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Why you need to watch new drama On the Ropes

The SBS series about a female boxing trainer is one of the best Australian shows this year
Profile picture of Gavin Scott
SBS
On WHO’s TV podcast, Binge List, I’ve gotten over-enthusiastic about a couple of Australian dramas this year after watching their first episodes, only to be disappointed when subsequent episodes haven’t maintained the standard. That’s not the case with new four-part series On the Ropes, which begins tonight on SBS. I’ve watched three episodes so far and can’t wait to watch the finale. We chat about the show in this week’s episode of Binge List – and I explain why I enjoyed the show so much following the trailer below.
On the Ropes follows the Al-Amirs, for whom boxing is the family business. Dad Sami (Igal Naor) is a former champ who now runs a gym in Western Sydney staffed by both his sons, one of whom also fights. Then there’s daughter Amirah (Nicole Chamoun, in what will be a career-bolstering role). She wants nothing more than to work as a professional trainer, so much so that she goes behind her discouraging father’s back to set up a bout for one of her fighters, Jess (Keisha Castle-Hughes), with promoter Strick (Jack Thompson).
On The Ropes Amirah
(Credit: SBS)

But while the combat sport might be at the heart of this new Australian drama, less time is spent in the ring and more attention is given to the relationships between family members, and between Amirah and the boxers she trains – a list that includes MMA fighter Lachy (Louis Hunter), who she convinces to switch things up under her tutelage. The fact that Lachy has the hots for her makes it an easy enough sell.

It’s what On the Ropes does with that family conflict and central romance that makes this four-part series a cut above most other local productions this year. Instead of letting the Al-Amirs’ ethnicity, Jess’s sexuality or the religion of its many Muslim characters define the series, it uses those elements as background colour and just gets on with telling its story. And that’s a story that deals with fairly universal themes of family, ambition and gender inequality. 

Listen to this week’s episode of Binge List (below) to hear more of what the team thinks of On the Ropes, and tune in to SBS tonight at 8.35pm for Episode 1.

Profile picture of Gavin Scott
Gavin Scott

After cutting his teeth on teen titles Smash Hits and TV Hits (remember them?) in the 2000s, Gavin moved into weekly magazines, working for TV Week for many years and continuing to contribute to that title to this day, and writing for Who, Woman’s Day, New Idea and OK over the past decade or so. He’s also worked for digital outlets, writing and editing for SBS, Pedestrian and Who.com.au, and has hosted and produced TV and music podcasts. Entertainment in all its forms has been Gavin’s focus, whether that be interviewing the latest eliminated contestant from Survivor; reviewing the newest films, TV series and albums; writing opinion pieces about streaming platforms and their offerings; or talking to Australian pop stars past and present about their musical journey. As a long-time freelancer, Gavin goes where the work takes him, with one hand on the remote and the other scrolling through his phone for entertainment updates.

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