UK viewers can finally watch all episodes of an Australian comedy series that many declared left them ‘laughing out loud’.
First hitting screens Down Under in 2021, Aftertaste starred Packed to the Rafters’ Erik Thomson as Easton West, an internationally renowned but volatile celebrity chef.
The series kicks off when the chef boils over after a food reviewer at his Shanghai restaurant returns her ‘over-salty potato quenelle from 1991’. The feedback sends him over the edge and sees him hurl a pig carcass at the unsuspecting critic.
The incident sparks a spectacular fall from grace which then forces Easton to return to his hometown in the Adelaide Hills, where he attempts to rebuild his career and restore his reputation.
This all happens alongside the assistance of his talented niece Diana – an aspiring pastry chef played by Natalie Abbott.
When the first season was released, it was applauded by both critics and viewers.
‘Aftertaste has a lot on its plate. It’s a character-driven comedy with a compelling dramatic arc and something serious to say about the world we live in. But, crucially, it is also very funny,’ The Age wrote in its review.
‘Aftertaste is worth the benefit of the doubt. It’s a sharp satire that skewers the hollow construct of the celebrity chef and offers a uniquely Australian p***take that’s often laugh-out-loud funny,’ The Guardian declared.
‘Aftertaste has a lot on its plate. It’s a character-driven comedy with a compelling dramatic arc and something serious to say about the world we live in. But, crucially, it is also very funny – and in the case of the fourth episode, outrageously, tear-inducingly so,’ The Sydney Morning Herald added.
Meanwhile viewers labelled the series ‘hilarious and clever’.
‘A laugh out loud, witty, dry humoured dark comedy. Erik Thompson is brilliant as the self-centered, egotistical Michelin starred chef who would make Gordon Ramsay blush,’ one fan shared.
‘This is straight up the funniest thing I’ve seen for ages, a highly satirical take on the cult of celebrity chefs, and a very down-to-earth style humour. Not for people who are easily offended, but well worth a watch,’ James posted on IMDB.
‘It’s decent, often laugh out loud funny and eminently watchable. It doesn’t pretend to be a think piece, it’s just something to immerse yourself in,’ Ant added.
It later returned for another season in 2022.
This week both seasons of the show – which ran for six episodes each – were added to ITVX, marking the first time the show can be streamed in the UK for free.
At the time of the show’s release, Erik spoke about taking on a role that was at complete odds with the father figures he’d become known for playing in the dramas Packed to the Rafters and 800 Words.
‘Obviously playing the mildly complicated affable father role is something I have done a lot of, and I think if I had done it again I think myself and my audience would die of boredom,’ he told The West Australian.
‘I really loved how different this character was and how bold he was – he says what is on his mind.
He is an a**hole but in the context of a comedy I think it’s alright…I think he will just be this person that people will love to hate.’
Addressing the show tackling the theme of ‘cancel culture’, the actor also declared his character’s behaviour warranted what obstacles served up to him.
‘When we started writing the show it was in the whole period of Weinstein and the end of the era of the powerful white male who has been able to get away with bad behaviour for such a long period of time,’ he continued.
‘We meet Easton at the very end of his bad behaviour being accepted…he gets to that point where the world has changed, and it is no longer acceptable for people to behave like that, and careers can be over instantly.’
Aftertaste marked Natalie’s first ever screen role, with the actress once admitting she went on a ‘baking frenzy’ when originally cast. But once on set, she was shocked to discover the cast didn’t actually have a chance to sample all of the pastries made by her character (in reality, real life pastry chefs stepped up to take control).
‘So many people think it, but Diana never gets to eat her own desserts. Instead, she’s always watching other people eat her food and wondering what they feel about what she has created,’ she revealed.
‘One of the worst times ever was watching everyone chow down on a cake I wanted to try.’ However, she said she did eventually get to try a small amount of the leftovers.
Aftertaste is streaming on ITVX.
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