This popular comedy asks the question: Do we need to strive for perfection or rather find a sense of belonging in the here and now?
Bertie is grappling with his life purpose and in a last-ditch attempt to find meaning, he decides to turn a building that is very close to his heart, into a cocktail bar. Some think he’s having a mid-life crisis but he’s actually on a mission to create the perfect cocktail. But he also ends up finding something much more important.
Ekstra Medium (Extra Medium) was brought to life by the creative duo of Retief Scholtz and Beer Adriaanse. Scholtz made his name in South African theatre, including Dop, which received five nominations at South Africa’s largest arts festival, the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK). He moved on to television by joining the successful writing teams for Dwaalster and Alles Malan. Both series received widespread acclaim and received five SAFTA nominations between them.
Adriaanse is better known for his work on screen. He quickly became a familiar face in South African film and television with roles in highly popular shows such as Fynskrif, Hotel and the internationally acclaimed film, Kanarie. In recent years Adriaanse has expanded his craft and earned writing credits for five episodes of Hotel, was part of the writing team of Buurtwag and directed the notable horror film Parable. He directed all 13 episodes of Ekstra Medium.
This perfect dramedy for a family with teenagers explores many themes within a family unit along with how to deal with adversity. The show works well in a primetime slot on a TV comedy schedule and will prove to be a highly entertaining and bingeworthy addition to any line-up.
There’s a very strong cast who bring this character-driven dramedy to life, including SAFTA-nominated actress, Cintaine Schutte (Fynskrif), Wilhelm van der Walt (Nantes), Marvin-Lee Beukes (Wonderlus), Mila Guy (Wonderlus) and Silwerskermfees award-winner and SAFTA-nominated actress, June van Merch.
The show puts a lot of emphasis on people’s need to have the perfect life and reminds viewers that having a life that is just “medium” can still be quite fulfilling. Bertie and his family also remind us of the often neglected importance of a support structure. He rediscovers that those closest to you will always be there when you need them. The light-hearted sentiment of Ekstra Medium will give viewers the perfect escape and a genuine sense of comfort.
According to The Plum List, “There is a comfortable familiarity that comes across, supported by brilliant acting and the dialogue flows effortlessly and seems credible.”
According to one IMDB user, “The story pulls you in, makes you really feel for the characters.”
You can view the first four episodes of the popular show here.
