DECEPTION, delusion and dark humour take centre stage in the sharply crafted UK drama The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies – a series that proves revenge really can be served with style.
The five-part thriller introduces two women from very different walks of life: Alice Newman (Rebekah Staton), a quietly determined PA and mum, and Cheryl Harker (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), a glamorous fantasy author living a life of public success and private isolation. The pair have nothing in common – except a man.
That man is Rob Chance (Alistair Petrie), a slick, manipulative con artist who has left a trail of broken hearts and empty bank accounts in his wake.
Fifteen years earlier, Alice fell victim to one of Rob’s dodgy property schemes and lost thousands. When she spots him on the street years later, seemingly living under a new name, old wounds rip open – and she becomes determined to expose him.
But Rob is still up to his old tricks, now charming his way into Cheryl’s life, spinning tales of love, loss and reinvention.
As Alice digs deeper, she crosses paths with Cheryl, and the two women slowly realise they’ve been played by the same man.
What follows is a darkly comic, slow-burn revenge story where justice might not follow the rulebook, but it sure feels satisfying to watch.
With an exceptional cast that also includes veteran actor Derek Jacobi, The Following Events are Based on a Pack of Lies walks the line between psychological drama and satire.
Beneath the humour and glossy surface lies a pointed commentary on manipulation, belief and the way powerful men can exploit trust – until the women they’ve underestimated turn the tables.
Created by Penelope and Ginny Skinner (Fresh Meat, The Windsors), the series has been praised for its stylish direction, complex female leads and unpredictable plotting.
It airs at 8.30pm Sunday on ABC and ABC iView.
