Creamerie

Creamerie is a black comedy web series from New Zealand that launched in 2021 on TVNZ OnDemand. It explores a world in which nearly all men have died from a virus, and three friends, played by Perlina Lau, J.J. Fong, and Ally Xue, run a dairy farm under the watchful eye of Wellness, the local governing body. The series was created by Lau, Fong, Xue, and director Roseanne Liang.[2]

Creamerie
GenreBlack comedy
Dramedy
Post-apocalyptic fiction
Dystopian fiction
Thriller
Written by
Directed byRoseanne Liang
Starring
Music byMahuia Bridgman-Cooper
Country of originNew Zealand
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerTony Ayres
ProducerBronwynn Bakker
Production companyFlat 3 Productions[1]
Release
Original networkTVNZ OnDemand
Original release19 April 2021 (2021-04-19)

Plot

Alex, Jaime and Pip are three friends living on a New Zealand dairy farm eight years after all men on Earth have been killed by a mysterious virus. An organization called Wellness now runs their community and controls repopulation via lottery, using sperm saved from old sperm banks. The friends' lives are thrown into disarray when they encounter a man whom they assume to be the last surviving man in the world. They eventually stumble upon a laboratory where some of the very few surviving men are being held hostage, tied to their chairs, gagged and naked, with pumping devices attached to their genitalia, extracting their semen to store for insemination.

Cast

Main
  • Ally Xue as Alex, an outspoken critic of the Wellness organization
  • J.J. Fong as Jaime, a mother mourning the loss of her husband and son
  • Perlina Lau as Pip, an optimist who works for the Wellness organization
  • Jay Ryan as Bobby, a man who has survived the virus believed to have killed every man on Earth
  • Tandi Wright as Lane, the head of Wellness

Recurring

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Episode 1"Roseanne LiangKirsty Fisher and Roseanne Liang19 April 2021 (2021-04-19)
2"Episode 2"Roseanne LiangJJ Fong, Perlina Lau, Roseanne Liang19 April 2021 (2021-04-19)
3"Episode 3"Roseanne LiangJJ Fong, Perlina Lau, Roseanne Liang19 April 2021 (2021-04-19)
4"Episode 4"Roseanne LiangJJ Fong, Perlina Lau, Roseanne Liang19 April 2021 (2021-04-19)
5"Episode 5"Roseanne LiangJJ Fong, Perlina Lau, Roseanne Liang19 April 2021 (2021-04-19)
6"Episode 6"Roseanne LiangKirsty Fisher, JJ Fong, Perlina Lau19 April 2021 (2021-04-19)

Production

Filming began in and around the Auckland region, including West Auckland, in 2020, but was paused after six weeks when lockdowns for the COVID-19 pandemic began. Filming resumed with the implementation of masks, social distancing, and other precautions, and was completed in September 2020.[3]

In May 2022, Creamerie was renewed for a second season.[4] Filming for Season 2 occurred from October 2022 to February 2023.

Reception

Since the programme's premiere it has received critical acclaim, with critics praising the programme's humour, casting,[5] unique premise, and for the programme's ability to maintain a deft balance between its humorous and dramatic aspects. Positive comparisons were made to Y: The Last Man and The Handmaid's Tale; with many critics calling the programme an inversion of the latter. Although recurring criticisms of the programme was that it needed to put a bit more emphasis on its dramatic moments given the nature of the story it is trying to tell and that it needed to provide more backstory.[6]

Writing for The Sydney Morning Herald, Kylie Northover called Creamerie "masterful, with deadpan humour and a terrific cast."[7] James Croot of Stuff NZ wrote a glowing review, stating "Creamerie delivers full-bodied and flavoured, adult humour with no trace of cheese."[8] Chelsea McLaughlin from Mamamia gave the programme a positive review writing that "Creamerie builds a fascinating world and introduces us to three incredibly real, well-rounded characters in Alex, Jamie and Pip. It tackles some really dark topics and seems to know exactly when to lean in and lean out of its hilarity... but you'll be left thinking about it long after the final credits."[9] In her rave review from Screenhub, Mel Campbell said "The plotting is surprisingly suspenseful, whipping up dollops of twists in every episode.... Ultimately, this speculative treat is intellectually substantial – and emotionally satisfying."[10]

Creamerie won the NZ On Air Best Drama Series award at the 2021 New Zealand Television Awards.[11]

References
  1. "Creamerie". Flat 3 Productions. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  2. Greene, Steve (9 December 2021). "'Creamerie' Brings a New Emotional Spin to a Fictional World Without Men". IndieWire. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  3. Kundu, Tamal (8 December 2021). "Where Is Creamerie Filmed?". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  4. "'Culture Is On The Budgetary Margins' - Breaking Down Creative NZ's Investment Approach". The Big Idea. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  5. "TV review: Creamerie is ideal iso escapism". InDaily. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  6. "Review: Creamerie is the post-pandemic comedy we need right now". The Spinoff. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  7. "In a flip on Handmaid's Tale, women are in charge in this five-star series". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  8. "Creamerie: TVNZ's post-apocalyptic, anti-Handmaid's Tale offers up dark delights". Stuff (company). 20 April 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  9. "Should I Watch It? SBS on Demand's addictive new series Creamerie, where all the men are dead". Mammamia. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  10. "TV Review: Creamerie is a Kiwi Treat". Screenhub Australia. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  11. "2021 New Zealand Television Winners Announced". Scoop. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
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