Last November, BritBox launched the Australia/UK series, 10 Pound Pomme, for viewers in the U.S. By then, the second and final season had already aired in the UK, making it just a matter of time before it became available stateside.
10 Pound Pomme Season 2: Stream or Skip?
Opening scene: A crowd gathers at the port, boarding a ship from Australia to New Zealand.
Key highlights: Among them is Kate Thorne (Michelle Keegan), who makes a spontaneous decision to pick up her son, Michael (Alastair Bradman), from school. Michael, her biological child, was taken back to England by Kate and placed in an orphanage in Australia, where he was later adopted by the Walker family. Kate, having taken some ID from a woman’s wallet, ultimately decides to leave the line after realizing it had been reported stolen.
Meanwhile, in a hostel filled with Brits and other migrants benefiting from Australia’s £10 housing scheme, the Roberts family faces life with a newborn in tight quarters. Patty (Hattie Hook) struggles with her biracial son, drawing tension from some of the more prejudiced residents. Stevie Cartwright (Declan Coyle) supports Patty despite the baby not being his. Patty’s mother, Annie (Faye Marsay), grapples with the term “Grandma.”
Terry Roberts (Warren Brown) is upset to discover his home will be unavailable for 14 months. The family wants to move, which means Terry must find more work. He takes a job repairing a rundown tenement but is horrified by the conditions he finds. After an incident with a Greek family while collecting rent, he meets landlord Benny Bates (Marcus Graham), and they hit it off. The following day, Benny offers Terry a job at a wood-chopping festival.
When Annie works at a local department store, she spots Kate hiding with Michael. She arranges a meeting between Kate and Michael’s adoptive mother, leaving Kate hopeful of seeing her son regularly in the future.
Memory lane: 10 Pound Pomme, crafted by Danny Brocklehurst, feels reminiscent, perhaps, of A Thousand Blows blended with Call the Midwife.
Our perspective: One thing we appreciate about 10 Pound Pomme is its intent; it was clearly meant to unfold over two seasons. It’s quite different from Call the Midwife or When Calls the Heart, which have extensive story arcs. Brocklehurst writes with an endpoint in mind, and season two has enough energy to feel like it’s heading toward a conclusion.
As in the first season, the focus remains largely on Kate and the Roberts family. There are some scenes featuring JJ Walker (Steph Curry) trying to rescue his girlfriend Sheila (Sheila Anderson) from a mental institution, after her husband Bill (Leon Ford) committed her following a suicide attempt. Marlene Chase (Cherry Cassidy), who owns the store where Annie works, also faces tension with her ex-husband. Still, the main storyline circles back to Kate and Roberto Seth.
We hope Season 2 tones down some of the darker moments from the first. While it will have its challenges, the promise of a definite conclusion in the second season brings some reassurance that the main characters will find some level of resolution, although perhaps not a completely happy ending.
Notable performance: Michelle Keegan stays at the emotional heart of the show as Kate, even if her recent choices have clouded her moral clarity.
Intimacy and nudity: The first episode maintains a clean slate in that respect.
Final thought: Kate learns the hard way that Michael’s adoptive mother was never going to uphold their agreement.
Unexpected star: Ray Skinner, played by Sam Delich, arrives at the immigrant camp and offers various services to anyone willing to pay.
Most memorable line: When Annie meets Kate and tells Marine she’s unable to attend the staff beach party due to a stomach ache, Marine responds with, “Are you riding a cotton bike?”
Final verdict: We’re leaning towards streaming 10 Pound Pomme. The series resonates because the characters are relatable as they navigate starting over in Australia. Plus, with a conclusion in sight, the narrative remains compelling.
