I've already had a quick look at what I hope to see from season 6, but that's all just wishful thinking. What isn't is what happened in season 5, so I thought that it might be (Went)worth just going back and giving my opinions on the course of season 5.
Franky's incarceration and escape attempts with Allie; Kaz's fall from top dog
There's nowhere better to start than with Franky being framed for murder and winding up back in Wentworth.
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| Franky and Allie |
Following Bea Smith's death at the end of season 4, and The Freak's machinations, it was inevitable Franky would end up back in Wentworth. The way it was handled worked from a story perspective, too: Franky had been out of prison for most of season 4 and bumping into the TV presenter she assaulted years ago, who had grown obsessed with her and taking revenge, was a fairly organic way to reintroduce the concept of her return. It was, of course, only right that this time her incarceration came with a murder charge.
This organic return only falls down because it was actually quite nice seeing the reformed Franky outside Wentworth's walls, but the conclusion to the mystery surrounding who actually killed Mike Pennisi didn't feel right. New inmate Iman Farah transpired to be Pennisi's girlfriend: she had murdered him for his obsession with Franky, and wound up in Wentworth for an unrelated crime in order to enact revenge on Franky for how Pennisi's obsession ruined their relationship. That felt way too contrived for me.
However, The Freak killing Iman as a power play worked well, It scuppered Franky's hopes of Iman proving Franky's innocence, and fuelled the escape attempt storyline with Allie. This was a really good storyline, although the problem with all of the above is that Franky's obsession with proving her innocence distracted her from the vengeful rivalry with The Freak we had all hoped for. That was what we wanted Franky back inside for: to take down The Freak. And that didn't happen, which was a key reason Franky's return felt a little limp.
The only person capable of taking down The Freak, therefore, was top dog Kaz Proctor.
If only.
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| Kaz and Will Jackson |
Kaz's no violence policy worked about as well as anybody could have expected: it didn't. Her top dog status fell away extremely quickly as she reneged on the one deal she had brokered in order to establish her no violence policy - that Tina could bring in and distribute drugs - and refused to intervene with inmate affairs with violence.
She spent the first half of the season struggling with maintaining her top dog status without resorting to violence, while trying to prove Will Jackson was supplying drugs to the women. After he rescued her from the crash caused by Franky's escape attempt while transporting Kaz to her committal hearing, they began to work together to bring down the real drug supplier, Jake Stewart. But again, Kaz didn't take any real action.
Kaz's history of violence was mostly against men, and she had long demanded no violence against women even before assuming top dog status, but her refusal to rule by force just didn't seem to marry with her forceful personality, and it was all a bit befuddling.
In the end, the two biggest characters that could have taken on The Freak were neutered by the writers, to the detriment of the show.
Maxine and Doreen's exits
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| Nash and Doreen |
Doreen's exit was well-written and timely. There wasn't much left for her character besides wanting to leave the prison to be with her husband and baby. Sending her away halfway through the season was a good decision.
Maxine's transfer to Barnhurst, however, was unnecessary. She would have been a good dissenting voice against Kaz's no violence policy, and would have never stopped trying to get revenge on The Freak, unlike Kaz and Franky. And her inability as her cancer worsened would have worked well timed with The Freak's rise to power. I don't see why she needed to leave.
But whether Maxine or Doreen's exits were well-written or pointless, it's true that two more integral characters departing soon after Bea's controversial death was not great.
Vera's relationship with Jake, and Will trying to bring him down
Will Jackson's season 5 went from beef with Kaz to beef with Jake when he realised it was Jake supplying the prison's drugs pipeline. And although Will didn't know Jake was being steered by The Freak, he did all he could to bring him down. However, I'm partly glad that even after finding evidence, Will's hard work was obliterated by the corrupt Regional Manager Derek Channing, who wants a cut of the income.
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| Will confronts Jake |
One thing that didn't survive the purge was Jake's relationship with Vera. After being forced into destroying Vera by The Freak, Jake fell for her instead, but Vera was extremely clear she was having none of it. They're broken up and Vera knows the truth of his actions (or most of them), but his protection from Channing ensures Jake remains an officer at Wentworth for now.
These two storylines, side by side, were thrilling, well-written and beautifully acted. I loved that Jake's rise and fall coincided with The Freak's (or closely enough); Will remains one of the best characters on the show.
Sonia's re-incarceration for murder after Liz bore false testimony
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| Sonia |
Sonia has never been one of my favourite characters, but as we've reached a point of receiving answers in her murder enquiry, and seen her psychotic long con to escape charges, since her re-incarceration she's grown on me. Her interest in a yard activity provided not only outlier Boomer something to do since Bea's death, but put Sonia firmly at the forefront of a plot strand that also advanced others' storylines (mainly Franky and The Freak).
Meanwhile, Liz's rash decision to poison Sonia in the finale (in order to protect herself from any revenge Sonia might wish to take) sets up a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse in season 6 if Sonia survives - which she certainly will.
The Freak's rise and fall and possible death
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| The Freak buried alive |
We were always going to have to suspend our disbelief a little when ex-Governor Joan "The Freak" Ferguson was incarcerated as an inmate at Wentworth, and although season 5 requires a little more suspension of disbelief, it's not totally unbelievable that The Freak could make it to top dog status. Her journey there was pretty much unhindered (Kaz's no violence policy and her declaration that The Freak was "invisible" presented a perfect opportunity for The Freak to usurp Kaz without threat of repercussion), and along the way she garnered the support of key inmates.
But season 5 was about revenge and The Freak's eventual fall - as Jake tried to break free of her grasp - came at the perfect time to introduce Franky's final escape plan. Instead of Allie joining Franky, it was secretly The Freak. But the clincher came when it was revealed her escape was a plan concocted by Allie, Jake and Will - and Will took The Freak to the forest and buried her alive with only a picture of Bea for comfort.
The perfect end for The Freak may not be the conclusion to her story (we may yet see her in season 6), but I hope she stays as dead as Bea. This was the most satisfying end for the character and I'd like Wentworth to leave her be.
Final thoughts
Overall, season 5 was a pretty organic advancement of previously introduced storylines, although the neutering of Franky and Kaz didn't sit well. Regardless of any faults, I loved the season, I think the show built well on Bea's death and will only continue moving from strength to strength in season 6.
I'm just miffed I have to wait until 2018 to see it!
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