | Won |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2005 | Best Screenplay in Television | Jacquelin Perske (S1:E9) | Won |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2005 | Outstanding Achievement in Craft in Television | Louis Irving (cinematography) | Nominated |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2006 | Best Drama Series | John Edwards, Claudia Karvan, Jacquelin Perske | Won |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2006 | Best Direction in Television | Shirley Barrett (S2:E11) | Nominated |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2006 | Best Lead Actor in Television Drama | Dan Wyllie | Nominated |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2006 | Best Lead Actress in Television Drama | Claudia Karvan | Nominated |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2006 | Best Lead Actress in Television Drama | Asher Keddie | Nominated |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2006 | Best Screenplay in Television | Jacqueline Perske (S2:E11) | Nominated |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2007 | Best Television Drama Series | John Edwards, Claudia Karvan | Won |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2007 | Best Lead Actor in Television Drama | Ben Mendelsohn | Nominated |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2007 | Best Lead Actress in Television Drama | Claudia Karvan | Won |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2007 | Best Guest or Supporting Actress in Television Drama | Justine Clarke | Nominated |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2007 | Best Screenplay in Television | Tony McNamara (S3:E6) | Nominated |
| AFI Awards/ AACTA Awards | 2015 | Subscription Television 20th Anniversary Award for Best Drama | Love My Way | Won |
| ASTRA Awards | 2005 | Most Outstanding Australian Production - General Entertainment | Love My Way (John Edwards) | Won |
| ASTRA Awards | 2005 | Most Outstanding On Camera Performance - Male | Dan Wyllie | Won |
| ASTRA Awards | 2005 | Most Outstanding On Camera Performance - Female | Claudia Karvan | Won |
| ASTRA Awards | 2006 | Most Outstanding Drama Program | Love My Way (John Edwards) | Won |
| ASTRA Awards | 2006 | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Male | Dan Wyllie | Won |
| ASTRA Awards | 2006 | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Female | Claudia Karvan | Won |
| ASTRA Awards | 2007 | Most Outstanding Drama Program | Love My Way | Won |
| ASTRA Awards | 2007 | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Male | Dan Wyllie | Won |
| ASTRA Awards | 2007 | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Male | Ben Mendelsohn | Nominated |
| ASTRA Awards | 2007 | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Female | Claudia Karvan | Nominated |
| ASTRA Awards | 2007 | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Female | Asher Keddie | Won |
| ASTRA Awards | 2008 | Most Outstanding Drama | Love My Way | Nominated |
| ASTRA Awards | 2008 | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Male | Brendan Cowell | Nominated |
| ASTRA Awards | 2008 | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Male | Dan Wyllie | Nominated |
| ASTRA Awards | 2008 | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Male | Ben Mendelsohn | Nominated |
| ASTRA Awards | 2008 | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Female | Claudia Karvan | Won |
| ASTRA Awards | 2008 | Most Outstanding Performance by an Actor – Female | Asher Keddie | Nominated |
| ASTRA Awards | 2008 | Subscribers' Choice: Favourite Program | Love My Way | Nominated |
| Australian Cinematographers Society Awards | 2005 | Best Cinematography in Television | Louis Irving | Nominated |
| Australian Directors' Guild Awards | 2007 | Best Direction in a Television series | Kate Dennis (director) (S3:E6) | Nominated |
| Australian Screen Editors Guild Awards | 2007 | Television Drama | Nick Holmes (S3:E6) | Nominated |
| Australian Screen Sound Guild Awards | 2005 | Best Sound In A Drama Series | | Nominated |
| Australian Screen Sound Guild Awards | 2006 | Best Sound In A Drama Series | | Nominated |
| Australian Screen Sound Guild Awards | 2007 | Best Sound In A Drama Series | | Nominated |
| AWGIE Awards | 2005 | Television - Series | Louise Fox (S1:E8) | Won |
| AWGIE Awards | 2005 | Television - Series | Jacquelin Perske (S1:E9) | Nominated |
| AWGIE Awards | 2006 | Television - Series | Brendan Cowell (S2:E6) | Nominated |
| AWGIE Awards | 2007 | Television - Series | Brendan Cowell (S3:E1) | Nominated |
| AWGIE Awards | 2007 | Television - Series | Tony McNamara (S3:E2) | Won |
| AWGIE Awards | 2008 | Television - Series | Brendan Cowell (S3:E6) | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2005 | Most Outstanding Drama Series | Love My Way (John Edwards) | Won |
| Logie Awards | 2005 | Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Brendan Cowell | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2005 | Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Dan Wyllie | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2005 | Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Claudia Karvan | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2005 | Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Asher Keddie | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2006 | Most Outstanding Drama Series | Love My Way (John Edwards) | Won |
| Logie Awards | 2006 | Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Brendan Cowell | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2006 | Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Dan Wyllie | Won |
| Logie Awards | 2006 | Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Claudia Karvan | Won |
| Logie Awards | 2006 | Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Asher Keddie | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2007 | Most Outstanding Drama Series | Love My Way (John Edwards) | Won |
| Logie Awards | 2007 | Most Popular Actor | Brendan Cowell | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2007 | Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Ben Mendelsohn | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2007 | Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Dan Wyllie | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2007 | Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Claudia Karvan | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2007 | Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Asher Keddie | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2007 | Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding New Talent | Sam Parsonson | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2008 | Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Claudia Karvan | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2008 | Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series | Asher Keddie | Nominated |
| Logie Awards | 2008 | Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding New Talent | Adelaide Clemens | Nominated |
| Screen Music Awards | 2005 | Best Music for a Television Series or Serial | Stephen Rae | Won |
| Screen Producers Australia Awards | 2005 | Drama Series Production of the Year | John Edwards | Won |

## Broadcast

The series premiered on FOX8 on 22 November 2004 during the late summer months when commercial TV is in a non-ratings period. During the second season it was moved to W. Channel. In 2007, for its third season, it screened on Showtime. Foxtel has been criticised for moving the show to different channels to encourage viewing of the W. Channel and then for moving the program to Showtime which is not included in the basic package of subscription television in Australia.

### International airings

Love My Way was aired as a primetime show in the UK on Five's spin-off channel Five Life (Now Fiver). In Sweden it airs on channel 4 (TV4) on Thursday evenings and it also aired in Ireland on RTÉ Two in the early hours of Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is also screened in Estonia on ETV during Sunday evenings, and in New Zealand on TVNZ Channel 2 during late Monday evenings. As well, Super Channel carries Love My Way. In Mexico is screened on Cosmopolitan. The Netherlands as well.

## Home media

| Title | Release date (Region 4) | No. of discs | ACB rating |
| Love My Way – The First Series: Vols 1–5 | 2006 | 5 | MA15+ |
| Love My Way: The Complete First Series | 2 February 2006 | 5 | MA15+ |
| Love My Way: Series 2 | 16 November 2006 | 3 | MA15+ |
| Love My Way: Series 3 | 17 October 2007 | 3 | MA15+ |
| Love My Way: The Complete Three Series – Everything | 6 November 2008 | 11 | MA15+ |
| Re-issue sets |||||
| Love My Way: The Complete First Series | 2 July 2009 | 5 | MA15+ |
| Love My Way: Series 2 | 6 January 2011 | 3 | MA15+ |
| Love My Way: Series 3 | 5 May 2011 | 3 | MA15+ |
| Love My Way: The Complete Series | 21 April 2021 | 11 | MA15+ |