What Sisters (Australian TV Series) Is About
Sisters is an Australian comedy-drama that follows estranged sisters Julia and Edie as they reunite to run their mother’s funeral business after her death. Tasked with preparing bodies for funerals, the sisters confront grief, class differences, and family secrets while juggling clients, personal crises, and an evolving sibling relationship. Set in a small Australian town, the series blends humor with candid conversations about death, inheritance, and the messy compromises that hold families together. Its tone balances warmth and irony, using the funeral home setting to explore how ordinary lives collide with loss.
Main Characters and Their Roles
The show centers on Julia and Edie, whose opposing worldviews drive the story. Julia is more reserved and methodical, approaching funerals as a meticulous professional. Edie is impulsive and emotional, often clashing with Julia’s careful style. Supporting characters include longtime employees who provide continuity in the funeral home, a local police officer who appears in personal crises, and various clients whose stories reveal the town’s texture. Each episode ties a minor client narrative to the sisters’ evolving relationship, making personal stakes feel intertwined with communal life.
Season Structure and Episode Breakdown
Each season focuses on a core conflict while advancing the sisters’ arc. Funerals anchor standalone episodes, but recurring plots—such as managing the family home, contesting the mother’s will, and handling business debts—build across the series. Typical episodes follow a three-act structure: a funeral case opens the story, personal dilemmas deepen in the middle, and a resolution links the professional and emotional threads. Supporting plots, including romantic subplots and small-town politics, rarely overshadow the central sister dynamic but add texture to the setting.
| Season | Episodes | Premiere Year | Major Plot Focus | Verified Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 2017 | Julia and Edie reunite to run the funeral home; mother’s death and inheritance issues arise. | Confirmed by broadcaster |
| 2 | 6 | 2019 | Business debts and staffing challenges; extended family members appear. | Confirmed by broadcaster |
| 3 | 6 | { "note": "Renewal status may vary by region; consult local schedule for current availability." }
Production Background and Key Details
Developed as an Australian drama with a dark comedic edge, the series was created to explore grief and familial obligation through a small business lens. Filming took place in regional locations, allowing the town to function almost as a character itself. Production design emphasizes the funeral home’s mix of clinical sterility and lived-in clutter, reinforcing the contrast between professional composure and private emotion. The writing balances pointed jokes with reflective moments, leaning into how death rituals reveal class and cultural differences in rural Australia.
Creators and Writers
The show is based on an idea by the network’s drama department, with scripts shaped by a writer room that included experience in both comedy and funeral-centered storytelling. Interviews with the creators indicate they aimed to demystify funeral work while humanizing the staff who perform it. Writers drew on research with local funeral directors to portray practical details, from paperwork to burial customs, without turning each episode into a procedural.
Cast and Character Evolution
The lead actresses, who play Julia and Edie, brought distinct physical and vocal choices that emphasize the sisters’ distance and loyalty. Early episodes highlight their mistrust, while later seasons allow for guarded collaboration. Supporting cast members have consistent presence across episodes, giving workplace dynamics a sense of stability. Minor roles rotate to serve specific stories, but the core performers remain the emotional anchors of the series.
Where to Watch and Availability
In most regions, Sisters streams on the network’s official app and site with full episodes available on demand. Some territories offer late addition of episodes due to licensing windows, so season 3 access may depend on your provider. The first two seasons are typically included with standard subscriptions, while later seasons may require add-ons or temporary premium tiers. Check your local guide or channel app for current scheduling and on-air times.
Audience Reception and Cultural Context
Critical reception highlights the show’s willingness to use comedy to discuss death, with reviewers praising its grounded dialogue and restrained sentimentality. Audience polls indicate strong appeal among viewers who enjoy workplace-focused ensemble casts and slow-burn family stories. The funeral setting invites reflection on how different communities handle grief, and the series has been noted for normalizing conversations about planning for death without turning morbid. Ratings remain steady across seasons, suggesting lasting viewer interest in the central premise.
Comparison to Similar Australian Dramas
Unlike fast-paced crime procedurals, Sisters focuses on slow character work and incremental change. Compared to rural family sagas, it emphasizes small-scale business pressures rather than sweeping generational conflicts. Its humor is quieter than broad sitcoms but more overt than many prestige dramas. The mix of episodic cases and serialized arcs positions it between anthology and long-form storytelling, allowing standalone humor while contributing to ongoing personal journeys.