In what might be the best New Zealand drama ever produced plays a character not often seen on screen: a ballsy middle-aged woman who is brilliant and infuriating.Malcolm – who co-created the series with NZ screenwriter Dianne Taylor – plays high-school biology teacher Penny Wilding. The series opens with her dealing with a student caught watching pornography on his phone.
His departure followed a contentious incident at a party at Phil and Penny’s house that tore the family, and much of their friendship circle apart, when Penny publicly accused Phil of sexually abusing one of Grace’s drunk teenage school friends.Phil was never charged, though, and now that he’s back, many of their mutual friends, and particularly Grace, want Penny to move on.