australian television information archive

Series 2

With the holidays over the Laws are turning a new leaf — or, as Jenny calls it, a "new flap". Danny — having sold Happy Dragon — opens 'Asian Alley', an Asian grocery store and his first entrée into retail, while Jenny embarks on a quest of self-discovery. Resuming his role as family fixer, Benjamin helps his mother "find herself", his father prove himself, and tries to stop his family from going off the rails — all while juggling his star-making turn in Sacred Heart High's ground-breaking school production of a feel-good hit about infanticide, Medea.

This season, the Laws are starting anew while trying to stop old wounds from festering, and they're taking series favourites (nosey aunties Maisy and Daisy; deranged drama teacher Mallory Mallory; serial shyster Beryl Streep; the annoyingly perfect Thomson family) along for the ride.

The new season of The Family Law will be even more painful, hilarious and poignant than the first. With more gasp-inducing honesty and hair-raising Jenny-isms, welcome back to the post-nuclear family you know and love, where membership sometimes feels like a sentence. Just like your own, really.

New Beginnings

Episode 2.01 (7)
Thu, June 15, 2017
497,000 viewers
Written by Benjamin Law, Kirsty Fisher
Directed by Ben Chessell

New years mark new beginnings, but new beginnings aren't always pain free — as a newly brace-faced Benjamin is discovering. Post-divorce, Danny seems to be a huge success after opening his new Chinese grocery store. And although she is happy for Danny, Jenny — feeling wistful — begins to over-invest in Benjamin's personal campaign to destroy Klaus and become middle school captain. (And Benjamin needs the help, given Melissa's still giving him the cold shoulder, effectively abandoning him.) But it doesn't take long for Jenny to overshoot the mark, trigger off a massive row with Benjamin and unearth uncomfortable truths about her place in the world.

Starring: Trystan Go as Benjamin Law, Fiona Choi as Jenny Law, Anthony Brandon Wong as Danny Law, Shuang Hu as Candy Law, George Zhao as Andrew Law, Karina Lee as Tammy Law, Vivian Wei as Michelle Law

With: Sam Cotton as Wayne, Bethany Whitmore as Melissa, Hugh Parker as Mallory Mallory, Diana (Xiao Jie) Lin as Maisy, Loretta Kung as Daisy, Kimie Tsukakoshi as Heidi Thomson, Takaya Honda as Klaus Thomson, Andrew Buchanan as Anders Thomson, Rumi Kikuchi as Kumi Thomson, Olivia Pratt as Olivia (Auslan), Jamie Carter as Sports Jock, Martin Sta Ana as Delivery Man

Help Yourself

Episode 2.02 (8)
Thu, June 15, 2017
Written by Benjamin Law, Kirsty Fisher
Directed by Ben Chessell

Jenny reveals she's changed back to her maiden name by deed poll without consulting the family, leaving Danny appalled: their kids share that name. However, it turns out this is only the first step in Jenny's self-help quest to discover her true self and identity. As it becomes clear the children don't take her journey seriously, it dawns on Jenny that no one takes her seriously, period. Meanwhile, Benjamin is facing his own identity crisis as he auditions for the lead in the school play, with Klaus his main competition yet again. When the kids treat her horribly at home, Jenny snaps and leaves them with Danny, resulting in a Kramer vs. Kramer style showdown between the parents. Meanwhile Benjamin loses the plot too, only to score an unexpected win, from a strange twist of Greek fate.

With: Sam Cotton as Wayne, Bethany Whitmore as Melissa, Hugh Parker as Mallory Mallory, Diana (Xiao Jie) Lin as Maisy, Loretta Kung as Daisy, Kimie Tsukakoshi as Heidi Thomson, Takaya Honda as Klaus Thomson, Kiara Freeman as Sophie, Piper Little as Kirsty, Lachlan Sutherland as Russell, Meg McSweeney as Stacey McCann, Alexander Procopis as Student #1

Adult Education

Episode 2.03 (9)
Thu, June 22, 2017
Written by Lawrence Leung
Additional writing by Benjamin Law
Directed by Ben Chessell

After Benjamin discovers Danny in the arms of a new woman, he goes out of his way to help an oblivious Jenny find a new man, which compromises his own ability to perform at rehearsals for the school play.

With: Sam Cotton as Wayne, Bethany Whitmore as Melissa, Hugh Parker as Mallory Mallory, Kimie Tsukakoshi as Heidi Thomson, Takaya Honda as Klaus Thomson, Jing-Xuan Chan as Ming-Zhu, Erika Heynatz as Diane, Daniel Han as Rod Wang, Laura Keneally as Tall Woman, Julie Eckersley as Customer #1

The Family Kerr

Episode 2.04 (10)
Thu, July 06, 2017
Written by Benjamin Law, Kirsty Fisher
Directed by Sophie Miller

After Candy and Wayne ask Benjamin to be their 'man of honour', he tasks himself with the job of delivering a perfect wedding. An unexpected gift from Wayne's parents, a property in Mt Isa, sets off a showdown between Candy and Jenny that could jeopardise everything. Wedding included.

With: Sam Cotton as Wayne, Kimie Tsukakoshi as Heidi Thomson, Jing-Xuan Chan as Ming-Zhu, Genevieve Morris as Lorraine, Paul Gleeson as Gary, Diana (Xiao Jie) Lin as Maisy, Loretta Kung as Daisy

Money, Money, Money

Episode 2.05 (11)
Thu, July 13, 2017
Written by Benjamin Law, Kirsty Fisher
Directed by Ben Chessell

After the family car breaks down, Jenny is forced to confront her lack of financial independence, and Benjamin and Melissa come to blows about his commitment to the school play.

With: Sam Cotton as Wayne, Bethany Whitmore as Melissa, Hugh Parker as Mallory Mallory, Kimie Tsukakoshi as Heidi Thomson, Takaya Honda as Klaus Thomson, Jing-Xuan Chan as Ming-Zhu, Diana (Xiao Jie) Lin as Maisy, Loretta Kung as Daisy, Erika Heynatz as Diane, Caroline Kennison as Beryl Streep, Tony Walsh as TV Crew Camera Operator, Genevieve Larin as TV Crew Sound Operator

Matters of the Heart

Episode 2.06 (12)
Thu, July 20, 2017
Written by Benjamin Law
Additional writing by Kirsty Fisher
Directed by Ben Chessell

After Danny is hospitalised — buckling under the overwhelming pressures of running a business by himself, providing for his family and starting a new relationship — Jenny and Benjamin make discoveries that ensure the family Law will never be the same again.

With: Sam Cotton as Wayne, Bethany Whitmore as Melissa, Hugh Parker as Mallory Mallory, Kimie Tsukakoshi as Heidi Thomson, Takaya Honda as Klaus Thomson, Jing-Xuan Chan as Ming-Zhu, Diana (Xiao Jie) Lin as Maisy, Loretta Kung as Daisy, Erika Heynatz as Diane, Pacharo Mzembe as Aaron, Melanie Zanetti as Doctor Lee, Amanda Ma as Iris, Jacy Moore as Parmedic #1, John Russell as Paramedic #2