Ep 1. I'm a Swan

In the first episode of Upper Middle Bogan, titled "I'm a Swan," we are introduced to the Wheeler family. They are an upper middle-class family from the affluent Melbourne suburb of Brighton, Australia. The mother, Bess (Annie Maynard), is a successful doctor, and her husband, Danny (Patrick Brammall), is a successful lawyer. They have two teenage children, Amber (Madeleine Jevic) and Kayne (Rhys Mitchell).

Bess is celebrating her birthday and she wants nothing more than to spend a quiet evening at home with her family and a bottle of wine. However, things take a unexpected turn when Bess receives a phone call from her parents, Margaret (Robyn Nevin) and Fred (Glenn Robbins). They reveal to Bess that she was adopted and that her biological parents are from a completely different world- her mother is from a bogan (Australian slang for "redneck") family, and her father is a pig farmer.

Bess is shaken by this revelation and feels like her entire life has been a lie. She decides to track down her birth mother, Julie (Lara Robinson), and meet her. She is nervous about what she will find, but her curiosity gets the best of her. When Bess and her family arrive at the home of Julie, they are greeted by an unseemly and unkempt household that is in complete contrast to the Wheelers' pristine and polished home.

Bess quickly develops a bond with her birth mother, and also gets to know her half-siblings, Amber (Michala Banas) and Brianna (Grace Koh). However, her attempts at bonding with the family come across as pushy and inauthentic. Meanwhile, Danny is dealing with his own set of insecurities as he begins to feel that he doesn't fit in with his wife's fancy family and their way of life.

The episode is filled with humorous moments, such as when Bess uses the word "chintzy" to describe the shoddy house of her birth family, and they have no idea what she means. It also deals with heavier issues, such as identity and the meaning of family. The show does a great job of contrasting the two worlds that Bess finds herself in, and the different values and customs that each represents.

The performances are standout, with Annie Maynard perfectly portraying Bess's confusion and inner turmoil at being thrust into a new and unexpected world. Lara Robinson is also exceptional as Julie, giving a nuanced and sympathetic portrayal of a woman who made mistakes but is genuinely trying to do better. The chemistry between the actors is evident, and the show sets up interesting dynamics that will undoubtedly be explored further in future episodes.

In conclusion, "I'm a Swan" is an engaging and entertaining first episode that sets up the premise of the show well. It successfully combines humour and heart, and introduces a cast of characters that the audience will undoubtedly grow to love. The plot moves at a brisk pace and leaves the viewer eager to see what the future holds for the Wheelers and their newfound bogan family.