TV1 Blog

"Families. They'll f#*k you up." - Lewis Moran

Everyone and their stand-over man had an opinion on the criminal lawyer-turned-criminal Andrew Fraser (David Wenham) in tonight's absorbing episode of Killing Time.  And why not.  He's a fascinating subject.  Here's a guy who comes from solid well-to-do stock, taking fatherly advice from a guy who doesn't think twice about shooting a cocky drunk.  He's a successful criminal lawyer from a family of lawyers but believes "he never quite fitted the Fraser family profile".

"Now I'm no head doctor, but I reckon you've got a chronic fear of failure."

Lewis (Colin Friels) might be on to something.  Fraser does remind me of Lieutenant Caffey (Tom Cruise) in A Few Good Men, a man who was haunted by a ghost of a dead lawyer.  Fraser's obviously a driven man but he does seem to be trying a little too hard to prove something to his family and himself.  

Denise (Diana Glenn) had Fraser's number too:

"Middle class upbringing.  Loves to play the working class hero fighting for the underdog, but in fact went to a private school where you spent a lot of time outside the school headmaster's office because you were the disruptive element, craved attention and would do anything for an audience.  ... You hate authority and yet you are desperate to be accepted by the very same authority. In conclusion Mister Fraser I would say that you have a chip on your shoulder."

The police would definitely agree with that assessment after the hammering they got from Fraser in Lewis's trial over the pub shooting.  

Even Denise's secretary had his measure: "Loverboy lawyer on line 3."  Was that extension 3 or his third line of coke?  Both I suspect.

Dennis Allen (Richard Cawthorne) is also someone who knows a thing or too about family pressures.  The paranoid drug-dealer, killer and fish tank-enthusiast, met his end tonight, managing to find one final way to evade justice.  It was a fitting end though: with his lawyer by his side instead of his family.  He'll probably still be taking potshots at the tower from wherever it is he ended up.   Like Fraser, Dennis's family obviously made him what he was too.  Too bad his family was Kath Pettingill (played by the fantastic Kris McQuade, another Homicide alumnist who you might also recognise from Packed To The Rafters and Strictly Ballroom).  I can't say I'm sad to see Dennis go but I will be sad to see Richard Cawthorne go.  He owned the first three episodes of this series.  I hope you've started filling out your Logie forms already.

Fraser was also in woo-mode tonight (or was that woohoo-mode, given his performance at the dinner party).  Denise is the strong, clear-headed, astute presence Andrew needs in his life.  She's good for him.  But it's painful to watch knowing that Fraser's personality and/or his addiction get the better of him eventually. 

I'm also fascinated by Fraser's relationship with Lewis Moran.  He's a pretty crazy father figure/mentor to have.  Admittedly though he does have some pretty good advice to give Fraser (lay off the coke, don't trust your friends in prison).  But still.  Psychopath.  Tonight's lesson: don't call Lewis Moran a "soft c%#k".

I look forward to seeing the missing pieces in the Fraser and Moran show filled in next week.