The Gap – As the fourth episode of Plum begins, Dana Hanlon (Jenni Baird) watches a video of her father. Over time, he begins forgetting things including his daughter. At home, Peter Lum (Brendan Cowell) learns more about CTE. Liz Lombardo (Sara Zwangobani) tells Peter what she found in his scan. She asks if he’s been taking the medication. Peter hasn’t even gotten it filed yet. Liz warns him it’s a progressive disease. Peter says he’s going to get off the booze when Gavin gets back. Ainslee (Talijah Blackman-Corowa) tells Gavin (Vincent Miller) that she got into the Australian women’s hockey team. She has to fly back and move to Perth. Gavin thought she would move to Melbourne with him. Peter and Brick (John Tui) meet Oliver (Jemaine Clement) and Renee (Asher Keddie). Oliver says something about Dana and CTE. Renee changes the subject and talks to Brick about Charmayne and the project.

As they leave, Oliver and Renee discuss whether Plum has CTE. She reminds him that Peter isn’t his patient. Ainslee doesn’t understand why Gavin isn’t coming with her. Gavin receives a video of the plane incident. Ainslee believes he’s ignored her so she leaves. Brick and Peter talk about Gym n’ Trim. Peter goes home alone and gets a drink. Peter remembers hanging out with Gavin. He looks at the prescription. Renee reads what Dana wrote about CTE. Peter notices a missed call from Gavin so he tries to call him. Hugh and Tatiana (Janet Anderson) talk about their relationship. Hugh insists he’s not a tourist. He asks Peter what he’s doing when he returns. Peter reminds him he works there. When they’re alone, Hugh asks him not to tell Brick or Magic Matt. Peter and Bridget (Crystal Nguyen) listen to a man’s poem and talk about it. Von is the next to speak. Peter invites Bridget over for a swim tomorrow.

Brick invites Charmayne (Maria Duplaa) out for beers, but she doesn’t want everyone asking her about the video. He tells her he loves her. Brick suggests they could start a bigger and better gym and café on the Gold Coast. She ends up leaving. Plum is asked about life. He tries to explain it using footy terms. Gavin gets drunk. Peter sits down and begins writing in his notebook. Charmayne wakes up in her car and takes a shower. Peter tells Bridget about his rage. Charmayne returns and catches them talking. Peter sees her and runs outside after her. He tells her that the girl is her buddy Bridget. Charmayne asks about the money. She also says she saw the video at the airport. Charmayne reminds him that they wouldn’t judge each other. Peter admits he lost his job at the airport. She questions whether he lost it for being drunk.

She leaves. Renee still hasn’t heard from Gavin. She believes it impacted Gavin seeing her and Peter in one space again. Charmayne calls Renee to ask if they can talk in person. Gavin wakes up on the floor. Peter hangs out with Brick, Matt, and Hugh. Peter asks them to reveal their best memory or biggest regret. Hugh or Squeaky says his best memory was winning the Merrett Murray Medal. His biggest regret was cashing in his super and pissing it up the wall. Matt is next. Brick says his best memory is playing alongside Peter. As for Peter, his best memory is the day Gavin was born. His biggest regret is not contacting his dad the day he turned up pissed to see him get the Australian captaincy. He died soon after and Peter realized he’s no better than him. They see Dana enter the restaurant. Peter approaches her to ask what she’s trying.

He tells her that she can’t do this to people. Dana claims she’s trying to save his legacy. She says her dad died with what he has. Dana wants to do a tell-all interview on television. Peter walks away. Charmayne meets Renee. She asks what’s going on with Plum. Renee admits he’s screwed. Peter and Brick use drugs and talk about playing the game. Brick reveals he loves Charmayne. He says he won’t do anything with her. Renee tells Charmayne that they only called her because Peter has her as his next of kin. Renee doesn’t understand it either but it’s impacting his brain. She explains that Peter needs to follow Liz’s protocols. Renee thinks the problem is that Peter doesn’t know how to lose. When Peter comes out of the bathroom, he’s confronted by Charles Bukowski (Matthew Sunderland) and Sylvia Plath (Charlotte Friels). They warn Peter not to go back in there because vultures await.

The bartender sees Peter yelling at no one. Renee and Charmayne continue speaking. Renee learns about Peter’s outbursts. Renee asks if she’s ever been jealous of her and Plum. Charmayne says no. Renee is glad because there’s nothing between them. Charmayne believes it’s too late for her and Plum now. She reveals that she slept with Brick. Renee did but she might as well have. Charmayne calls Gavin and tells him about Peter. She asks him to come home. Meanwhile, Peter watches the horse race with his friend. One man harasses Peter until he hits him. The whole thing is recorded by another man. Renee tells Charmayne she got pregnant at 45. They weren’t her eggs but she did carry it. Charmayne insists it’s okay. Renee doesn’t think Plum was ever in love with her although he is in love with Charmayne.

Peter walks the streets alone. Next, Peter wakes up and finds Sylvia in his bed. She says the poets have dark things living in them. Kaia (Lulu Quirk) invites Charmayne inside. Charmayne comes in and tells Renee that she’s realized she doesn’t see red flags with men. She’s going back to Argentina to have the baby. Peter speaks to Sylvia about her kids with Ted Hughes. She says Ted is gentle and fractured just like Peter. No one knows where he goes. Sylvia tells him to write what he knows. Peter believes he’s a bad dad. He’s sick of living this way with all the lies and crap. They talk about their fathers. Sylvia urges Peter to write his father a letter. She says they need to start getting better. Brick meets Dave and shows him Plum punching the heckler. Brick says he never said thanks for taking the hits so he could look pretty. He says Plum became immortal and he’s nothing. Charles tells Sylvia this is their last shot.

Later, Peter prepares to read the letter to Albert. He apologizes for the last time he saw his father. Peter questions why his father turned away from them. He admits he always missed his father even when he was right in front of him. Gavin catches him in the middle of the letter.

 

Plum Review

The fourth episode of Plum got slightly better at the end, but a lot of the choices here are questionable. While the first episode was different, the rest have been nothing but Peter stuck in a downward spiral as he continued hiding his problems. Communicating with two dead poets may not be the best way to explore his issues and eventually get him to open up.

It’s a bit silly honestly. The same can be said about everything going on with Charmayne and Renee. If Charmayne is going to leave, a lot of those scenes will be pointless. That probably won’t happen of course. Overall, the series is just okay but definitely not as emotionally impactful as it could’ve been.

That could be an issue with the source material as well though. On the other hand, Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie are doing great work here. The series is watchable although some episodes could probably be skipped without missing the bigger picture. This one scores a 5 out of 10. Recaps of Plum can be found here.

Find out how to support our independent work at this link. Learn more about advertising with us here. See what others are saying here.